Acetone=+MPG? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

PanzerSD · #1 03-03-2009, 11:58 PM

I saw a video on youtube featuring a guy (he made the video himself) that claims by adding a half litre of acetone, 99.9 pure acetone, you can increase fuel mileage by as much as 3-5 MPG??? I don't recall the title, nor can I find the link. Any Credibility to this?

t walgamuth · #2 03-04-2009, 06:13 AM

I have heard of this other places but folks here seem to think its bs.

oldsinner111 · #3 03-04-2009, 07:09 AM

Yes it works.Also with diesel too.

Mike D · #4 03-04-2009, 07:23 AM

http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Acetone_as_a_Fuel_Additive

You decide.

I'm going to try it in my '74 M110 3oz per tank. The engine will be getting a valve job this summer anyway so I'm not too concerned. I wouldn't put it in my '73 M110 or my '72 M115 but I can sacrifice the '74.

Tomguy · #5 03-04-2009, 10:01 AM

Mythbusters tried this. I don't recall their exact results but it was something like the increase in MPG did not offset the cost of the acetone by enough - in other words, the 3% increase they got or whatever it was did not offset the cost of the acetone until gas cost something like $10/gal

OldPokey · #6 03-04-2009, 08:43 PM

B.S. There's lots of hearsay on the subject, but as yet no conclusive reproducible lab results.

http://www.snopes.com/autos/techno/acetone.asp

wolf_walker · #7 03-04-2009, 09:45 PM

Lot of guys use stuff like that to increase octane in turbo applications. Nothing is going to help but so much on these cars though for mpg. Short of modern EFI and an overdrive trans, maybe.

RC4U12 · #8 03-04-2009, 10:03 PM

Well a few of kou know that Mega-squirt increases to at least 17-18 mpg.. I am one, and Grunkins is another and bluefang..but i am new here and i am sure you know..and so easy on pre'76..Jeff

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf_walker

Lot of guys use stuff like that to increase octane in turbo applications. Nothing is going to help but so much on these cars though for mpg. Short of modern EFI and an overdrive trans, maybe.

whunter · #9 03-04-2009, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PanzerSD

I saw a video on youtube featuring a guy (he made the video himself) that claims by adding a half litre of acetone, 99.9 pure acetone, you can increase fuel mileage by as much as 3-5 MPG??? I don't recall the title, nor can I find the link. Any Credibility to this?

Please read this thread.
Bogus Fuel-Saving Device Sellers diesel/gasoline
Bogus Fuel-Saving Device Sellers diesel/gasoline

Have a great day.

Mike D · #10 03-05-2009, 07:36 AM

Well poop! I had already planned my financial independence using the "fuel savers"!

35% savings on the Acetone, 15% by changing to fuel injection, 15% using the "Tornado", another 18% using hydrogen enhancement, 12% using those ionic magnets (STILL my favorite bit of hucksterism!), and another 8% by inflating my tires to 65 psi.

I figured I'd have to drain my fuel tank at least twice a week and sell it back to the oil companies!

I guess I'll have to earn my retirement the old fashioned way, defraud investors of it!

wolf_walker · #11 03-05-2009, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike D

I guess I'll have to earn my retirement the old fashioned way, defraud investors of it!

God bless America

JimF · #12 02-20-2011, 03:24 PM

I have some info from my experiment w/ acetone use on a Honda and MB S500 . . . here

WINGAS · #13 05-01-2011, 05:34 AM

FWIW, I used to spike my gasoline with toluene ( like acetone its a hydrocarbcon aromatic), to better handle high compression, and give the fuel a cool race gas smell. The rubber seal in the fuel pump and the Viton tip of the carb's needle didnt much cotton to the stuff!

Its one thing adding aromatics to fuel during blending, its another putting in your tank where it doesnt blend well.

bamba · #14 05-07-2011, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WINGAS

FWIW, I used to spike my gasoline with toluene ( like acetone its a hydrocarbcon aromatic), to better handle high compression, and give the fuel a cool race gas smell. The rubber seal in the fuel pump and the Viton tip of the carb's needle didnt much cotton to the stuff!

Its one thing adding aromatics to fuel during blending, its another putting in your tank where it doesnt blend well.

I hate to be a stickler for details, but there's a huge difference between toluene and acetone. As you said, toluene is an aromatic hydrocarbon (a conjugated system of delocalized pi-bonds -- here, the 6-carbon ring with alternating single- and double-bonds makes toluene aromatic).

On the other hand, acetone is completely different. It is not aromatic -- no conjugated pi-bonds, no delocalized electrons, etc.

Aromatics like toluene are relatively stable (and therefore less reactive) compared to acetone (a simple type of ketone), which is highly reactive. By adding toluene to fuel, whether gas or diesel, you are adding more hydrocarbons that will burn (toluene naturally occurs in gas and diesel). Acetone, if anything, may react with some hydrocarbons to break them into smaller fragments. It also is highly attracted to water and other oxygen-containing molecules.

Sorry -- I don't mean to come across as preaching. I find fuel additives and alternative fuels to be interesting topics. I just took a year of organic chemistry in college, and I have a nerdy fascination with all this stuff...

layback40 · #15 05-07-2011, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bamba

I hate to be a stickler for details, but there's a huge difference between toluene and acetone. As you said, toluene is an aromatic hydrocarbon (a conjugated system of delocalized pi-bonds -- here, the 6-carbon ring with alternating single- and double-bonds makes toluene aromatic).

On the other hand, acetone is completely different. It is not aromatic -- no conjugated pi-bonds, no delocalized electrons, etc.

Aromatics like toluene are relatively stable (and therefore less reactive) compared to acetone (a simple type of ketone), which is highly reactive. By adding toluene to fuel, whether gas or diesel, you are adding more hydrocarbons that will burn (toluene naturally occurs in gas and diesel). Acetone, if anything, may react with some hydrocarbons to break them into smaller fragments. It also is highly attracted to water and other oxygen-containing molecules.

Sorry -- I don't mean to come across as preaching. I find fuel additives and alternative fuels to be interesting topics. I just took a year of organic chemistry in college, and I have a nerdy fascination with all this stuff...

Nice to see some one trying to use a bit of science.
Now that you know about basic organic chemistry, how about finishing the job & learning some thermodynamics.

It must have been a very big rattle snake they got the acetone & toluene from.

There are too many people that never understood or liked chemistry enough during their schooling. They now come up with all sorts of stupid claims that are nothing better than a placebo effect.
A fool & his money are soon parted!!!!!