re: testing for alcohol in gas

[Phil Rose <pjrose@servtech.com>]

>Date: Wed, 22 Apr 98 00:26:56 EDT
>From: Steinbru@VNET.IBM.COM
>Subject: testing for alcohol in gas
>
>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

Gary,
Nice idea.

Mention should be made that the gasoline + colored-water should be _shaken_
vigorously for a few seconds to extract the alcohol; then allowed to
separate back into the two layers that are measured.

The water + alcohol volumes won't be exactly additive, but close enough for
the purposes of this test. Oh yeh, "Extinguish all smoking materials".

Now, how 'bout a simple backyard test for octane #?

Better Living Through Chemistry (right, Bob M.?) :)


Phil Rose		Rochester, NY
'89 100
'91 200q		pjrose@servtech.com