Any way to tell if fuel has gotten water in it?
Discussion
jon- said:
I have 65 litres of vpower from May that unfortunately has sat with a semi open spout (long story).
Is there anyway of telling whether the rain has gotten in?
Pour a sample into a clear container. Have a look at it, it should be clear and bright. If there is any cloudiness to it, it is contaminated with water. Is there anyway of telling whether the rain has gotten in?
HD Adam said:
Water is heavier than petrol so it will be at the bottom of the barrel.
If the petrol has any Ethanol content though, that will have absorbed the water.
Correct, hence you cant just see if its separated. If the petrol has any Ethanol content though, that will have absorbed the water.
I'm not 100% sure if Vpower has an Ethanol content though, I suspect it hasn't.
Thanks for all the replies.
If water has got in, it won't be much. 1-2 litres tops, but still more than enough to damage an engine I suspect.
Will drain some out and see what the deal is with colour. If all else fails I'll get one of these:
probably as much use as water detection tablets
If water has got in, it won't be much. 1-2 litres tops, but still more than enough to damage an engine I suspect.
Will drain some out and see what the deal is with colour. If all else fails I'll get one of these:
probably as much use as water detection tablets
Stick it on a stove and boil the water off.
Seriously, this is a valid, if slightly risky solution. Don't suppose you have an old illegal distillation unit kicking around do you?
Remember years ago watching a documentary about the British Antarctic Expedition where their fuel for their Snowcats had adsorbed water. They decanted the petrol into tea urns, stuck them on the gas range and boiled the water off. Remember, water has a lower boiling point than petrol.
If it all ends in tears and burnt houses, you never read it here.
Seriously, this is a valid, if slightly risky solution. Don't suppose you have an old illegal distillation unit kicking around do you?Remember years ago watching a documentary about the British Antarctic Expedition where their fuel for their Snowcats had adsorbed water. They decanted the petrol into tea urns, stuck them on the gas range and boiled the water off. Remember, water has a lower boiling point than petrol.
If it all ends in tears and burnt houses, you never read it here.
Edited by hemibum on Thursday 23 June 19:27
Edited by hemibum on Thursday 23 June 19:28
Chuck a bottle of this in... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzdLWMdT0LQ
Edit: oh, and err, shake it all about.
Edit: oh, and err, shake it all about.
Edited by jsg612 on Thursday 23 June 19:27
Every time I fly my forty year old crate I have to drain a sample from the tanks to check if there's water in the fuel, but there are little valves for this underneath the wings, which most cars don't have. I have never found any water in the tanks, but if you don't check, and there is water in the fuel, this tends to make itself known as you climb out under full power, with a primary school and puppy hospital directly ahead of you.
hemibum said:
Stick it on a stove and boil the water off. Seriously, this is a valid, if slightly risky solution. Don't suppose you have an old illegal distillation unit kicking around do you?
Remember years ago watching a documentary about the British Antarctic Expedition where their fuel for their Snowcats had adsorbed water. They decanted the petrol into tea urns, stuck them on the gas range and boiled the water off. Remember, water has a lower boiling point than petrol.
If it all ends in tears and burnt houses, you never read it here.
Won't work, as petrol has a boiling point of circa 95 degrees. Seriously, this is a valid, if slightly risky solution. Don't suppose you have an old illegal distillation unit kicking around do you?Remember years ago watching a documentary about the British Antarctic Expedition where their fuel for their Snowcats had adsorbed water. They decanted the petrol into tea urns, stuck them on the gas range and boiled the water off. Remember, water has a lower boiling point than petrol.
If it all ends in tears and burnt houses, you never read it here.
Water finding paste. Turns red if water present.Not seen it in shops mind.
Also there is an electric "sceaming handbag" that will beep if you put the sensor in fuel with water in it. Again, Ive never seen them in shops. I used them at work.
I know you can take a sample of diesel. let it stand and any water will seperate, not sure about petrol as Ive never done that.
http://www.petrochemsuppliesgs.com/paste.html
Also there is an electric "sceaming handbag" that will beep if you put the sensor in fuel with water in it. Again, Ive never seen them in shops. I used them at work.
I know you can take a sample of diesel. let it stand and any water will seperate, not sure about petrol as Ive never done that.
http://www.petrochemsuppliesgs.com/paste.html
Edited by nottyash on Thursday 23 June 19:36
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