Adding Acetone as an additive to gasoline - worthwhile?
 

Has anyone heard of this before. I am new to this site so forgive me if it is old news. The claim is that it can inrease your gas mileage by 15 to 35%. It seems very interesting. If you are interested here is the url.


http://www.pureenergysystems.com/new...00069_Acetone/

http://forum.ecomodder.com/showthrea...hlight=acetone
http://forum.ecomodder.com/showthrea...hlight=acetone

The conclusion seems to be from the results I found using the ecomodder search that it is hard to test and will yield too few results to make it worth the efforts and money. At least in a common car. Perhaps better results could result, so why not try it yourself? The best results are the ones you verify :D

Also, welcome to the site.

http://www.fuelsaving.info/acetone.htm :turtle:

Acetone
 

Thanks for the replys. SVO and GEN your articles were very interesting and informative . I thank you for your answers. I drive "The Beast" out of necessity and it gets horrible gas mileage. Even worse than usual. I have swithed to a K&N air filter, i started using Bosch platinum plugs, A new O2 sensor wil be added this coming weekend. any direction that can be given in regards to improving my mpg's in any amout would be appreciated. I get anywhere between 11-13 mpg's, but moreso towards 11. Is there a scan gauge or equivelant thaat will work with a 95 Chevy 350 Z71 that you know of? I look forward to your replys. And thanks for the welcome.

Acetone
 

Well, apparently my truck pretty much gets the mileage expected of it according to fueleconomy.gov. 11mpgs/city and 15mpg/highway. That stinks. I guess having horses is more of a pain than i thought.:mad:

Hi havok -

Assuming your truck is in good mechanical order, well tuned & tires always properly inflated...

If you do primarily highway driving, the best advice is to reduce your cruising speed and/or investigate aerodynamic modifications.

If you do mostly urban driving, modifying your driving is the quickest, cheapest route to significant fuel savings.

Yea it is... say.. it's so cheap, it almost seems as if it is free!!! :rolleyes:

I'm going to add a few oz of gasoline to a tank full of acetone and BLOW YOU GUYS AWAY!!!

Acetone, winter driving and my Prius
 

Howdy,

Just found you folks and enjoy this site very much!

My experience with adding acetone to a fill-up with my 2004 Prius:

A few months ago I say a web blog that suggested adding acetone to your gas would enhance the evaporative qualities and combustion of the gas during the burning process.

So I went to Walmart and purchased a 16 oz. bottle of finger-nail polish remover for about two dollars (ONYX Professional "Tips Be Gone").

In a very unscientific study, I added a healthy squirt the next time I filled up (usually between 8.5 to 9.5 gallons per fill-up). Please note that I regularly check my tire pressure and run 44/40 to optimize my mileage.

Now, my past normal driving in the summer has me averaging around 57-62 with LRR original tires and 55-60 with Michelin HydroEdge (I needed more snow/wet traction the the LRRs could deliver).

During the winter in Reno, I have averaged anywhere from 44 to low 50's (depending on such things as running the car to heat it up before I start my commute).

Non-scientific results:

A - Prior to adding acetone I was right in my winter averages 44 to low 50's.

B - After adding approximately 2 oz's of acetone per fill-up for the next eight fill-ups my millage has averaged 55 mpg...

So I seemed to have markedly improved my mileage and I have not noticed and ill effects from adding the acetone.

So that's my story...

All comment welcomed!

Tom

Hi, Tom - welcome to the site.

My comments are ... you've already concluded what I would have said: "Non-scientific results"! :)

Ever heard the expression "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence"? Acetone falls into that category, because there's no solid science to support the claims made on the topic.

On top of that, tank-to-tank comparisons are too fraught with interference from other factors outside your control to be valuable as a way of measuring this kind of stuff.

Your own data proves this: your average range in "normal" use is enormous! 44 to "low 50's" (let's say 51). That's a 16% swing from the lower end!

I'd bet it's far more likely that there is some other, more reasonable, explanation for the difference you've seen than because of acetone. (Did you happen to read this take on the issue from a professional? http://www.fuelsaving.info/acetone.htm )

cheers-
Darin

Tom nice job with the Prius.

That a pretty huge spread on the base numbers as Metro pointed out. Also I know the acetone is diluted but I would be a little concerned about the fuel bladder in the long run. Is that pure acetone? A lot of time the finger nail remover has water in it to cut the smell down. Those that say acetone works comment that it has to be "pure acetone".

Welcome to the Site:turtle:

Tried it on the Del Sol
Tried it on the VX
Tried it on the Prius

In all cases, no measureable difference.

I'm sure I posted at least some of the results on GS. I'm just too lazy to look for them.

Acetone test results
 

Last summer i tried acetone for two months in my 1988 Pontiac 6000 with a 2.5L . In summer driving, gas only, I averaged 28 MPG. I added approx. 36mL per 10 US GAL gas. With acetone I continued at about 28. But 1125 miles later I HAD to replace fuel injector, which also fried a transistor in the ECM, and ruined the fuel pump. The 2 cents in gas were offset a bit in repair costs.
YMMV
As a side note, about a month ago I drove this car to the scrap yard.

I did my own test adding 3oz acetone to every fill up and using 100% gas prem instead of gasohol, my avg went from 27mpg to 33 mpg, I did this test for 2 months when I had a stupid long (130 miles) mostly interstate commute and gas was $4+ for premium gas. Also, I boosted tire pressure to 40 psi (4psi under max) and I coasted as much as possible, used the cruise, left the AC off as much as I could stand it, windows up of course. My car is a classic 1991 Toyota MR2 turbo with 300k miles 5 speed epa mileage was 18+24 so I was able to see a real difference. Tried it on my wifes 99 Lexus GS400 with 200k miles and we get 2 more mpg when she remembers to use it.

Should I? Shouldn't I? Eh, what the heck:

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r..._DeadHorse.gif

;)