Acetone Fuel Additive Update

[BlazerLT]

Best to go to a hardware store or a auto part store for it and get out of the ladies nail section.

[BlazerBoyLT98]

Originally Posted by BlazerLT

Best to go to a hardware store or a auto part store for it and get out of the ladies nail section.

Not a bad idea. Wish I had thought of it before I was knee deep in cotton balls and mascara!

[mike1224]

Originally Posted by BlazerLT

Best to go to a hardware store or a auto part store for it and get out of the ladies nail section.

yep, i almost told my co-worker to order me a case of nail polish remover, thank god she didn't have to write an order last night. gonna head off to Lowe's in a bit

[Brian R.]

Anyway, I bought a trial quart of acetone from Home Depot and I am going to try it in my truck starting today. The can I bought is handy in that it has a small plastic snap spout - easy pouring. I will try 6oz/tankful, maybe 8 oz/tank if I only see a small effect. I will post back. My truck is very consistent at 16 mpg since I've owned it. I have also tested mileage from various brands and none that I tried (Shell, Amoco/BP, Chevron) seem to give any better mileage than the others.

I found a gadget at Advance Auto Parts which is a syringe with graduations up to 2 oz for metering 2-stroke oil. I also bought a small funnel for the tank. What I did was take the plunger out of the syringe and fill the syringe from the can, keeping one finger over the opening to keep the acetone from falling out the bottom. Then I placed the syringe over the funnel and released my finger and the acetone all went in the tank. Acetone evaporates so fast, the syringe (and my finger) were dry before I put it back in the truck.

If this has an effect, I will be tempted to try MEK, which is very similar to acetone in chemical structure. I wonder why no one has ever mentioned trying MEK?

[BlazerLT]

How big is your tank?

also, reset you computer by pulling the negative battery cable for 15 minutes so the computer will relearn faster.

Good luck

Also, MEK is not as available as Acetone.

[Brian R.]

18 gal. I will reset the computer. Thanks for reminding me.

I thought I saw MEK at Home Depot.

[Rick Norwood]

Originally Posted by Brian R.

Anyway, I bought a trial quart of acetone from Home Depot and I am going to try it in my truck starting today. The can I bought is handy in that it has a small plastic snap spout - easy pouring. I will try 6oz/tankful, maybe 8 oz/tank if I only see a small effect. I will post back. My truck is very consistent at 16 mpg since I've owned it. I have also tested mileage from various brands and none that I tried (Shell, Amoco/BP, Chevron) seem to give any better mileage than the others.

I found a gadget at Advance Auto Parts which is a syringe with graduations up to 2 oz for metering 2-stroke oil. I also bought a small funnel for the tank. What I did was take the plunger out of the syringe and fill the syringe from the can, keeping one finger over the opening to keep the acetone from falling out the bottom. Then I placed the syringe over the funnel and released my finger and the acetone all went in the tank. Acetone evaporates so fast, the syringe (and my finger) were dry before I put it back in the truck.

If this has an effect, I will be tempted to try MEK, which is very similar to acetone in chemical structure. I wonder why no one has ever mentioned trying MEK?

Hi Brian, I’d like to ask you some questions that you may not know the answer to. It is not my intent to launch a personal attack or to challenge your credentials. My sole purpose is to simply ask questions in an effort to educate the folks on this Forum.

Question 1. If Acetone is as good as is being claimed and is as not harmful to our vehicles, then why hasn’t anyone the petroleum industry added it to their fuel?

Question 2. What is the tolerance on the amount of Acetone used in a vehicle? What is the ideal mixture or concentration? We’re hearing 3 oz. per 10 gallons of gas, what happens if 2 ounces is used or 4 ounces, and the big one what if someone dumps a whole gallon of the acetone into their tank. (Remember, we’re dealing with people that don’t know better and think that “MORE IS BETTER”). Is there a “PEAK” to the positive effects of acetone, meaning at some point, higher or lower than the recommended amount, are you nullifying the affect that the acetone is suppose to provide?

