Fuel: Testing and Inspection

PREPARATION

Obtain a fuel sample from the bottom of the fuel tank so that any water present will be detected. The sample should be bright and clear. If the sample appears cloudy or contaminated with water (indicated by a layer at the bottom of the sample), this procedure should not be used and fuel system should be cleaned.


TESTING (Water Extraction Method)

1. Place 100 ml of of the gasoline to be tested in a 100 ml stoppered glass graduated cylinder.

2. Add 10 ml of water and install the stopper.

3. Shake thoroughly for 30 seconds.

4. Loosen stopper to release pressure.

5. Close stopper and repeat shaking for 30 seconds.

6. Place the cylinder on a level surface for approximately 5 minutes to allow adequate liquid separation.

RESULTS EVALUATION

If alcohol is present, the volume of the lower layer (now containing both alcohol and water) will be greater than 10 ml.

For example, if lower layer volume is increased to 15 ml, it indicates at least 5 percent alcohol in the fuel. The actual amount of alcohol may be somewhat greater because this procedure does not extract all alcohol from fuel.

NOTE: Although this test identifies the level of alcohol present with a reasonable amount of accuracy, it does not identify the type of alcohol.

Allowable Alcohol/Fuel Concentration

Alcohol/Fuel Type % by Volume

Methanol (Wood Alcohol) 5.0%

Ethanol (Grain Alcohol) 10.0%

MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) 15.0%

NOTE: Use of fuel (gasohol) that contains more than 5% methanol, can corrode metal fuel system components and damage plastic and rubber parts.