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Measurements of hydrocarbon compounds in automotive exhaust gas with the current instrumentation are not accurate. Systematic errors up to 20 per cent can be observed. The pertinent regulations, furthermore, contain insufficient specifications of the instruments. A research project aimed at a definition of standardized data, to decrease the measuring errors of hydrocarbon analyzers by one order of magnitude. By detailed investigations of the functional parts and of the working parameters of the instruments the flame ionisation detectors were to be improved. The systematic errors caused by hydrocarbon structures or by a different oxygen content of the gas sample could be reduced to approximately two per cent on a prototype analyzer. Standardized data were derived for future legislation and future development of instruments.