Acetone added to fuel??? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Ron Johnstone · #1 11-17-2005, 04:48 PM

A recent issue of Auto Week had an article by Denise McCluggage that advocated the adding of small amounts of acetone to both gasoline and diesel fuel. A Google search reveals a number of very positive articles. Basically, they say, adding 2-3 ounces of good acetone to 10 gallons of fuel will give you about a 20% increase in mileage plus better emissions, etc. without danger to your rubber seals or engine. A good article is: http://www.pureenergysystems.com/news/2005/03/17/6900069_Acetone/

Surely one of my compadres out there has tried it and will comment. What say you?

t walgamuth · #2 11-17-2005, 04:57 PM

where would you get some?

tom w

Ron Johnstone · #3 11-17-2005, 05:06 PM

Acetone can be found at any decent hardware store and even some big drug stores. According to the articles, you must be certain that it is pure acetone without water or any additives such as odorizers. To test for water, put some gasoline in a clear jar and add a bit of acetone. The mixture should be clear. Cloudy indicates water.

oxymoron · #4 11-17-2005, 05:08 PM

take a look at this discussion:

http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forums/showthread.php?t=678946&highlight=acetone

read it all and find a link to a discussion right here on mercedesshop.

When I re-read the jeep forum discussion, it reminds me of how very civil people are to each other on this board for the most part. Those jeep cats are pretty abusive sometimes.

My personal experience is that it IS harmful to rubber. I was experimenting with fuel recipes in my 6.9 after reading some posts on m-100.cc about fuel additives such as toluene and acetone for knock resistance and cleaning properties and power adding. Admittedly, I did not factor in the age and condition of my fuel hoses and I ended up replacing them all, and there are a lot of them, after they turned into dust.

One guy one the jeep discussion documented his results with pictures and the evidence is there to see.

Acetone is nail polish remover among other uses.

mctwin2kman · #5 11-17-2005, 05:11 PM

I know it will eat through Super Glue! So I have an issue with adding that to my fuel tank... Anything that can disolve super glue instantly does not sound to good to me....

Ron Johnstone · #6 11-17-2005, 06:54 PM

I ran a search for acetone before I posted this thread and for some reason, I didn't come up with: Acetone In Fuel Said to Increase Mileage 15-35%
Which covers a lot of points. One thing to consider however is that 3 ounces of acetone in 10 gallons of fuel is only a 2.3% concentration. The naysayers that fortell disaster to plastics and rubber are using a concentrated acetone, not the diluted version that is being advocated by some (not me, I'm just looking for advice here.) There are a lot of folks that say they have tested rubber, etc. with the diluted version with no real adverse results.

As to the economics, if Acetone costs $22/gallon and you use 3 ounces, that costs you 0.50 cents. If it raises your mileage 30% from 18 to 23.4 MPG, that gets you 54 miles farther down the road or a saving of 2.3 gallons of gas which, at a retail of $2.50/gallon means $5.76 - .50 (for the acetone) = $5.26 saved for every 10 gallons of gas burned. Folks, that's getting up into the "folding money" category over the course of a year.

nhdoc · #7 11-17-2005, 07:22 PM

The idiots on our local news did a story featuring some old guy who tried adding the acetone to his tank and he claimed he got better mileage (I think it was up about 10%). I would dispute it and also noted that when they showed him adding the acetone he was using a plastic measuring cup that was disolving as he was pouring the stuff into his tank! Wait until some of that plastic residue starts clogging up his injectors or fouls his fuel pump up...then we'll see some lost economy!

I conclude that we all perform flawed tests when we try to prove things like the acetone theory. Subconciously this old guy wanted to believe he could save some gas by adding a couple of ounces of miracle acetone to his tank - so what does he do? Subconciously he drives a little lighter on the gas pedal, maybe coasts a little more to the stop sign and red lights, perhaps instead of 65 he does 60 on the highway...that would easily cut 10% off most people's fuel consumption. So my theory is that acetone is not a miracle additive...if it was wouldn't some genious be selling it in 3 ounce bottles at pep boys? Or better yet, wouldn't the oil companies just love to sell super premium fuel that gets 30% better mileage for just 20% more money??? Sure they would if it worked...I would bet anything that if a blind test were performed using a sizeable sample that no measurable gain in fuel economy would result from the adding of acetone to fuel...just my $0.02.

Kestas · #8 11-17-2005, 07:42 PM

Here's some good discussion from people who have tried it:
Thread

boneheaddoctor · #9 11-17-2005, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kestas

Here's some good discussion from people who have tried it:
Thread

Been discussed here to and proven wrong....few months ago.

