Acetone as a fuel additive?
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From: Sweden
Acetone as a fuel additive?
Anybody ever hear of people using a small percentage (0.25%, 3 oz per 10 gal) of acetone in gasoline to get better mileage?
I've seen quite a bit about it on the web. Lots of people reporting good, sometimes claiming outright unbelievable results. Nobody giving a good explanation other than presenting wild speculation as science. Yet unlike the Slick 50/fuel magnet/intake spinner scams nobody stands to make a mint on this. Some other pages reported some people got no or negative results though there was no intent to outright debunk it. Some people with mileage computers reported gains in more or less real time which reduces the human error factors.
While acetone (a ketone) is generally not good for fuel system rubber components, at this small a percentage I'm not really worried about that or anything else. It's in some fuel additives anyways, maybe it'll at least clean off some carbon. I went ahead and added the recommended percentage to a tankful for giggles. I'll measure the mileage.
Anybody dared to do it in a 302? What resulted?
I've seen quite a bit about it on the web. Lots of people reporting good, sometimes claiming outright unbelievable results. Nobody giving a good explanation other than presenting wild speculation as science. Yet unlike the Slick 50/fuel magnet/intake spinner scams nobody stands to make a mint on this. Some other pages reported some people got no or negative results though there was no intent to outright debunk it. Some people with mileage computers reported gains in more or less real time which reduces the human error factors.
While acetone (a ketone) is generally not good for fuel system rubber components, at this small a percentage I'm not really worried about that or anything else. It's in some fuel additives anyways, maybe it'll at least clean off some carbon. I went ahead and added the recommended percentage to a tankful for giggles. I'll measure the mileage.
Anybody dared to do it in a 302? What resulted?
Last edited by Dannym; Sep 13, 2005 at 03:32 AM.
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From: Cincinnati
I have never heard of that but my chemistry experience tells me that it will kill rubber. Gas is rated by knock comparison to a (2,2,4) tri-methylpentane solution. 224TMP is also called iso-octane. Interestingly enough, octane has an octane rating of -20! Iso-octane has the braches that allow better oxygen interaction, which means better combustion.
The acetone (dimethyl ketone) would worry me about the seals along the fuel system. However, if you are already giving this a shot, on your next tank add some methyl-ethyl ketone. MEK is available at any hardware store. The larger branches would do less harm to your system and should have better combustion.
The acetone (dimethyl ketone) would worry me about the seals along the fuel system. However, if you are already giving this a shot, on your next tank add some methyl-ethyl ketone. MEK is available at any hardware store. The larger branches would do less harm to your system and should have better combustion.
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From: The hills of No. Calif.
There was a long thread about it in General Auto about a year or so ago:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...hlight=Acetone
Lots of interesting reading there. User Dealford tried an experiment and ran it in his work truck for quite some time, posting the results in this thread.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...hlight=Acetone
Lots of interesting reading there. User Dealford tried an experiment and ran it in his work truck for quite some time, posting the results in this thread.
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Hmm they are talking about larger proportions than what I saw recommended. There's a little chart out there that shows alleged results for various gasoline engines. In all gasoline engines the % mpg gains basically peaked at 3 oz per 10 gal and went down after that, whereas diesel gains peaked at somewhat lower content.
I'm not sure how much I believe that chart because the curves are FAR too smooth, like a mathematically perfect parabola. There is no information on how many data points were used, how they were taken, or even what engines. In my experience charts like this are better described as an "artist's rendering" of the data. They discard or move the points that don't line up with the curve they envision and at that point it's basically just opinion rather than data.
But anyways, 3 oz per gal is the common recommendation, whereas they were talking about somewhat greater percentages that wouldn't work as well if you believe that chart.
I've been driving it around. I didn't notice any difference in the power whatsoever. Need to use a few more gal before I can go to the gas station.
I'm not sure how much I believe that chart because the curves are FAR too smooth, like a mathematically perfect parabola. There is no information on how many data points were used, how they were taken, or even what engines. In my experience charts like this are better described as an "artist's rendering" of the data. They discard or move the points that don't line up with the curve they envision and at that point it's basically just opinion rather than data.
But anyways, 3 oz per gal is the common recommendation, whereas they were talking about somewhat greater percentages that wouldn't work as well if you believe that chart.
I've been driving it around. I didn't notice any difference in the power whatsoever. Need to use a few more gal before I can go to the gas station.
