Acetone as fuel additive

[Gary Allan]

Now (preemptive disclaimer) I don't put much into this acetone thing here ...

but that being said. The thermal content of the stuff isn't that great ..and even if it was, it's in such a quantity that it would have little impact on the mass btu content of the tank.

I believe it was asserted that the benefits were in its reactive/interactive properties in how it modifies gasoline ..or perhaps it's combustion properties (visions of many of the blends that alter "front burn ..back burn and such for different characterstics due to changes in weather).

 

[Santo Fontana]

quote:

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27. Ferrari suspended water in their fuel during their 1980’s Formula1 period. We don’t recommend that you try this...although Acetone will mix with water.

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from here:

http://www.rbracing-rsr.com/waterinjection.html

 

[hone eagle]

Some people are not reading the link provided by LACRUISER,its not about the energy in acetone its about the better atomization possible in diesel at light loads.I can believe that gas users will not see the same improvments,In my power stroke its only about 1 mpg(second tank).I will try it for 5 tanks all from the same station but its a pita .As far as harming the fuel system- as has been suggested - I dont think that 1 ounce per 10 gal. will hurt(.015%).Read the toulene post on what the refinery is permitted to do with your gas.

 

[BrianWC]

quote:

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Originally posted by jtantare:
I would love to see Mythbusters to an episode on this.

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Well, it's on right now and they tried it....it didn't work. Myth busted...After trying it myself, I agree...

 

[oil pan 4]

I don't know.
I used acetone in my 6.2L diesel suburban(non-turbo).
That got me 15mpg pushing it down the interstate at 65-70mph. 55-60mph on hills.
While I was towing a 6,000lb trailer.
The truck it's self weighs a little over 6,000.
I bet if I cut the weight in half I would get a little better then 15 on the interstate.
I had way to much fun smoking people with my truck that wouldn't get off my *** while on the interstate.

 

[BrianWC]

I just wonder if it's benefit is just as an octane booster and nothing to do with "surface tension." Or if it's just cleaning out deposits in FI systems like any other gas additive.

Granted, Mythbuster's testing is sometimes less than perfect. But, I know I tried the stuff at the recommended dosage and saw no difference in my saab.

 

[LouDawg]

I've done extensive research on acetone and learned the following:

Acetone is the mildest solvent there is. Extensive testing has been done on high concentrations of acetone on fuel systems parts with no discernable effect.

Acetone is supposed to reduce the naturally high surface tensions of gasoline and diesel fuel droplets so that it aids in complete vaporization of the fuel with little/no waste. Thus, it's supposed to help the fuel burn very cleanly and completely, like propane. In addition, it's supposed to have some cleansing properties as it is a "mild" solvent.

I am currently in the midst of doing a test with Acetone. Prior to acetone, I averaged 23.9 mpg over four full tanks of gas on my Nissan Frontier Pickup with the 2.4L engine. On my first tank with acetone (4 oz added to 13 gallons) and driving the same routes, I got 27.3 mpg, a 14.2% gain. However, I did switch brands of gasoline (from Pilot to Sunoco) so that added another variable. I'm currently on my second tank and will report my findings as I continue.

Cheers!

 

[boxcartommie22]

i been using 3:1 acetone/toluene mix at 0.234 x gal.gas in my fuel my fords went from 16.5mpg to 24 mpg this is on my 98 4.6 vic and on my cobra engine i went from 13mpg to 20mpg....been doing this for 1 year now.

 

[BrianWC]

Right but toluene is a known octane booster. I wonder if it's just more efficient combustion...

 

[BrianWC]

Or timing, I meant

 

[surfstar]

50% MPG increases! How come when I tried acetone I didn't go from 30 to 45 MPG?

Those are all EFI engines, right? I read that some people were seeing better increases with carb'd engines.

edit: the EPA for a vic is 17/25, so maybe the acetone cleaned up a dirty fuel system.

 

[Zesty]

Just for the record, I watched Mythbusters last night and they tested the acetone and a few other gas-saving ideas. The acetone didn't help anything from what I recall.

 

[BrianWC]

quote:

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Originally posted by Zesty:
Just for the record, I watched Mythbusters last night and they tested the acetone and a few other gas-saving ideas. The acetone didn't help anything from what I recall.

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That's why I brought this thread back to life.

 

[boxcartommie22]

i just started using toluene mix.. but my inc. in mpg is with the acetone alone i just used 0.234 x number of gal i put in..i.e. 5 gal x 0.234=1.17oz of acetone..toluene is prob. they very best cleaners....acetone lowers the octane a bit but using the toluene takes care of that.

 

[boxcartommie22]

my fuel system and the entire insides is spotless i been using redline si-1 and bg 44k for years. i also use redline, motul,delvac 1 mix with oil changes at 1500-2500 miles...i also have a catch can on my pcv system..all that one does to give your engine the very very best pays in the long run..i also always believed in preventative maint.

 

[boxcartommie22]

i beleive in depends on the design of the engine i would guess..don't know all i know is that my ford 98 expy,vic,conti all show massive increases in mpg. it goes down during the ethanol season nov.-feb...goes down to 17mpg in city....
incidently, all my increses are city stop and go traffic...

 

[boxcartommie22]

my additives are fp in gas.. in oil, lc,moa,problend racing and 12oz torco mpz assembly lube...in a gal of delvac 1 5w40, i add 3 oz sfr gaszol,3oz.132,3oz motorsilk,3oz torco mpz friction reducer....so i add the following to my engine
3 qts redline 10w30
1 qt.motul 300v chrono 10w40
1qt of the delvac 1 5w40 (the above additives in the delvac1 mixed)....my fords love this stuff!!!

 

[Chispas]

The Louis LaPointe articles got my attention

last year....

What the heck, I have a cheap 2002 Cavalier....

Been using it as recommended for almost a year (3oz. acetone/10 gal.)...

If something was going to go kapoot, it's not
happening....

The little 4 banger loves the stuff...

When I test without the acetone, it won't run
like it did....

Will just keep on....

 

[oil pan 4]

I used acetone in my diesel.
One long interstate trip fill up neted me a bad tank of diesel, lots of smoke. The second interstate fill up at a truck stop was a total difference. Not nearly as much smoke.

 

[Chispas]

Here's a good way to experiment with acetone....

If you're like me, I fill a 5 gal. container with
gas for lawn equipment at the beginning of spring,
this usually lasts all summer, and it makes it
easy to measure for stabilizer....

About this time last year I also started adding
1 1/2 ounces of acetone to the 5 gal. of gas....

Early this month I did preventave maintenance,
oil changes, air filter cleaning, etc. ....

When I pulled spark plugs, they were all beautifully clean, and I didn't need to change
any in the 5 engines like I usually do....

Was it the acetone that made the difference ?....

I think so...