Remove Ethanol From Gas at Home

We motorcyclists know how evil ethanol is to fiberglass tanks, engine parts and long term storage in a motorcycle. It gums up carbs and fouls tanks. To those who live on the east or west coast, your gas is worse than in other parts of the country. Here’s simple fix and cheaper, long term, than the cost of high octane premium non-ethanol gas where it’s available.

Gather these items

• Sealable 5 gallon bottle
• Petcock
• Tube of JB Weld epoxy
• Hoses, funnels, gloves and eye protection
• 5 gallon reusable polycarbonate water bottle, about 25 bucks at Walmart and other places
• Buy a petcock valve at your hardware store - What, ten bucks!

Basics

When gas and water are mixed, they separate. Gas on top/water below. When the mixture is shaken for 30 seconds, ethanol molecules combine with the water.

Operation

1. Drill a hole in the bottom or low on the side of the 5 gallon bottle for the male threads of your petcock. Seal the petcock in the bottle with a liberal amount of epoxy putty like JB Weld. Let cure.
   
   
2. Place your 5 gallon bottle on a platform, some bricks or level surface to allow space for a container to catch the waste water/ethanol mix below.
   
   
3. Pour ethanol gasoline into your 5 gallon bottle. Fill bottle to 95% full. The extra space allows for gasoline expansion.
   
   
4. Pour water into the gasoline. The ratio is 1 cup-to-one gallon.
   
   
5. Seal the bottle with a tight fitting cap.
   
   
6. Shake the bottle for 30 seconds to fully mix the water and gas.
   
   
7. Wait at least 4 hours for settling (overnight is better). When done, you will see two distinct clear layers.
   
   
8. Drain off the bottom water/ethanol layer into a container to be disposed later at a recycling center.

What is left is ethanol-free gasoline. Pour it into a gasoline container. The higher the octane you originally purchased will now power your happy bike.

Other tips

• A few drops of food coloring allows you to clearly see the layers.
• Wear eye protection and gloves. Avoid splashing.
• Do it all out-of-doors so the fumes don’t combust. Avoid any open flame.

How easy was that?