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I drove around town in my 89 E150 302 with 3 oz acetone per 10 gal. I usually try to be pretty light on the pedal due to gas costs.
Once it got over 100 miles I figured that was enough to measure. Based on how much it took to top off, it got 10.6 mpg. That's actually really on the low end of what I expect out of the van for city driving. So I'm gonna say there's no evidence here of diddley squat for mileage gain. I'll go ahead and add 3 oz for the rest of the tank for kicks, maybe get some highway readings, just for kicks.
Once it got over 100 miles I figured that was enough to measure. Based on how much it took to top off, it got 10.6 mpg. That's actually really on the low end of what I expect out of the van for city driving. So I'm gonna say there's no evidence here of diddley squat for mileage gain. I'll go ahead and add 3 oz for the rest of the tank for kicks, maybe get some highway readings, just for kicks.
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From: ROBERTS,WI
We had a discussion of a similar nature on another fourm.It was about Seafoam. Seems it's made of light oil,acetone,and isopropal alcohol.There were reports of engines running smoother but no claims of incressed gas millage.It is a fuel system/injector cleaner.I would be intressed in your resluts with just acetone. Larry
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From: Mid-Missouri
I've run Acetone in my 86 F150 here recently. 4 ounces in 19 gallons in one tank and 8 ounces in 19 gallons on another tank.
It does appear to losen some of the crud in the fuel system which is evidenced by the fuel filter that plugged up on me soon after I started running acetone.
Also had to replace the FPR due to it acting up. Don't know if the acetone finished it off. It had been on there for a long time. In the process, I pulled the injectors and replaced all of the seals. The injector tips were remarkably clean for a motor with about 230K miles on it. Seals at the intake were toast due to age. In my experience, the injectors on cylinders 4 & 8 tend to be the ones that develop deposits. #4 & #8 didn't have the deposits when I pulled them out.
After all of the work, I would say the acetone did a good job of cleaning out the fuel system. I didn't really notice an improvement in mileage. Maybe 1 MPG when I was running on the lower concentration of acetone.
It does appear to losen some of the crud in the fuel system which is evidenced by the fuel filter that plugged up on me soon after I started running acetone.
Also had to replace the FPR due to it acting up. Don't know if the acetone finished it off. It had been on there for a long time. In the process, I pulled the injectors and replaced all of the seals. The injector tips were remarkably clean for a motor with about 230K miles on it. Seals at the intake were toast due to age. In my experience, the injectors on cylinders 4 & 8 tend to be the ones that develop deposits. #4 & #8 didn't have the deposits when I pulled them out.
After all of the work, I would say the acetone did a good job of cleaning out the fuel system. I didn't really notice an improvement in mileage. Maybe 1 MPG when I was running on the lower concentration of acetone.
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Originally Posted by mikeyswood
I have never heard of that but my chemistry experience tells me that it will kill rubber.
Last edited by TigerDan; Jan 14, 2006 at 11:00 AM.
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Hi johnmal, and welcome to FTE! Please take a moment to check out the guidelines, they contain important information the at you'll need when posting here:
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Your "college teacher" should have known benzene is already a component in gasoline. I think it used to be 3%-5% but they reduced it to 1% in the mid 90's. Don't think it made a significant mileage difference.
Last edited by TigerDan; Jan 14, 2006 at 10:58 AM. Reason: Removed inflammatory comment
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From: iowa
Originally Posted by johnmal
Using Gasoline on rubber causes it to swell. That's why they use Neoprene hoses instead of rubber. The rubber hoses will swell shut in as little as 1 week.
I have been running about 1oz per 10 gallons on my diesel the first 2 tanks almost plugged my fuel filter, changed it and the second filter went about 5 tanks and rechanged it again now I am not getting crude out of the filters anymore so it must have cleaned out the system pretty good. Did it improve my mileage or power not sure cause I also put a predator on it about the same time I started doing that so of coarse I have more power, and better mileage (when I keep my foot out of it that is)
all I can honestly say is it does keep the fuel system cleaner, and it doesn't appear to hurt anything, I have been running it in the gas engines too and haven't had a problem yet except that I am cleaning out the crude and a cleaner fuel system is bound to be more efficient than a dirty one.
Last edited by TigerDan; Jan 14, 2006 at 11:00 AM.
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