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Author Topic:   Report of successful ethanol test

tjxtreme posted 09-08-2011 10:00 PM ET (US)
I just filled up my 6 gallon tank at a local gas station listed as ethanol free on numerous websites. I called a few others on the same internet listings, and learned that these change quickly- a number of the listed stations no longer sell ethanol free gasoline.
I paid $3.79 per gallon, about 30 cents more than the local 10% ethanol gasoline is selling for. I brought along a 50 mL graduated centrifuge tube to pour a subsample for testing of ethanol/water content-- to test the vendor's claim, and to test the method for myself.
I measured and added 10 mL of water and shook the gas/water mixture vigorously. After the bubbles settled, I was pleasantly surprised to see that there were only 10 mL of non-gasoline liquid in my centrifuge tube-- ethanol-free gasoline!
tjxtreme posted 09-08-2011 10:49 PM ET (US)
...next I'm going to start testing 10% ethanol gas stations to see how close they are to 10%
pcrussell50 posted 09-09-2011 03:44 PM ET (US)
Where did you get this 50ml tube? Was is sold for the purpose, or do you have access to lab equipment from work or something? I want to do that test, too. Pretty neat.
Interesting, you and I disagree as almost polar opposites on matters of political taint. Since I have railed publically and heavily right here on this forum, against the ethanol scam, I'm a little surprised to hear that you are with me on this. No matter, you take your allies where you can find them.
Which web site did you use to locate the ethanol-free station. There was one posted on here couple of months ago, but it's resolution was too coarse.
-Peter
Tohsgib posted 09-09-2011 04:07 PM ET (US)
Google it Peter, it is posted MANY places.
pcrussell50 posted 09-09-2011 04:17 PM ET (US)
What is? The nearly useless link that was posted here a few weeks ago?
One of the problems with googling search strings that provide 10's of thousands or more of results is filtering which ones are worthwhile. That's where asking trusted sources, like your friends on a forum comes in. It can save lots of time, chasing down worthless, dead-end, google results. Usually.
-Peter
Tohsgib posted 09-09-2011 08:55 PM ET (US)
Yes the one that was posted. I have tried for over a year and all I get is the SAME list.
jimh posted 09-10-2011 08:41 AM ET (US)
Regarding simple fuel tests for ethanol content, please see my article, first posted about four years ago, in which I describe in detail the method:
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/ethanolTest.html
I also give sources for a test kits.
tjxtreme posted 09-10-2011 09:21 PM ET (US)
I got the 50 mL tube from the lab I work in- we go through lots of them, and they are just used for water samples and can't be reused for the sensitive analyses. You could use any clear container/bottle and just draw a line where the water is before adding gas, but I like the precision of this... and I'm too cheap to buy the test kit. Thank you Jim for posting the article, that is what inspired me to do my own testing.
My view of ethanol has always been the same here- the issue is unique in the political landscape in that it unites environmentalists with those who favor small government.
I missed the post you guys are referring to... but I used
www.pure-gas.org and a local sportsmen website- Louisiana Sportsman- that has compiled a list of their own. I'm sure CA has a similar source. The Pure Gas website only lists 4 for CA, 3 of which are in the north. Louisiana has hundreds listed.
Tohsgib posted 09-11-2011 02:06 PM ET (US)
That is the one I was talking about. Seems they added 2 to my area, still 15 miles away but getting closer.
Jerry Townsend posted 09-11-2011 02:49 PM ET (US)
AS I have read someplace - and to the best of my knowledge - the 91 octane is alchol free.
There is no economic benefit to you and me to- as ethanol has about 3.5 - 4 % lower energy content than gasoline - but costs about 3 - 3.5% less. The benefit is solely in the impacts to our engines.
One of my major objections to ethanol - is the ethanol manufacturers are using a LOT of grain from off-shore sources - according to a farmer/rancher friend. This, of course, impacts the economy of our country. A thought just came to me - I wonder if our government is subsidizing the foreign grain producers?
I have not yet tested the gas as described by Jim - but any small calibrated guaduate from the cooking section of your grocery store will work. Granted, the calibration is not as accurate as those many of us have used before - but it should be sufficient for the purpose - you just might have to work with ounces instead of cc. Or use a small capped bottle like photographed by Jim - that you have calibrated yourself. Or better yet, lacking a laboratory supply source - someone having a photographic darkroom (of yesteryear - before digital cameras) will have probably several.

