Not sure if it's in solution or just in suspension. However, for some it seems to settle out and form a layer on the bottom of the drum or tank etc, for others, this stuff seems not to settle to the bottom and is not visible until centrifuging (this is my experience most of the time).
When the wax stuff shows up and settles one would expect to happen under the following conditions:
1. Fuel is left to settle for long enough in cold weather
2. If you have some sort of device to chill (Julian's pic on VOD early '12)
2. At the bottom of your fuel tank which is out in the cold hanging low
If the stuff stays in suspension, I guess it's as a result of a similar specific gravity (so maybe it would take an extended period of time to drop out??), maybe there's also something going on at a molecular structure level, where it has a high but fine distribution throughout the fuel (question for the scientists). In suspension what are the conditions that would allow it to conglomerate and then drop out for form a coating on a filter for example?
I'm not at all convinced that by definition, this stuff can rightly be described as HMPE's, but as you say Steve, we need it properly analysing.
I take it that nobody here has access to mass spectrometry?? I'll have a go at talking to Ben to see if he'd be prepared to get involved for a modest fee? Failing this does anybody have any ideas of how assess it's properties. I've tried a 10/90 and it seems to drop out (coz at 20 deg it's solid). There was a suggestion of a Dr. Pepper - not sure what that would demonstrate other than, perhaps exclude FAT??
