Testing Blended Gasoline for Ethanol Content

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Author Topic:   Testing Blended Gasoline for Ethanol Content

jimh posted 11-18-2007 03:55 PM ET (US)
Please use this thread for any follow-up questions or comments on my recent article in the REFERENCE section
Ethanol Fuel Testing
Determining ethanol content in blended gasoline fuels
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/ethanolTest.html
The article describes a simple test procedure for determining the ethanol content of blended gasoline fuels.
glen e posted 11-18-2007 05:10 PM ET (US)
Thanks Jim - just posted the link on my site, naturally giving you credit...nice work....
highanddry posted 11-19-2007 12:38 AM ET (US)
I have been using the EAA method (as I am an EAA Tech Counselor) for many years and it is quite effective.
kgregg posted 11-19-2007 09:21 AM ET (US)
Great info Jim! I need to perform this test on 15 gals of suspect fuel in my boat.
Thanks,
Kevin
TRAFFICLAWYER posted 11-19-2007 12:58 PM ET (US)
I wonder if an additive was added to the mix ie, Startron,Stabil,etc., how the outcome of water aborbtion percentage would be affected?
poker13 posted 11-19-2007 07:21 PM ET (US)
Thanks for that very useful article. I'll start testing the gas sold around here soon.
JMARTIN posted 11-19-2007 07:45 PM ET (US)
Pretty cool test, simple and cheap. I must play devils advocate since I am in the fuel business. Fortunately, I am in an area where I do not have to sell or buy gasoline with ethanol in it.
Let us say you want to know if the neighborhood station has ethanol and what percent it is. There are no labels and they will not tell you. Soooo, you pull out your little test kit. Oh, Oh, against the law to put gasoline in a glass container. Even if you can sneak a little for the test, better be carefull with your discarding of the sample because some one will have a conniption fit if they see you dumping it out. So break ou the UL certified gas can, get a sample and go home to do the test. Hooray, it's a good test. Dump your sample on some weeds and scurry back to the gas station to fill up because the next load of fuel they get might be different. John
jimh posted 11-19-2007 08:23 PM ET (US)
You can also get a ethanol fuel test kit from Briggs and Stratton. The part number is
100023
You can purchase the Briggs and Stratton product at a local dealer or at on-line sellers like
http://www.m-and-d.com/BS-100023.html
The MSRP is a modest $5.65, although shipping and handling charges may increase the cost somewhat.
If you want to use a graduated cylinder, you can often find them for sale at photography supply stores, or at many on-line sellers like these:

http://www.google.com/products?client=safari&rls=en&q=graduated+ cylinder&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&um=1&sa=N&tab=wf
jimh posted 12-01-2007 02:09 PM ET (US)
I have received one email comment that the Briggs & Strattton tester was purchased and found suitable for the purpose. It looks like the lowest-cost solution, other than a generic graduated cylinder.

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Author	Topic: Testing Blended Gasoline for Ethanol Content
jimh	posted 11-18-2007 03:55 PM ET (US) Please use this thread for any follow-up questions or comments on my recent article in the REFERENCE section Ethanol Fuel Testing Determining ethanol content in blended gasoline fuels http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/ethanolTest.html The article describes a simple test procedure for determining the ethanol content of blended gasoline fuels.
glen e	posted 11-18-2007 05:10 PM ET (US) Thanks Jim - just posted the link on my site, naturally giving you credit...nice work....
highanddry	posted 11-19-2007 12:38 AM ET (US) I have been using the EAA method (as I am an EAA Tech Counselor) for many years and it is quite effective.
kgregg	posted 11-19-2007 09:21 AM ET (US) Great info Jim! I need to perform this test on 15 gals of suspect fuel in my boat. Thanks, Kevin
TRAFFICLAWYER	posted 11-19-2007 12:58 PM ET (US) I wonder if an additive was added to the mix ie, Startron,Stabil,etc., how the outcome of water aborbtion percentage would be affected?
poker13	posted 11-19-2007 07:21 PM ET (US) Thanks for that very useful article. I'll start testing the gas sold around here soon.
JMARTIN	posted 11-19-2007 07:45 PM ET (US) Pretty cool test, simple and cheap. I must play devils advocate since I am in the fuel business. Fortunately, I am in an area where I do not have to sell or buy gasoline with ethanol in it. Let us say you want to know if the neighborhood station has ethanol and what percent it is. There are no labels and they will not tell you. Soooo, you pull out your little test kit. Oh, Oh, against the law to put gasoline in a glass container. Even if you can sneak a little for the test, better be carefull with your discarding of the sample because some one will have a conniption fit if they see you dumping it out. So break ou the UL certified gas can, get a sample and go home to do the test. Hooray, it's a good test. Dump your sample on some weeds and scurry back to the gas station to fill up because the next load of fuel they get might be different. John
jimh	posted 11-19-2007 08:23 PM ET (US) You can also get a ethanol fuel test kit from Briggs and Stratton. The part number is 100023 You can purchase the Briggs and Stratton product at a local dealer or at on-line sellers like http://www.m-and-d.com/BS-100023.html The MSRP is a modest $5.65, although shipping and handling charges may increase the cost somewhat. If you want to use a graduated cylinder, you can often find them for sale at photography supply stores, or at many on-line sellers like these: http://www.google.com/products?client=safari&rls=en&q=graduated+ cylinder&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&um=1&sa=N&tab=wf
jimh	posted 12-01-2007 02:09 PM ET (US) I have received one email comment that the Briggs & Strattton tester was purchased and found suitable for the purpose. It looks like the lowest-cost solution, other than a generic graduated cylinder.