Acetone In Fuel Said to Increase Mileage 15-35% - Page 5 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

barry123400 · #61 03-28-2005, 05:46 PM

Tenknots your testing perimeters are reasonable enough to get some valid indication. Just keep posting your results.

SD Blue · #62 03-28-2005, 07:19 PM

I remember in the '70s, I know I'm showing my age, with a fuel shortage, fuel saving devices came from everywhere! Flea markets, grocery stores, dry cleaners, and God only knows.

I saved so much fuel, by using all of the devices at once, I had to start taking fuel out of the tank!

And if you have more than one car, the sky is the limit!

BoostnBenz · #63 03-28-2005, 08:13 PM

I looked for more info on this but didn't find very much. I found the EPA did some testing of a diesel running acetone as a additive. I also found acetone is a 150octane fuel, but since it is such low volume this is rather irrelevant. Someone mentioned knowing somebody on another forum who swore by using a 50/50 mix of motor oil and acetone for a diesel fuel additive. It was also suggested as an injector cleaning type additive.

Quote:

At a mix ratio of 1,280:1 I suspect the acetone acts as a combustion improver, providing better atomization of the fuel, after reading through those articles. At that concentration, the solvency effects should be beneficial, rather than harmful. Note they only recommend it's use on every other tankful. Acetone's rated octance is 150.

Schaeffer's Speciality Lubricants produces a fuel treatment product called Neutra that acts in the same way, and is safe to use in both gasoline and diesel engines.

From here.

Quote:

Honestly - I tried this for a couple of tanks over the past month or so. Seemed to help with reducing the smoke but doesn't look like it helped with the economy much. Could be because I drive with a heavy foot and nothing would help! (love that power) At a rate of 2 oz per 10 gallons as they say to use in diesel, it would be diluted enough that I doubt it would cause much of a problem.

From here.

Some guy tried it in his early 90s Nissan gasser and his mileage changed .3mpg to the worse, but the amount is so small I don't think this makes a very good sample.

And here is some more stuff I found but haven't read yet;
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB16&Number=971754&Searchpage=1&Main=971052&Words=acetone+fuel&topic=&Searc h=true#Post971754
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB5&Number=841863&Searchpage=1&Main=837986&Words=acetone+fuel&topic=&Search =true#Post841863

tenknots · #64 03-29-2005, 07:59 AM

OK, the first test is completed and the test results are:

Disappointing.

397 miles/13.853 gallons=28.66. Last fill up was 29.1 with straight diesel. This number falls within my normal variation, though a bit low since two fill ups ago I got 30.

If it increased my mileage by only 5%, at a normal average of 29 mpg, I would have exceeded 30 by .45 mpg. I have never exceeded 30 and it doesn't look like I will.

boneheaddoctor · #65 03-29-2005, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tenknots

OK, the first test is completed and the test results are:

Disappointing.

397 miles/13.853 gallons=28.66. Last fill up was 29.1 with straight diesel. This number falls within my normal variation, though a bit low since two fill ups ago I got 30.

If it increased my mileage by only 5%, at a normal average of 29 mpg, I would have exceeded 30 by .45 mpg. I have never exceeded 30 and it doesn't look like I will.

Didn't think it would work....but you just proved it....

Habanero · #66 03-29-2005, 08:28 AM

I guess us school kids can go finish our report now...

Seriously, one tank by one person does not make a scientific test, but I still think the whole idea is crap. But thanks for some validation tenknots.

aklim · #67 03-29-2005, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Habanero

I guess us school kids can go finish our report now...

Seriously, one tank by one person does not make a scientific test, but I still think the whole idea is crap. But thanks for some validation tenknots.

Yes, however, if there was even ANY sort of increase in the range of what they said, we should have seen it. I mean, even a 5% increase will show some hope. This is even a decrease which can be accounted for by driving habits so I'd say there was not even a ray of hope of increase unless he changed his driving style drastically for this test.

#68 03-29-2005, 08:40 AM

1. I want to see evidence that acetone will instantly spread uniformly through the diesel fuel and stay in a uniform mix -- what if it doesn't and settles out so that after many months you have a pool of acetone on top of your fuel, waiting for the moment when you run your fuel level down so low that the pump sucks up one big schluck (my mother's deutsch-böhm word for a shot of whiskey) of straight acetone? I know from testing that my peanut oil "additive" at 30% or more will stay blended evenly with #2 for many months, but will the acetone?

