testing for alcohol in gas

[Steinbru@VNET.IBM.COM]

I happened to be going through one of my old notebooks and came
across a formula given to me by the county weights and measures
guy back when I was having some problems with local gasoline
quality.

It's pretty simple and doesn't require much in the way of lab
equipment or chemicals --you can make your own or get the rest
at a drugstore.

"Fill a graduated container with colored water or glycerin to
the 1/10th level, then fill with the gasoline to be tested to
the 10/10ths level (full).  The water or glycerin and any alcohol
will mix, and the increase in its volume will indicate the
percentage of alcohol in the fuel."

Therefore, if the colored liquid rose to the 2/10ths level,
methyl or ethyl content would be aproximately ten percent.
OK, OK, do the real math.

Mark off a skinny bottle (go ahead, eat the last six olives) with
ten tablespoons (or forty teaspoons for better resolution) of
water to calibrate.  Water and food coloring works pretty well
for the test liquid.
--Gary

('86's:5ks&5ktq+'87CGT w/bent nose
     and a Rabbit w/stretched clutch cable and a Quantum w/weak brakes)