Duke2.6 · #10 11-17-2005, 10:35 PM

Acetone is a VERY POWERFUL organic solvent and will attack most elastomers used in modern fuel systems.

If you want to experiment, buy an elastomeric fuel system part and immerse it in acetone for a day and see what it looks like - if it's even recognizable - then dry and handle it to get a subjective feel for different properties versus before the part was exposed to acetone. Even in small concentrations acetone will shorten the life of fuel system elastomers.

Any claims for significantly better overall fuel consumption with a small dose of acetone are just pure BS!

None of these people appear to have even a rudimentary background in organic chemistry.

Don't add acetone to your fuel!!!

Duke

t walgamuth · #11 11-17-2005, 11:13 PM

to remember reading that the mb f1 cars of the thirties using acetone in their fuel. and the fumes making your eyes water!

pretty sure they used all metal lines though.

they were immensily powerful for their day. or would that be immensilly?

tom w

JBR · #12 11-18-2005, 06:26 AM

I tested the acetone in my 02 dakota this summer. The test lasted for 3 weeks, I always added the correct amont of acetone per the amont of new fuel. I noticed zero increaes in mileage and no increases in performance. I have been checking the MPG on the dakota since Feb 05. The only increases I have noticed was after the following.
Tune up- plugs,wires,air cleaner, ect.
Tires - narrower tires,up the psi
super chip- super chip micro tuner.^ 2.5mpg
o2 sensor- change don't wait till it goes bad.
These are my results, total increases about 4.5-5 MPG

Brian Felts · #13 11-18-2005, 06:33 AM

In the past we have tried this theory and I can tell you it worked in a 1989 Turbo Trans Am. We were running 18lbs of boost and getting a small ammount of knock. (we were using a knock sensor) This caused the computer to pull almost 30% of the timing out of the car. We added the acetone with a small ammount of Marvels Mystery oil (this is for lubercation of the fuel system) and it raised the octaine up enough the knock was gone. So No it alone was no performance increase, together it truly helped. I can't see you getting anything out of it on a n/a car.

Brian

Ralph69220d · #14 11-18-2005, 07:17 AM

Acetone has a number of relevant propertie's. First it is extremely volatile, much more so than alcohol or gasoline. Second, acetone binds water and disperses water so that water will not be in globules which don't go through a carbureted or injected motor easily. Thirdly, acetone is an extremely good solvent, it will degrade o-rings or any rubber-based fuel lines. The main variable to consider is "dose/effect". The smaller the dose per tank and the smaller dose over how many gallons of fuel you run through the tank over a period of time makes a difference. Fourthly, dependent on acetone concentration in the fuel, acetone raises the flash temperature the combustion chamber, piston, rings, valves, cylinder walls see. Fourthly, acetone, because it is such a good solvent, will clean deposits in the fuel system. Note that you will never find acetone sold in typical plastic containers as those containers would dissolve immediately. That is why it is sold in metal containers. So, in my opinion, due to acetone's solvent properties on rubber-based parts, I would only use it if I had reason to believe I had water at some part of my fuel system (again, acetone will bind water extremely well and disperse any globules, which readily cause problems). But, ethanol and methanol bind water as well as well as acetone and is much easier on rubber-based or certain plastics. Never leave an acetone container open as it will bind moisture in the air. Lastly, lastly, acetone is one of the most explosive chemicals sold over the counter. Don't even think of using acetone in your garage, or smoking a cigarette, or turning on a light switch, or having a water heater or furnace around (no closed spaces). I should say that I worked with acetone for year's in a former profession and never used it anyplace except in a fume hood. I forgot to say, that if it come's in contact with your skin it will dissolve anything on your skin and carry it into the bloodstream. Dimethyl-sulfoxide is very similar in it's properties to acetone. It's been used as a horse liniment for years. I don't think DMSO is a controlled substance. Put a drop of DMSO on your toe and you will taste it in your mouth in a matter of seconds. Geez, I know there will be other forum member's who say they've used it for years with no problem. Well, again, it's the concentration that is key. But, in the beginning, you have a pure container of acetone, so if you must use it, be careful. I don't want any of my fellow forum member's to wind up dead or in the burn ward. I don't mean this as bragging, but only as some evidence of my credentials in making the above statements, I have a PhD in neurobiology, worked with acetone for years and do know what I'm talking about.

pcmaher · #15 11-18-2005, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Johnstone

One thing to consider however is that 3 ounces of acetone in 10 gallons of fuel is only a 2.3% concentration.

3 ounces in 10 gallons is ~0.23%.