Testing for ethanol in gasoline

[ducati_nolan]

I know that there has been talk about the possible negative effects of alcoholl in gas on this board, and I can't believe that I forgot to mention this. Aircraft fuel testers have some calibrated markings on them that tell you what the percentage of alcoholl is in the fuel. You fill it up to one line with water, then the rest of the way with gas, and shake it up. After about five minutes, check the water line, and if it's risen, that means that it contains some alcoholl. most testers are calibrated to tell you the percentage as well.

If anyone is interested here are some places to get these testers
http://www.sportys.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?DID=19&Product_ID=1278
http://www.kitplanes.com/news/news/7640-1.phtml
http://www.theoutboardwizard.bizhosting.com/alcohol_fuel_test_kit.html

If you don't care about the percentage you can just use any tube, tupperware etc.

Ride safe 

[GeeP]

Interesting...  I didn't know it was possible to test for ethanol so easily.

My 150 has an auto gas STC, but I've never run auto gas in it.  Not only does it cause carburetion issues and cold start problems, but it tends to varnish up the carburetor.  As an A&P I used to loathe annual inspections on mogas airplanes.

I'll stick with 100LL.   

[makenzie71]

It's how you test for a lot of things in fuel.  Most fuel contaminants are water-based.

[nightrider]

But the question is really: how does it affect GS performance and/or engine & carb condition. Seems like the drawbacks would be minimal or there would be a public outcry.

--brainwashed by flouride

[nArKeD]

But the question is really: how does it affect GS performance and/or engine & carb condition. Seems like the drawbacks would be minimal or there would be a public outcry.

--brainwashed by flouride

There is no real downside compared to the alternatives of boosting octane levels (e.g. lead, MTBE).  The theoretical maximum level of performance will be reduced but the difference is negligible and there are engine longevity benefits to using ethanol (run cooler, higher octane).

[makenzie71]

No real downside except occasional hard-starts...but that'd only be in really low compression engines.  THe benefits are substantial, though...primarilly in that alcohol is a clean fuel.

[Susuki_Jah]

well alchohol will deteriorate your rubber quicker such as lines. but Im not sure if there is enough in the gas to actually show any effects that much sooner. you get worse MPG with alchohol.   I have noticed it in all of my vehicles ! .

the only real upside is the renewal for this fuel source. its made from corn.  it didnt really drop prices any significant amount. freeken prices keep jumping like a bouncing ball.

I swear I still cant wait till they make an affordable desiel sport bike.

[makenzie71]

thinking of the whole corn thing...ya know there's going to be some trouble.  See...we feed our cows corn sileage...the stuff they make ethenol from.  An ethenol company was looking to move in out here and was quoting the cost of all the local sileage and offering pennies more on contracts than wha tthe local livestock yards were...which means, had the plant moved in, they would have gotten the contract.

Of course one more ethenol plant would have had an effect on the cost of fuel, but we wouldn't have cared because the cattle business here would have suffered.  Unemployed people don't really do a lot of driving.

[Susuki_Jah]

thinking of the whole corn thing...ya know there's going to be some trouble.  See...we feed our cows corn sileage...the stuff they make ethenol from.  An ethenol company was looking to move in out here and was quoting the cost of all the local sileage and offering pennies more on contracts than wha tthe local livestock yards were...which means, had the plant moved in, they would have gotten the contract.

Of course one more ethenol plant would have had an effect on the cost of fuel, but we wouldn't have cared because the cattle business here would have suffered.  Unemployed people don't really do a lot of driving.

wow that sux. I never even heard about this. Id rather pay more for gas than have the hard working people like that be out of jobs.  I think we should have just left gas alone. what the heck has the ethonal done for us?  I guess it shows some innitiative lol.   even though we have known for years that desiel engines can run off used vegitable oil aka GREASE.

[makenzie71]

No ethenol isn't bad...it just has to be planned.  Ethenol plants are local-resource hogs...they move to where a resource is already available.  It's happened several times that a plant has moved into a heavy agricultural area and the local operations dependant on that agriculture suffer...a lot of those operations fail.  After 5~10 years, though, the local economy balances out.

The biggest reason why the plant they WERE going to open nearby was halted was because the local ag couldn't feed it.  But because they came by, nearly every farmer within 100 miles has at least one low-grade corn field dedicated to sileage production.  This year, there will be too much to go around and we'll be wandering around scratching our heads trying to figure out where these ethenol people are...

The plants just need to give us a head start.

[ducati_nolan]

My 150 has an auto gas STC, but I've never run auto gas in it.  Not only does it cause carburetion issues and cold start problems, but it tends to varnish up the carburetor.  As an A&P I used to loathe annual inspections on mogas airplanes.

I'll stick with 100LL.   cheers

Yeah the quality of auto gas isn't controlled like the 100LL. It seems like the main drawback is the short shelf life of the stuff. My understanding/opinion about using autogas in planes (that have the STC), is that it's okay if you fly the thing very often to use straight auto gas (if you test for alcohol), but it's better to use 20-50% 100LL that way you get some of the lead (100LL has twice the lead of 80/87 that your little continental was designed for) and save a little money. If you aren't going to fly it very often it's best just to stick with the 100LL so it won,t go bad and gum everything up.

My dad has a Kitfox with the 912 rotax and they recomend using autogas as much as possible, but that's a different breed of engine.

As a side note, if you're going to store your motorcycle, boat, lawnmower or whatever for the winter, filling up the tank with 100LL  is much better than using fuel stabilizer in regular gas

[manofthefield]

Rema1000 runs E85 and says his carbs and engine are sparkling clean.  He did say he had to try a couple different types of fuel line to get one that wouldn't break down.  Also, cold starting can be a problem for him

I'll run E10 without much of a thought. 

[Egaeus]

I experimented with E85 before I decided that it would be too difficult to do correctly for now.  Leaving it in my carburetor caused the float valves to corrode and stick to the guides.  I had to use pliers to get them loose.