There may be a simpler method... but the method I used to use when I owned a Taylorcraft was...
1. I had a small cylindrical glass tube (like a test tube). Something that holds about 15 ml (237 ml is an ounce) 2. If it is not graduated (volume lines marked on it). Mark one line on it 1/3 of the way up from the bottom. Mark a second line 2/3 of the way up. 3. Fill to the first mark with water. 4. Fill to second mark with your gasoline. Try not to disturb the water... i.e. if you can, add the gasoline slowly down the side of the tube.... perhaps with a dropper. 5. Cap or put your finger/thumb over the end, and shake. 6. If alcohol is present, it will prefer to move into the water layer, and the water layer will now be larger. Again, the water layer is the lower layer. 7. You might try it first with gasoline you know doesn't have methanol or ethanol in it... and polish up your technique. 8. You will want to be very accurate in filling the water accurately to the first mark, since it is the water volume you are expecting to see change. You really don't have to be that accurate with the amount of gas you add. The more gas you add, the greater the difference you will see in the volume of the water (if it has alcohol in it). 9. An alternative (easier) way to do this is put some water in the tube, then use a marker to accurately pinpoint its level, then add the gasoline with the dropper, and shake and... (as above) This way you aren't having to accurately add a volume of water to the line in the tube... you just accurately mark its volume level after arbitrarily adding a volume of water. In theory, if you use a larger proportion of gasoline , it will be easier to see the difference (if any) in the water level. Brian Bowman chemist and sometime pilot and powerplant mechanic (on paper at least)
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