2. The proponent argues that gasoline varies greatly in quality from one station to another -- up to 30% in fuel mileage potential -- haven't we had years and years of propaganda that our fuel all comes from the same refineries and the additives unique to each brand only make a tiny bit of difference?

I also have immediate doubts about anyone who writes with scientific pretenses and yet talks about fuel system and engine damage from "alcohol" without making any distinction between methanol, ethanol, isopropyl, etc.

BoostnBenz · #69 03-29-2005, 09:30 AM

Between driving on rough roads and the return flow in the tank it should mix in rather quickly even if it does settle out when parked.

aklim · #70 03-29-2005, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fimum Fit

1. I want to see evidence that acetone will instantly spread uniformly through the diesel fuel and stay in a uniform mix -- what if it doesn't and settles out so that after many months you have a pool of acetone on top of your fuel, waiting for the moment when you run your fuel level down so low that the pump sucks up one big schluck (my mother's deutsch-böhm word for a shot of whiskey) of straight acetone? I know from testing that my peanut oil "additive" at 30% or more will stay blended evenly with #2 for many months, but will the acetone?

2. The proponent argues that gasoline varies greatly in quality from one station to another -- up to 30% in fuel mileage potential -- haven't we had years and years of propaganda that our fuel all comes from the same refineries and the additives unique to each brand only make a tiny bit of difference?

Your martini if you mix it before you drive would be "Shaken, not stirred" by the time you got to where you want to. I would imagine that acetone would too. Especially if you poured it in first and had the diesel fuel pumped in. Besides, if it doesn't mix then we have nothing to talk about, right? After all, how can they claim it helps when it just settles down or floats up?

UP TO is the key word. However, it is sometimes true when you look at the gas station. If it is at a busy intersection, the fuel is fresh. If not, gasoline starts to go bad after a bit. If I park a car for the winter, I leave as little fuel as possible so that when I start it up, I go to the gas station and fill up in spring.

Old300D · #71 03-29-2005, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoostnBenz

Between driving on rough roads and the return flow in the tank it should mix in rather quickly even if it does settle out when parked.

In addition to fuel mixing caused by circulation through the return line. Seriously, the whole "theory" of more complete combustion is complete crap -- just look at the composition of tailpipe emissions and you will know.

BoostnBenz · #72 03-29-2005, 10:01 AM

Actually that is the only good thing I read about it, it cut the amount of visible smoke in half in several instances.

barry123400 · #73 03-29-2005, 07:02 PM

You had a chance at immortality tenknots but past it by. Your second post was so great. Almost sure you were going to buy shares in acetone producing companies and post 39.4 mpg average or some simular number. Or instead participate in the oil companies conspiracy to cover up by accepting their offer of a 2005 cdi mercedes. Maybe you have and if so can I have your old car? Inform me by private message to avoid a riot please.You could also have really fanned the fires by mentioning your car was on it's way to hanger 51 in rosewell new mexico as well but you did not. Just opportunity lost I guess. Well thanks for your effort. Guess I will just return my wifes nail polish remover before she misses it.

tenknots · #74 04-01-2005, 11:23 AM

OK, this is wierd.

Last night I filled up again. The fillup before was the acetone test which had discouraging results.

But when I filled last night, I got an all-time high of 397 miles/12.51 gallons = 31.74 mpg. I've never gotten over 30 mpg (this is a 300SD after all) and the acetone test was 28.66.

Possible causes:

I altered my route slightly. I drove to my marina on Wednesday - it's 100 miles round trip, half of it is the exact same as my commute, the other half is a 55 mph road - almost the same as my commute. I don't think 50 miles of slightly different roads could account for a 10% increase.

Air bubble in tank, so I couldn't fill it all the way. Who knows?

RAE, Residual Acetone Effect. Unlikely, but it's the only thing that's different.

I was watching my fuel gauge and it looked like I was doing better than normal - I had 300 miles by a half tank, usually I'm around 270. Only two things could cause that - more fuel in tank at the beginning or better economy. It's not scientific, but I have a pretty good feel for the car.

There's no plausible explanation for acetone having an effect - after all, it was burned in the last tank except for the last 7 or 8 gallons that were left.

Hmm 7 or 8 gallons at the normal dilution with 12 gallons of straight equals...um... well, less dilution. A third as much?

No, can't be. Gotta be something else.

Any speculation??

BoostnBenz · #75 04-01-2005, 11:27 AM

It is supposed to double as an injector cleaner, maybe it helped clean them off?

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