Motorists who complain that $1 buys only gas fumes can rest assured that their meager purchase at the pump will at least register accurately.

John Hostetter Jr., of Lancaster County Bureau of Weights and Measures, has certified the accuracy of nearly every fuel pump in the county during the past 18 years.

"I know it doesn't offset high gas prices, but I hope (inspections) offer some peace of mind that the pump is accurate," Hostetter said.

Lancaster was among a quarter of Pennsylvania counties not to take advantage of a 1996 amendment that allowed counties to shift inspection duties to the state Department of Agriculture.

Unlike Hostetter's crew, which has maintained a tight inspection schedule for several years, the state often has lagged in inspecting pumps in 46 of the 67 counties.

Since December, the Rendell administration has stepped up the efficiency of fuel pump inspections — possibly in preparation for pending legislation that would make the testing of gasoline octane levels mandatory across the state.

Dennis Wolff, secretary of the state Department of Agriculture, said the weights and measures program is now more efficient than ever, with 22 new inspectors and new laptop computers for the staff.

"Pennsylvania consumers and businesses rely on the accuracy of weighing and measuring devices to ensure they are getting exactly what they pay for," Wolff said.

Wolff said fuel pump inspections are on schedule and more than 41,500 gas pumps at more than 4,000 establishments have been certified since January.

Of those, 6,000 failed to pass their first inspection, but passed follow-up inspections, according to the Department of Agriculture.

All measuring devices, including truck-mounted fuel meters, liquid-petroleum gas meters, retail fuel pumps and all consumer scanning systems must be inspected annually.

Hostetter praised the state's effort. He said pump inaccuracies tend to increase relative to gaps in inspections.

Most pumps tested were off by 3 cubic inches or less for every 5 gallons of gas pumped, Hostetter said.

A gallon of gas has 231 cubic inches — the law allows gas stations to be off by 6 cubic inches per 5 gallons of gasoline.

"With gas so expensive, even the allowable mistakes are much more expensive than they used to be," Hostetter said.

Reasons for inspection failure can include inaccuracies in fuel dispensing or equipment problems, like worn out hoses and broken display panels.

"That's why catching up on inspections is so important. There are many reasons unrelated to strict measuring that can make a pump fail," Hostetter said.

The upgraded testing results followed state Auditor General Jack Wagner's request that lawmakers pass a bill to require inspections to ensure gasoline contains accurate octane levels.

Wagner said he received complaints of tainted gas at least five times during the spring.

Sponsors of the Automotive Fuel Testing Act (House Bill 684) hoped to begin random octane testing by July 1, but the bill didn't pass the House until just before lawmakers' summer recess.

It's been in the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure committee since June 30.

The legislation includes a provision that a retailer, distributor, producer or refiner may be held liable for damages occurring as a result of selling non-conforming fuels.

Pumps in Pennsylvania must display an octane label, but the state tests only the accuracy of gauges that measure the quantity of gas pumped into motorists' vehicles.

E-mail: pburns@lnpnews.com