Question 3. Has General Motors or anyone in the SAE ever recommended or discouraged the use of Acetone in fuel?

Question 4. How did you learn about adding acetone to your gas tank? By reading this Forum or was this a little well known secret that generally known around the industry etc.?

Question 5. What other additives and chemicals are out there that could potentially improve a vehicle’s performance, and maybe increase gas mileage? I know you already have mentioned MEK.

Question 6. What other chemicals and additives are out there that should be avoided that would do harm to a vehicle? This question is particularly important because there are people out here that I swear will dump anything into their gas tanks simply by reading something on the internet.

Thank you for your reply and I’m waiting to see your answers to these questions.

Rick

[Cailen]

This thread has a graph that suggests a peak:

http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showthread.php?t=143848

I'm as skeptical as Rick. If this "wonder additive" has seemingly all these positive effects (+mileage, +part lifespan, -$) with no negatives it strikes me as odd that the petroleum industry would not add it.

I had a bit of time on my hands one day so I read through the thread above and cross referenced the "statistics" with a Canadian website that hosts "The One Tonne Challenge" (Canadians will have heard of this one).

In a nut shell, if acetone was true to at least the minimums of the positive effects that are being claimed, were it used in gasoline Canada could meet about 2% of their Kyoto commitment.

[Brian R.]

Originally Posted by Rick Norwood

Question 1.
If Acetone is as good as is being claimed and is as not harmful to our vehicles, then why hasn’t anyone the petroleum industry added it to their fuel?

I can't speak for the petroleum industry and I can't speak for any effect acetone has on gas mileage. I just decided to try it for myself and you can be sure I will drop it like a hot potato if I don't see a measureable increase within 3 or 4 tankfuls.

In answer to your question, if I were a sceptic (which I am) I would say they will sell more gas and make more profits without acetone. Just an guess/opinion. Also, they couldn't really make any claim about increased gas mileage since not everyone reportedly sees a mileage increase.

Originally Posted by Rick Norwood

Question 2.
What is the tolerance on the amount of Acetone used in a vehicle? What is the ideal mixture or concentration? We’re hearing 3 oz. per 10 gallons of gas, what happens if 2 ounces is used or 4 ounces, and the big one what if someone dumps a whole gallon of the acetone into their tank. (Remember, we’re dealing with people that don’t know better and think that “MORE IS BETTER”). Is there a “PEAK” to the positive effects of acetone, meaning at some point, higher or lower than the recommended amount, are you nullifying the affect that the acetone is suppose to provide?

All I know is what I've read in the article quoted elsewhere in this topic. Apparently, different engines have different requirements for acetone concentration (when it helps at all). I plan on trying more and less than 3 oz/10 gal and that's about all the time and energy I'm going to give to this experiment.

Originally Posted by Rick Norwood

Question 3.
Has General Motors or anyone in the SAE ever recommended or discouraged the use of Acetone in fuel?

I have no idea.

Originally Posted by Rick Norwood

Question 4.
How did you learn about adding acetone to your gas tank? By reading this Forum or was this a little well known secret that generally known around the industry etc.?

I first heard about it in this topic, and then read as much information as I could easily find. It was no secret that I found out. The negative side of this is that 90% of what I've read is written by or quoting one guy. The postive side is that he doesn't obviously stand to gain by pushing acetone (he doesn't sell acetone for a living) so I don't see a conflict of interest in his giving this advice.

Originally Posted by Rick Norwood

Question 5.
What other additives and chemicals are out there that could potentially improve a vehicle’s performance, and maybe increase gas mileage? I know you already have mentioned MEK.

I don't know of any others.

Originally Posted by Rick Norwood

Question 6.
What other chemicals and additives are out there that should be avoided that would do harm to a vehicle? This question is particularly important because there are people out here that I swear will dump anything into their gas tanks simply by reading something on the internet.

I would avoid putting anything in my vehicle that isn't approved by the manufacturer. Acetone is an exception because I can't figure out how trying this can do any harm - at the concentrations I will be using.