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Author	Topic: Report of successful ethanol test
tjxtreme	posted 09-08-2011 10:00 PM ET (US) I just filled up my 6 gallon tank at a local gas station listed as ethanol free on numerous websites. I called a few others on the same internet listings, and learned that these change quickly- a number of the listed stations no longer sell ethanol free gasoline. I paid $3.79 per gallon, about 30 cents more than the local 10% ethanol gasoline is selling for. I brought along a 50 mL graduated centrifuge tube to pour a subsample for testing of ethanol/water content-- to test the vendor's claim, and to test the method for myself. I measured and added 10 mL of water and shook the gas/water mixture vigorously. After the bubbles settled, I was pleasantly surprised to see that there were only 10 mL of non-gasoline liquid in my centrifuge tube-- ethanol-free gasoline!
tjxtreme	posted 09-08-2011 10:49 PM ET (US) ...next I'm going to start testing 10% ethanol gas stations to see how close they are to 10%
pcrussell50	posted 09-09-2011 03:44 PM ET (US) Where did you get this 50ml tube? Was is sold for the purpose, or do you have access to lab equipment from work or something? I want to do that test, too. Pretty neat. Interesting, you and I disagree as almost polar opposites on matters of political taint. Since I have railed publically and heavily right here on this forum, against the ethanol scam, I'm a little surprised to hear that you are with me on this. No matter, you take your allies where you can find them. Which web site did you use to locate the ethanol-free station. There was one posted on here couple of months ago, but it's resolution was too coarse. -Peter
Tohsgib	posted 09-09-2011 04:07 PM ET (US) Google it Peter, it is posted MANY places.
pcrussell50	posted 09-09-2011 04:17 PM ET (US) What is? The nearly useless link that was posted here a few weeks ago? One of the problems with googling search strings that provide 10's of thousands or more of results is filtering which ones are worthwhile. That's where asking trusted sources, like your friends on a forum comes in. It can save lots of time, chasing down worthless, dead-end, google results. Usually. -Peter
Tohsgib	posted 09-09-2011 08:55 PM ET (US) Yes the one that was posted. I have tried for over a year and all I get is the SAME list.
jimh	posted 09-10-2011 08:41 AM ET (US) Regarding simple fuel tests for ethanol content, please see my article, first posted about four years ago, in which I describe in detail the method: http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/ethanolTest.html I also give sources for a test kits.
tjxtreme	posted 09-10-2011 09:21 PM ET (US) I got the 50 mL tube from the lab I work in- we go through lots of them, and they are just used for water samples and can't be reused for the sensitive analyses. You could use any clear container/bottle and just draw a line where the water is before adding gas, but I like the precision of this... and I'm too cheap to buy the test kit. Thank you Jim for posting the article, that is what inspired me to do my own testing. My view of ethanol has always been the same here- the issue is unique in the political landscape in that it unites environmentalists with those who favor small government. I missed the post you guys are referring to... but I used www.pure-gas.org and a local sportsmen website- Louisiana Sportsman- that has compiled a list of their own. I'm sure CA has a similar source. The Pure Gas website only lists 4 for CA, 3 of which are in the north. Louisiana has hundreds listed.
Tohsgib	posted 09-11-2011 02:06 PM ET (US) That is the one I was talking about. Seems they added 2 to my area, still 15 miles away but getting closer.
Jerry Townsend	posted 09-11-2011 02:49 PM ET (US) AS I have read someplace - and to the best of my knowledge - the 91 octane is alchol free. There is no economic benefit to you and me to- as ethanol has about 3.5 - 4 % lower energy content than gasoline - but costs about 3 - 3.5% less. The benefit is solely in the impacts to our engines. One of my major objections to ethanol - is the ethanol manufacturers are using a LOT of grain from off-shore sources - according to a farmer/rancher friend. This, of course, impacts the economy of our country. A thought just came to me - I wonder if our government is subsidizing the foreign grain producers? I have not yet tested the gas as described by Jim - but any small calibrated guaduate from the cooking section of your grocery store will work. Granted, the calibration is not as accurate as those many of us have used before - but it should be sufficient for the purpose - you just might have to work with ounces instead of cc. Or use a small capped bottle like photographed by Jim - that you have calibrated yourself. Or better yet, lacking a laboratory supply source - someone having a photographic darkroom (of yesteryear - before digital cameras) will have probably several.