I remembered reading about this a couple of months ago from AOPA and a
little digging around found this...........

Bob


Testing fuel for ethanol


The following test can be performed to determine the presence of
ethanol in gasoline.

On a test tube or olive bottle, make a permanent line about two inches
from the bottom.

Fill with water to this line, then fill the tube to the top with
gasoline.

Cover the tube, agitate it then let it stand.

Ethanol mixes with water and the two will separate out together.
Therefore, after mixing the water and the gasoline, if the water level
appears to have increased, then the fuel contains ethanol and should
not be used.

Ethanol fuels can damage the rubber and aluminum components of your
aircraft fuel system. Ethanol increases the volatility of fuel, and
hence the possibility of vapor lock also increases. Ethanol may vent
off at altitude, reducing both range and octane. For these reasons
fuel containing ethanol must never be used in airplanes.

We offer a ready made ethanol tester for $15.00.





On Jan 20, 6:06*pm, Nyal Williams
wrote:
What equipment is needed, and how does one test for
the presence of ethanol?

Should it not be possible to test the batch, or require
that the dealer test it, before accepting it for delivery?

At 20:18 20 January 2008, Bill Daniels wrote:



I don't have the whole answer but I'm working on it.
Here's what I do have.
Many Pawnees have been successfully using MOGAS for
rmany years all around
the world, but.....

1. The Lycoming O-540 235HP engine has an STC for MOGAS
in several
airframes.
* *- (The engine, propeller and airframe have to be
STC'd together as a
unit.)

2. Some, but not all, Pawnee airframes with the Lyc
O-540 have MOGAS STC's.
* *- Pawnee D airframe doesn't.

3. No MOGAS STC allows use of fuel containing ethanol
- it does bad things
to aircraft fuel systems. *Many, if not most, problems
related to using
MOGAS have been traced to ethanol in the fuel.

4. There is an increasing number of reports of MOGAS
containing ethanol sold
at airports for use in airplanes.

5. There is suspicion that ethanol is being added to
gasoline earlier and
earlier in the distribution channel so that even if
you have a deal with the
local petroleum distributor to deliver MOGAS without
ethanol, he may still
unknowingly do so. *Best advice is to test each batch
of fuel for ethanol
before using it.

6. Many states or localities mandate special automobile
fuel blends to fight
air polution. *STC's for MOGAS do not take this into
account.

So, while MOGAS can work fine in a particular Pawnee,
the owner/operator has
to assume the responsibility to insure that all fuel
used meets the STC
requirements.

Bill Daniels

wrote in message

.com...
Our club in Indiana is looking for advice and / or
experience in
converting Pawnee Tow planes to run on motor fuel.
Any comments or
advice would be gratefully accepted .- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -