has anyone tried to use a distiller hydrometer to measure pump E85 alcohol content to make sure they are getting actual 85% ethanol? I know zeitronix wideband made a part that does this but its a lot on the too expensive side.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-ALCOHOL-H...item3f1dc448b7

 

Check out Ridgenet.net. They have a testers for all types of fuels

 

Search the web I've heard of people using the sensors out of gm vehicles with another part but I never researched it but someone I know has it in his sti

 

So is the baby bottle method not accurate enough?

www.injectordynamics.com/AlcoholArticle.html

Its at the bottom.

It will tell you how much gas is there. Are you concerned the ethanol part is not pure ethanol?

 

I've already posted the company of what you are talking about, here is the link. http://www.zeitronix.com/Products/ECA/ECA.shtml here it is.
now check the price. http://www.zeitronix.com/order/order.htm

one day I will buy one but its not this year, or next.

 

I am concerned that I am getting atleast 85% ethanol, for example I tuned my car on E85 that was actually 85% then later I refill and ended up getting 70% or 95%, I wanna make sure my mixture is always what I am tuned on. because we all know pump e85 is never the same from time to time... I don't have the option to buy it in drums.

 

A measured graduated cylinder, a sample of the fuel, and a small amout of water is all you need to determine ethanol % fairly accurately.

For a content meter where you can just seem on the fly what your ethanol % is, Zeitronix is pretty much where it is at.

 

I tried to understand it but was not 100% clear, so I get a test tube put E85 and water in it, and because the water don't with either fuel they will separate in 3 parts? water/Gas/alcohol ? then measure the amount of each fluid.

 

Kinda. Ethanol is hydroscopic so the water will bind with it and not the gasoline, which will create a visable layer in the graduated cyl between the mix and the gasoline.

Basically you take measured graduated cyl. marked out in ml. Add say 100ml of fuel sample to it. Add 20ml of water. You now have a 120ml of sample. Put the cap on the top or stopper in the top, shake a little and let it sit for a couple minutes to settle. What will happen is the water will be mixed into the ethanol and make a visable divide in the layer between the ethanol/ water mix and the gasoline. Then it is just basic math. Using that layer dividing the 2 parts, read off the measure of the amounts of each from the markings on the side. IE. If you have 105ml of ethanol/ water and 15ml of gasoline approximately... subtract your 20ml of water from the ethanol/ water side. You have 85ml of ethanol and 15ml of gasoline or 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline.

You can vary the amount of course, I just used those measures cause 100 makes for the easiest to convert to a %.

 

Now I understand 100%.
thanks. but that Zeitronix is in my future though, I love the wideband, so I know I will love the ECA. just wanna find the sensor local.

 

damn ya'll making this shizz DIFFICULT.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Quick+Fuel/793/36-E85/10002/-1

 

Not difficult. The quick fuel graduated cyl is doing the same as I described... just premarked with easy to read markings. Nice but extra money for just some labeling I do not need.

Good alternative if someone wants that though.

 

did not know this exists, simple and will save a lot of money, getting one asap.

 

This is what I do. Very simple.

 

don't waste $15 on that tiny tester. it's difficult to put fuel in. use a baby bottle. $2 at walmart and you are good to go. not rocket science guys...

 

I know I know. but this is new to me, even though I've been in this game for over a decade, and been using E85 ever since it came out, this is like a new discovery to me on the measurement. My neighbor has baby bottles, save some cash thanks guys, I think this thread was useful, and ended in success.

 

i tend to over think things too and end up complicating everything haha. i bought that stupid Quick Fuel tester LOL and I was upset when it showed up. first of all, you will need some sort of dropper or turkey baster to put fuel in it. secondly, because its a small tube, accuracy becomes difficult due to the sample size. just trying to save you some money and hassle. i took a baby bottle and marked off 30ml (water line) and 130ml (total fill line). put 30ml of water in, then add 100ml of fuel, shake and wait. note how many ml of gas is floating on top (say 17ml) and subtract that number from 100. if 17ml of gas is floating, then you have E83 or 83% ethanol. this is the same info in the ID article I posted earlier. also, a handy dandy tool for getting the fuel sample is to use a plastic or metal wine thief.

 

Problem with the water testers is some oygenated e85 will not seperate like the c85 from vp would not seperate

 

interesting, did not know that.