Acetone in fuel update

[usafsniper]

Well, after trial and error I've found 1.5 - 2.0 ounces of acetone per 10 gallons of 91 octane fuel will give me on average 19.5 to 20 MPG in town with normal driving. Normal being defined as 75% normal acceleration with 25% or less being aggressive acceleration. Prior to this, my mileage was 16 - 17 in city. I typically drive about 20 miles per day, under 60mph, with stop and start all the way. I tried very small amounts with 93 octane, but found the resulting mix too high in octane for my current program (Reinhart 3.55) and my mileage suffered for it (down to around 15/16).

I have also experimented with 89 octane and found that 3.0 ounces of acetone per 10 gallons of fuel will get me 18 - 19 MPG in town with no detonation, even at WOT. This being said, I get my fuel at a TRAX station, which I believe is owned by EXXON nationwide. I get fuel there because it's one of the few in town that midgrade is 91 octane and premium is 93, and they have 7 cents off 93 octane every Tuesday.

If you buy acetone in the one gallon cans at LOWES or somplace similar, also purchase something like a turkey baster to suck the acetone out of the can to place in a measured container. The cans don't pour worth crap! It goes everywhere! The containers you can buy at places like Eckerd's Drugs pour better, but come in much smaller sizes and like everything, bulk is cheaper.

Everything I've read and experienced lead me to believe you have everything to gain and nothing to loose by using acetone...AS DIRECTED. Anything that increases mileage, prolongs engine life, and reduces emissions is a plus. Lastly, when you buy gas, try to buy at the same place each time since as we all know, fuel formulas vary from station to station, and that will throw off your required percentage of acetone. I've included a link below to one of the more complete web articles on the subject for those who missed it before.

http://pesn.com/2005/03/17/6900069_Acetone/

[RF Overlord]

sniper, thanks for the RW experience...I'm all for anything that raises fuel economy without any major downside (engine/fuel-system damage, etc).

I do have one question...if this is such a no-brainer, why doesn't anyone else, like the EPA, or the NHTSA, or even Consumer Reports, recommend we all do this? I can understand the oil companies not blending anything that might REDUCE our dependency on their liquid gold, but I haven't heard of anyone else talking it up, either...

[duhtroll]

I'm not sure the issue with acetone was whether or not it will incease mileage, but what it will do to the rubber in your seals and fuel lines.

Buna-N is what is used in lots of these components from what I was told the last time this came up. Check this little calculator that shows how chemicals react - specificlaly Buna-N with acetone:

http://www.coleparmer.com/techinfo/chemcomp.asp


No offense intended, but I'll use acetone after several folks prove it can be used over 200K miles under all conditions in their cars.

Thanks for doing the research, but I'll stick to using just plain old $4/gal gas. ;)

Thanks,
-A

[RF Overlord]

troll, you make a very good point, but I have to ask ANOTHER question now...if seal compatibility is the major issue with using acetone, how expensive would it be for Ford to use a different compound that IS compatible? I mean, is acetone-resistance THAT outrageously expensive that it becomes prohibitively cost-ineffective?

Yes, yes, I know Ford will save $0.06 wherever they can, but if a car can be made that allows the use of acetone (or other miracle drug) for 2-3 MPG better economy, for a small increase in purchase price (what...50 bucks?), you'd think they'd be doing it already...or at least someone would be making a conversion kit...

[usafsniper]

sniper, thanks for the RW experience...I'm all for anything that raises fuel economy without any major downside (engine/fuel-system damage, etc).

I do have one question...if this is such a no-brainer, why doesn't anyone else, like the EPA, or the NHTSA, or even Consumer Reports, recommend we all do this? I can understand the oil companies not blending anything that might REDUCE our dependency on their liquid gold, but I haven't heard of anyone else talking it up, either...
I hate to be a conspiracy theory advocate, but things being the way they are, I believe that something this simple and effective would put a major "hit" in the pockets of those at the top of the oil food chain. Many extremely effective products receive virtually no major national advertisement because they'd take money away from certain companies who "run" the country. As for the "corrosive" effect of acetone, I'm convinced, based on other's testimonies, that in such small amounts the acetone is no danger to your system.

Here's a report from a guy who soaked parts in acetone to establish some baseling results.

