Method for testing and correcting phase separation in ethanol based fuels

A method of testing a fuel tank and fuel within said fuel tank for phase separation and free-standing water and then treating said fuel tank and said fuel for phase separation, comprising:

• a) inserting a water-detecting paste by way of a collapsible measuring stick into said fuel tank at a first opening and a second opening in order to determine if any free-standing water is present anywhere within said fuel tank or within said fuel;
• b) observing any color change of said water-detecting paste;
• c) pulling a plurality of fuel samples from said fuel tank;
• d) placing said fuel samples in a plurality of separate clear containers;
• e) placing a piece of plastic within each clear container, wherein each piece of said plastic comprises an amount of water-detecting paste;
• f) observing both any color change of said water-detecting paste on each piece of plastic within each container and an amount of time it takes for said water-detecting paste to change color;
• g) adding a chemical treatment to said fuel within said fuel tank in order to reduce or eliminate the presence of any water in suspension within said fuel and said fuel tank;
• h) agitating said fuel tank to evenly disperse said chemical treatment;
• i) allowing said fuel tank to settle;
• j) pulling a plurality of additional fuel samples from said fuel tank in order to re-test for phase separation with said water-detecting paste in order to determine if additional chemical treatment of said fuel is needed;
• and
• k) checking an octane rating of said fuel after said water-detecting paste indicates that no more free-standing water or water in suspension is present within said fuel and said fuel tank.