Acetone as a Fuel Additive

[RobertK]

Well I just read the web site and they seem to not really know what it makes anything better. They don't know if it adds octane or not. They guess that it cleans the engine out. Why not just run a can of sea foam through your car to clean out your carbon deposits?

Sigh.. if I must.. this link completely contradicts your entire statement. This is on the same website.

http://pesn.com/2005/03/17/6900069_Acetone/

The concern you should have about your fuel system is if it is comprised of cheap plastics anywhere throughout since Acetone will deteriorate cheap plastics no doubt.

What mods do you have to your car? It shouldn't be pinging. Sounds like you have bigger fish to fry.

No mods just tons of miles on my Mitsu Galant.. probably.. but I could care less since it's my A to B grocery getter. I fi had a guess it would be the cheap 87 Raceway gas the person I bought it from used in it regularly.

[royalflush313]

I've read this before too, very interesting. However, I would be very hesistent to put any Acetone in the car - reason being I don't know enough about this.

If Acetone was a proven & safe method for greater car mileage and performance, why hasnt gas companies not added it in their gasoline already? Acetone can be had for cheap, and 3-4oz in 10gallons is peanuts. I have doubts that it is simply because of the extra labour hours and material expenses - imagine a lawsuit of millions of car owners who eventually came to find negative consequences of acetones gas.

I personally don't think that there's enough research put into this. Meaning just because some individuals who have tried this have yet to find any negative consequences, it does not necessarily mean that there is no negative consequences.

The author has never found any valid reason for not using acetone in gasoline or diesel fuel. Plus it takes such a tiny amount to work. No wonder they fear this additive.

Either way, keep us updated.

[AndrewBird]

If Acetone was a proven & safe method for greater car mileage and performance, why hasnt gas companies not added it in their gasoline already?

That's easy. Money. If you get worse gas mileage, you have to buy more gas to go the same distance, bring money back to them. They want you to get worse gas mileage, not better.

I have heard of this idea before, but I too, would not do it due to the fact that there is not enough information backing it up. Mythbusters should test it!

[RobertK]

I've read this before too, very interesting. However, I would be very hesistent to put any Acetone in the car - reason being I don't know enough about this.

What's funny is that alcohol has been proven to be bad for your engine yet oil companies are still allowed to add a certain percentage to gasoline.

I have heard of this idea before, but I too, would not do it due to the fact that there is not enough information backing it up. Mythbusters should test it!

Not a bad idea.. maybe we should send it in as a suggestion.

[royalflush313]

That's easy. Money. If you get worse gas mileage, you have to buy more gas to go the same distance, bring money back to them. They want you to get worse gas mileage, not better.

I have heard of this idea before, but I too, would not do it due to the fact that there is not enough information backing it up. Mythbusters should test it!

yep, but you can charge more money per gallon of gas.

OR

And also, its all in the economics too - if 1 gas company is selling a gallon of gas for the same price as its competitor but their gas is PROVEN to give significantly better milege, why would anyone in their right mind pick an inferior gas (beside for proximity reasons)? Considering how cheap and abundant acetone is, the gross profit would still benefit the company who is doing extra work on their gas.
Soon, all the competitors might do the same - but in which case, they can all now raise their price to accomodate for the expenses used in adding acetone (which should not be a significant upscale in gas price) - it would all be another marketing strategy, no?

Or is it really a fantastic chemical proven to be all positive? Longevity of automobiles that car-makers will not want to allow?

Furthermore, if it really does work like magic, why is there no off-the-shelf acetone that is re-tagged as a mileage booster?
For example, isn't brake cleaner basically benzene? (I could be wrong, so correct me if i am).
Like someone said, some fuel additives have some percentage of acetone, but the general consensus is that most octane boosters etc do not do shit for mileage especially when considering the expenses used on such a product.

[royalflush313]

Mythbusters should test it!

Agreed. :pimp:

[asubimmer]

Agreed. :pimp:

unless they stop showing like top gear :(

[RobertK]

Furthermore, if it really does work like magic, why is there no off-the-shelf acetone that is re-tagged as a mileage booster?

We already went over that.. ie. NOS Octane Booster contains Acetone.

[equate975]

Ive been doing this on my 325i for some time, this is what I have found so far.

Format is

Miles before E-Light | Average MPG | Miles before empty (says OBC)


With Acetone:

297 | 24.7 | 49


Then I decided to track without acetone

304 | 24.7 | 47
273 | 21.2 | 47
279 | 22.6 | 48
278 | 22.9 | 47
278 | 22.6 | 53


For some reason the acetone tank did really good for its tank and the following tank without acetone in it... However, I think in the begining of this experiment I was subconciously driving a lot less agressive. So I let a bunch of tanks by to see what I was averaging without acetone, when I finish this tank I am going to do a couple tanks of acetone and see if its really doing anything.

Cheers

[RobertK]

It seems that this has been very thoroughly discussed on the MythBuster forums.

http://community.discovery.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/9701967776/m/706107606/r/599104016#599104016

[royalflush313]

We already went over that.. ie. NOS Octane Booster contains Acetone.

and u missed this part.

some fuel additives have some percentage of acetone, but the general consensus is that most octane boosters etc do not do shit for mileage especially when considering the expenses used on such a product.

btw Im not doubting that the acetone gives better mileage, but i am doubting that acetone does not do any damage to the car.

[trent]

I used the wrong term.. more along the lines of quieted existing pinging not the valves my bad.

+1

LOL!