Brian

[BlazerLT]

Originally Posted by Cailen

This thread has a graph that suggests a peak:

http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showthread.php?t=143848

I'm as skeptical as Rick. If this "wonder additive" has seemingly all these positive effects (+mileage, +part lifespan, -$) with no negatives it strikes me as odd that the petroleum industry would not add it.

I had a bit of time on my hands one day so I read through the thread above and cross referenced the "statistics" with a Canadian website that hosts "The One Tonne Challenge" (Canadians will have heard of this one).

In a nut shell, if acetone was true to at least the minimums of the positive effects that are being claimed, were it used in gasoline Canada could meet about 2% of their Kyoto commitment.

Just think of it like this.

Would McDonalds put something in their food that would have you consume less of it?

If you know corporations, you know they would never do that.

[Brian R.]

Originally Posted by BlazerLT

Just think of it like this.

Would McDonalds put something in their food that would have you consume less of it?

If you know corporations, you know they would never do that.

You mean like a greasy cold piece of meat?

[Rick Norwood]

Originally Posted by BlazerLT

Just think of it like this.

Would McDonalds put something in their food that would have you consume less of it?

If you know corporations, you know they would never do that.

Well, in a sense I guess they would or they might. Why does Chevron and a few others add all of the xylene, toluene, and who knows what other chemicals and solvents to their fuels? Well, those are just solvents that keep things clean, right? But by putting those additives into your gas, your engine runs better than if the additives were left out, and thus you use less fuel. Are these additives a result of EPA regulations? I don't know, but I can tell you this, there are a number of municipalities and communities around the US (not sure about Canada) that do not meet or at least have trouble meeting the strict air pollution standards. Phoenix is one of those cities, especially in the winter months. The laws are getting tougher and tougher every year to pass and I still gotta think one of two things, either the acetone has some serious drawbacks or it is in its infancy and yet to be explored, because if it is in-fact as good as is being claimed, we'd be seeing it introduced into our gas stations at least during certian times of the year like we do with the various blends of gasoline currently sold in Phoenix now. We get MTBE mixed into our gas during some months and Alcohols mixed in during the other months.

[Brian R.]

I don't know how the oil companies think or how much clout the EPA has with the people who are responsible for formulating gasoline, but I would expect that the companies get together as a group and meet periodically to discuss these issues. If acetone were useful for increasing mileage, it would be in their best interest to repress it across the board. If one used it, they would pretty much force everyone to use it and they would lower gasoline demand in doing so.

I deal with industry (not oil) on a daily basis from the government standpoint, and they do talk among themselves, and they do stick together against the government and in direct conflict with the public's best interests and the public health. It is obvious to me from the decisions they make and the positions they take on important regulatory issues, that what they care most about is pleasing their stockholders by increasing profits, and thus keeping their jobs. They spend a significant amount of time worrying about what not to tell the government.

For what it's worth.

[Brian R.]

Originally Posted by Rick Norwood

Well, in a sense I guess they would or they might. Why does Chevron and a few others add all of the xylene, toluene, and who knows what other chemicals and solvents to their fuels? Well, those are just solvents that keep things clean, right? But by putting those additives into your gas, your engine runs better than if the additives were left out, and thus you use less fuel. Are these additives a result of EPA regulations? I don't know, but I can tell you this, there are a number of municipalities and communities around the US (not sure about Canada) that do not meet or at least have trouble meeting the strict air pollution standards.

I would say that the toluene and xylene are not additives. They are natural constituents of the crude oil and thus the gasoline, and the formulators have no choice but to include them. As a matter of fact, the sweet Pennsylvania crude that made Pennzoil famous was prized for its high aromatic content. It made the distillation fractions very good solvents for additive packages and particularly sulfur for gear oil.

These aromatics come from the same sources that aromatics found in lubricating oil come from - the ones in gasoline fractions just boil at a lower temperature.

[Cailen]

Just think of it like this.

Would McDonalds put something in their food that would have you consume less of it?

If you know corporations, you know they would never do that.

Sure, maybe. But it seems silly that a government wouldn't make it mandatory. Something that saves people money is generally pretty popular, as is protecting the environment.