Fuel experiment
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2008
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Fuel experiment
I am sacrificing one of my oil testing bottles to check the fuel/water mix coming out of my separator (can't re-use the bottle for lab testing as its contaminated with fuel). I filled up the whole bottle an hour and 45 minutes ago. I filled up my tank just the other day, I've only driven about 65 miles on the tank so far.
Question -
How long does it take for diesel and water to separate out? I am not expecting to find much but it will be interesting to find out. Should I let it sit over night? 3 days? The bottle is from a Blackstone test kit, not quite clear but a little foggy - it still is clear enough to use for this.
Question -
How long does it take for diesel and water to separate out? I am not expecting to find much but it will be interesting to find out. Should I let it sit over night? 3 days? The bottle is from a Blackstone test kit, not quite clear but a little foggy - it still is clear enough to use for this.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,598
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From: Maryland
I would think an hour or two would be plenty. Water is heavier than diesel and unless something is forcing them to bond together, water is going to drop out within a matter of minutes.
I have been thinking about doing an experiment with a Mason jar. Fill the jar 3/4 full with fuel from my separator and observe if there is any water. If no water is present add a few ounces then add an emulsifier to see how "invisible" the water becomes. After this I will add in the correct proportions an additive with a demulsifier to see if it will force the water to drop out again. This should prove (in my mind at least) just how well these additives work and if they will help the water separator collect water that from fuel that may have had an emulsifier added pre-consumer.
I have been thinking about doing an experiment with a Mason jar. Fill the jar 3/4 full with fuel from my separator and observe if there is any water. If no water is present add a few ounces then add an emulsifier to see how "invisible" the water becomes. After this I will add in the correct proportions an additive with a demulsifier to see if it will force the water to drop out again. This should prove (in my mind at least) just how well these additives work and if they will help the water separator collect water that from fuel that may have had an emulsifier added pre-consumer.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2010
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I use rinsed and dried Welch's white grape juice bottles and those are easy to see through since I don't reuse the fuel for an engine.
Two drains ago I filled a second one of those bottles and there still isn't any water with 2 quarts of diesel in there.
Same experience with the first 2 quart bottle.
Early this year I did pour some diesel into a different bottle and then poured several drops of water in there so I could see what it would look like.
I checked a few days later and you can tell where the water is.
Since the water sinks, the bottom of the bottle looks a bit more cloudy than the rest of the fuel in the bottle.
Two drains ago I filled a second one of those bottles and there still isn't any water with 2 quarts of diesel in there.
Same experience with the first 2 quart bottle.
Early this year I did pour some diesel into a different bottle and then poured several drops of water in there so I could see what it would look like.
I checked a few days later and you can tell where the water is.
Since the water sinks, the bottom of the bottle looks a bit more cloudy than the rest of the fuel in the bottle.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Greenwood, SC
I always use a water bottle and let it sit for an hour or so. I rarely see anything other than diesel. It is very easy to tell if there is water, don't stress over it, once you see you will know.
A few months ago I managed to get a large amount of water in the gas tank of my lawn tractor. I think water got in my 5gal gas can somehow. Anyway, I siphoned from the bottom of the gas tank into water bottles so I could see the water. Very easy to identify in gas too.
A few months ago I managed to get a large amount of water in the gas tank of my lawn tractor. I think water got in my 5gal gas can somehow. Anyway, I siphoned from the bottom of the gas tank into water bottles so I could see the water. Very easy to identify in gas too.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Isanti, MN
I don't think you'll find much, Steve! I know I never did.
Good quality fuel shouldn't have any water in it. The first trucking company I drove for had Davco fuel/water separators. Out of the 20,000 gallons of diesel I burned in that year I never remember seeing any noticeable amount of water.
Good quality fuel shouldn't have any water in it. The first trucking company I drove for had Davco fuel/water separators. Out of the 20,000 gallons of diesel I burned in that year I never remember seeing any noticeable amount of water.
Lead Driver
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If that bottle hasn't been touched, you're in good shape as the water would have settled by now.
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Cargo Master
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Yep. It sat all night. I picked it up to look at it but I couldn't find any fog on the bottom, nothing any different than the opaque/foggy bottle.
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I had the video camera out and decided to put it to use playing with diesel fuel, too.
This was the test I did earlier in the year and the bottle ended up in my old oil filter box for whatever reason.
I put more water in there than I thought.
No audio.
Water in ULSD - YouTube
This was the test I did earlier in the year and the bottle ended up in my old oil filter box for whatever reason.
I put more water in there than I thought.
No audio.
Water in ULSD - YouTube
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Central Illinois
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2008
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Wow. Good information in that video.
My sample looks nothing like either of those, though. I have pure fuel - or such a small water concentration that it is undetectable in the case of the bio and standard diesel samples with water intrusion shown in the video. I have the same "look" to the fuel from top to bottom in my bottle.
On a side note, mine is a yellow'ish/fluorescent green color - not clear, orange, or red.
My sample looks nothing like either of those, though. I have pure fuel - or such a small water concentration that it is undetectable in the case of the bio and standard diesel samples with water intrusion shown in the video. I have the same "look" to the fuel from top to bottom in my bottle.
On a side note, mine is a yellow'ish/fluorescent green color - not clear, orange, or red.
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