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/pes_acetone/message/97 (http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/pes_acetone/message/97)
March 29, 2005
Hey all,

FYI I've been running acetone in two vehicles (Dodge caravan V6, Merc Sable V6) for about 9 months or so. I've noticed a few things in the process.

Lou recommends 4 oz per 10 gallons. This amount seems to work good for most people, and it did for me. Some people seem to get better results running a little LESS acetone, perhaps 2-3 oz. For myself, in order to avoid overdosing, I reduce the dosage of acetone to 2 ounces per 10 gallons on every third or fourth fill-up." Running MORE acetone DEGRADES fuel economy, so DO NOT USE TOO MUCH. More is not better! Listen to Lou! He is right!

Typically I will only add 2 ounces per 10 gallons every third fill up to help avoid overdosing. This is the only point where I differ from Lou, he reccomends skipping every third tankful or so. I'm lucky that I have a surprisingly accurate fuel gauge so I can easily estimate how much gas I'm going to need, so I can get away doing this IMO.

I buy it in gallon cans at Auto Zone and measure it out in a graduated long neck plastic bottle used to spray insecticide I found lying around (you can probably get one like it in the garden department of your local non-Wal-mart). I also bought a funnel to fill the bottle with.

I also noticed that acetone works a bit less in the winter. The MTBE (or whatever) they add to the fuel to reduce emissions REALLY screws up your fuel economy (in my case, 20%). Talk about a boondoggle... Reduce emissions by 15%, but increase consumption by 20%... Net gain in emissions to the envrionment = 5%. Your tax dollars at work.

I've also soaked fuel delivery components in 100% acetone (gaskets, lines, fittings etc.). I even sawed a fuel injector in half to get at the bits on the inside.

What I found is that some gasket material will swell in straight acetone. Fuel lines and fittings do not react - period. To determine what would happen running 1:320 acetone:gasoline, I soaked these suspect parts in this mix (I actually used a double strength mix to be on the safe side - 1:160). The gaskets swelled very, very slightly, just enough to be noticable if you have good eyes. My wife didn't see it.

My final analysis is that acetone gives 90% of people out there an MPG boost, and if you have a leaky fuel system, it may swell your gaskets slightly and seal the leaks.

Best regards all and good luck,

[mtnh]

I'm on my second tank in my LS. I used to have to struggle to get 20 MPG with my 3.0 L V6 with manual trans, but now, it's getting an even 20 in not-so-gentle driving. From all that I have read, and I tried to read everything out there, including Robert's attached memo, there should be no problem. The acetone is so dilute that when combined into the gas and all of its additives, it would take years to become a problem. If it was a problem, how many fuel system O-rings would we be replacing? Not a heck of a lot of them.

I solved the measure and pour problem in one shot, by buying a 5 fl oz. syringe at the local hobby shop, which, with its push-on hose, is able to draw the acetone out of the can, then dispense it into the fuel tank intake pathway with no chance of spillage (and the accompanying paint ruinage). The syringe is universally calibrated, so you can measure down to fractions of an ounce or ccs.

The syringe also has two black rubber o-rings on the plunger, and they show no sign of dissolution with direct contact with the acetone. Well the one ring that is in direct contact with the acetone, that is, since the second one only would see acetone residue on the syringe walls or direct contact with the liquid if the first ring failed.

I expect further increases in mpg when the engine is totally cleaned of carbon, which could take a few tankfuls.

One last note: I drive my car very hard, and have never seen above 21 mpg on the highway. I will be making a 200 mile round trip at the end of this week, and I will be eager to see and share the results.

I have not yet introduced the acetone to the MM, since it my wife's primary car and I am not in synch with her fueling schedule. I'm not sure if I will be able to ever be able to try the acetone there.

And thanks go to Robert, for actually trying different fuel grades and finding that mid-grade fuel actually works and has a different acetone mixture level!

[SergntMac]

Later this week I'll be back on the road again, where I can measure MPG with some accuracy. I'll give this a try, can't hurt for one or two tankfuls.

[usafsniper]

Later this week I'll be back on the road again, where I can measure MPG with some accuracy. I'll give this a try, can't hurt for one or two tankfuls.
Just remember that unless you've had a fuel system cleaning done recently, your mileage will increase over two or three tanks as the acetone gets rid of the carbon in your system. I was initially disappointed with results of my first couple of tanks.