I heard about using Acetone as a fuel additive years ago and never give it another thought but there seems to be some advantages to it. Acetone is very hot. Hot meaning that it evaporates very fast, faster than alcohol. When mixed as an additive with either gas or diesel, it makes the primary fuel atomize much better and faster. Kinda like an atomization booster. It burns extremely clean leaving no residue. It was brought to my attention this last week and I tried it on my 04 SCrew with the 4.6. This truck has been a joke from day one and it was getting to the point that the truck wouldn't accelerate at all in overdrive at any speed. It also does not code any problems so the dealer pretty much has ignored my pleas. So, I added 4 oz of Acetone to a full tank of gas, 87 octane, and the results have beem amazing. The truck will actually run like it should, no hesitation, no more pinging, and the mileage is up 2+ mpg for the last three tanks. I am adding at the rate of 1 oz per ten gallons. I am impressed and the good news is, it is commonly available most home centers. We also put it in our 6.0 diesel, F-250 SCrew 4x4 at work. While it runs okay, it has an occasional loapy idle and has a tendency to die at idle. The truck also smokes black at full throttle. We added 4 oz to its fuel tank and it has improved drivability considerably. The idle problems have disappeared so far as well as the black smoke. While I don't totally understand the science behind its use, it is my opinion that it makes the fuel atomize better which means better useage of the fuel and it is also a cleaner. Clean injectors and clean combustion chamber makes for an engine running in an optimum environment. The disadvatages, you knew there had to be one, Acetone is also a great paint remover, do not get it on your trucks paint. For more reading

www.lubedev.com/articles/additive.htm

 

I put in 8 oz of of Walgreen nail polish remover into a full 32g tank a week ago, and I got 15.4 mpg from Seattle to Pullman. (300 miles) My best is 17.8 mpg on the same route. (no additives) I think I was driving a lil faster than usual, so I'll repeat it once or twice (using hardware store acetone) to get some more samples.

As for the technical side -- better atomization -- that's bull. That happens when the fuel is already burning, and at that point, acetone is completely irrelevant.

 

From the link posted

Pure acetone was rated in 1920 by Sir Harry Ricardo at 150 octane

Like Flash said , Acetone is hot for sure .

I wonder how it would work using a light neutral oil to inhibit it a little and add some lube to it for say , an upper cylinder lube/octane booster when pulling heavy loads in a gas motor .

EDIT:

Polyisobutylene is used in two stroke oils because it burns clean while adding lubricity .

I am wondering what might be available at a hardware store with PIB in it that could be mixed effectively with the Acetone without other unwanted stuff in it .

http://www.txpetrochem.com/p/poly.htm

 

Check out this thread-
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...light=acetone+

Grab a snack before you read it though...111 replies.

 

I think I'll try it. I'll mix it half and half with MMO and throw a quart in next fill up. I'll see if it does anything.

 

Good idea on the using of MMO for some lubricant .

In fact , I'm off the get some Acetone now . I keep a gallon of the MMO around despite the bad reviews it gets on the internet I still find uses for it

I'll use some nitrile o'rings and soak them in the brew alone , then a separate brew with gasoline to cut it down to what would be ran in the tank in actual use to see if it damages them or swells ect .

 

My practical understanding of Acetone in combustion is as an oxidizer. I used it when mixing my methenol racing fuel for my airplane. I used by weight 55% meth. 20% nitro, 20% Klotz oil, and 5% acetone or when I was real brave, 5% Propelene Oxide. A side note Prop Ox. evaporates right in front of your eyes at 70F, real nasty stuff, scared the crap out of me. I love the smell of nitro, sweet stuff! I always thought of my fuel as a chain. First the oxidizer, then the nitro, then the methanol. The oil was necessary to keep everything from melting or exploding, but it didn't always work!

I think you are seeing an improvement based on the oxygenative properties of acetone. FYIW.
Tim

 

Just an update

I mixed up 5 different batches and have them all soaking nitrile and that plastic used for screening the inlet on the intank electric fuel pumps .

Enclosed containers so it cannot evaporate and thinking 4-5 weeks should be long enough .

 

Well I hope it's ok, I already dumped a quart in before my last fill up.

 

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