"Robert M. Gary" wrote in message
om...
(Ben Jackson) wrote in message
news:%91jc.37417$_L6.2182786@attbi_s53...
I usually pump my own, but today I called ahead and had the FBO fill it
for me (only 53 cents more/gal!). I wasn't even present for the fueling
so I was extra paranoid during preflight, and I swear the 100LL was not
as "blue" as it usually is. It smelled like gas, and when I finally got
a big enough sample you could see a slight blue tint, but on a dip tube
I would have sworn it was clear.

So how blue is it supposed to be? Is there another simple test I could
have done to reassure myself (besides burning 30gal of it and having it
work fine)?

In certain levels of light our blue 100LL can look very clear. I'll
usually hold the sample up to the light behind a white part of the
plane. After contrasting with the white paint of the plane, the fuel
tends to look much more blue. Years ago, I almost made myself pass out
smelling the fuel from the Aeronca. I couldn't convince myself whether
or not I saw blue (I wasn't worried about mogas, I was concerned about
water since it has just rained). I got so light headed I had to
terminate the flight early. I now try to only take a quick sniff.

-Robert

Robert,

Next time try pouring a few ounces of the fuel onto the ramp. Fuel will soak
in, but water will bead up.

Harvey