You have WAY more issues than gas mileage then! Dumbass

[trent]

You are probably one of those guys that puts a 10lb magnet on his fuel line!

haha

[motorprestige]

I agree that it needs more scientific backing though.

[RobertK]

Here's some more info pulled off the web.. still have yet to find any negative experiences with Acetone. Read up and enjoy.

Where do I find 100% pure acetone?

From a store such as K-Mart or Menards. We buy a gallon can of 100% pure acetone for about nine bucks. CVS and Walgreens have pure ONYX acetone in 16-oz. plastic bottles for three dollars. The Torco EAL 12-oz. bottle is also good for acetone. These bottles are excellent containers. Save them.

How much acetone do I put into my fuel?

For gasoline we use about three oz. per ten US gallons. Sometimes we use four oz. per ten gal. For diesel we use about two oz. per ten US gallons. That is equal to about 2.5 ml per liter for gasoline and about 1.5 ml per liter for diesel. Any tiny amount is better than none. No engine can deliver good MPG without some acetone.

What kind of mileage increase will acetone give my car?

Normally from 15% to 35% depending on your driving habits and how many of our mileage suggestions you have taken. But we have seen 65% and even higher in Neons. We know an aeronautical engineer in San Jose whose test car went from a baseline of 19.3 MPG to 27. He certified this with his ScanGauge. That is a genuine boost of 27%. Note on a downhill cruise with the gas pedal up, the ScanGauge says the instant reading is OVER 100 MPG. So it pays to back off on the gas when cruising down hills. We know a Neon owner whose MPG average went from 23 to 44.5 MPG. Normal is over 40 MPG in his 2002 Neon, according to his ScanGauge.

When did you first start using acetone?

Starting in 1953 with my 1948 Hudson. I used acetone as a test ingredient, driving up and down the coast of California. Later I used acetone in a 1939 Chevy going from California to Alabama in 1954. Been at it ever since. I love the absolute smoothness it gives my cars and trucks. Everyone does. Never leave town without it.

Is acetone harmful to my valves?

No. What is harmful is late timing and lean mixtures. But these conditions disappeared when they put in computers to manage your engine settings. This is one of the myths being passed around to naive listeners by Big Oil. No valve has ever been hurt simply by using a tiny bit of acetone in gasoline or diesel fuel. Acetone is good for engines.

Have any car companies accepted the use of acetone in the gas?

Maybe Toyota because I was told the Prius gets 62-63 MPG with acetone used per my website. They seem proud of that fact. I was further told they do NOT approve of alcohol in the gasoline. Neither do boat mechanics whose clients constantly complain about the problem with alcohol. Neons claim the best increase in MPG that I have seen and heard in my Email from all over the world.

Can acetone reduce the wax crystals that form in gasoline in cold weather?

Yes. Those strings form when cold. They need to be dissolved better in the fuel with acetone. Ice crystals also form and can damage parts but acetone greatly helps with that problem too.

Can acetone improve starting in very cold climates?

Absolutely. You notice easier starts and better throttle response. The MPG in cold weather is notoriously bad but acetone helps so that highway speeds become steady with just a slight touch on the gas pedal.

Will acetone harm my pistons or other engine parts?

Absolutely not. Gasoline never gets to the pistons with acetone in the right amount because nearly all the fuel evaporates and burns like it is supposed to. Without acetone, fuel will certainly wash the rings and pistons. You see clean tail pipes with acetone. Sooty black tail pipes are the norm without it.

Would acetone melt plastic or neoprene parts like in fuel pumps or fuel hoses?

That comes from the oil companies, I believe. There are false rumors we have contradicted over and over. We have dozens of such parts soaking outside for months in various solutions of gasoline with up to 10% acetone which is several hundred times too much. No damage so far.

What does acetone do for emissions?

This is a real success story. Unburned hydrocarbons drop dramatically with acetone. This is true for both gasoline and diesel, ending soot problems. Contrary to what you hear, ethanol (without acetone) INCREASES pollution.

What cars and for how long did you drive them with acetone in the fuel?

Listing only the very longest: 1956 Chevy/Chrysler for 130,000 miles, 1964 Ford Econoline van for 567,000, 1982 Plymouth Champ for 190,000, 1990 Caravan for 180,000 and 1995 Neon has gone 140,000 and is still going strong. All delivered excellent mileage and dependability on acetone.

Why have we not heard of common mileage additives before now?

They have been suppressed by every means possible. Acetone alone could cost the oil industry billions. But those billions would remain in YOUR pockets and purses.

Can acetone be used to improve fuel octane in supercharged vehicles?

Theoretically yes. Acetone in larger amounts than we use currently would be needed but not in a passenger car. But every supercharged system is different. Gasoline or diesel? Street or racing? Too many variables for a short answer. Straight acetone is 150-octane. But I would never use it that way.

What other additives can be used with acetone?

The Gunk line of products have good additives for mileage but in small amounts and only when mixed with acetone. Xylene or toluene can be used with acetone but only in small amounts. Remember these are toxic. Take care. Often we add one oz. of Torco EAL. Sometimes we add an oz. of a Gunk chemical. Cap and shake the bottle. Sometimes we add two oz. of Torco GP7 synthetic 2-cycle additive. Then fill the balance of the bottle with acetone, cap and shake. We often use empty white Torco EAL 12-oz. bottles as acetone containers. Ordinary clear plastic bottles do not work. This solution will improve lubrication to pistons, walls, rings, valves, fuel pumps and spray nozzles--both in diesel and gasoline engines. Ring seal is vastly improved.