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Is this total BS or not? Acetone in gas?

  • Thread starter Thread starter 1993SSP
  • Start date Start date Jan 2, 2008
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1993SSP

Founding Member
Sep 5, 2001
1,194
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37
Ky
Jan 2, 2008
#1
  • Jan 2, 2008
  • #1
It this myth or fact??? I'm thinkin no way it can be worth a crap


http://www.pureenergysystems.com/news/2005/03/17/6900069_Acetone/
 

hamonkeiser

New Member
Feb 6, 2003
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Lancaster, PA
Jan 2, 2008
#2
  • Jan 2, 2008
  • #2
They proved on Mythbusters that it doesn't work.
 

Strype

Cuthbert catcher
Founding Member
May 11, 1999
61
34
104
Huntsvegas, AL
Jan 2, 2008
#3
  • Jan 2, 2008
  • #3
Mothballs were proven to work tho
 

strtrcr50

New Member
Jun 21, 2006
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Previously from Dirty Jerzey exit 7a
Jan 2, 2008
#4
  • Jan 2, 2008
  • #4
Some members here tried it and discussed it on eectuning.org. They picked up a few MPG. From what I read, it works for some, and not others.
link
 

85_SS_302_Coupe

it sucks (I know) to be on the receiving end
15 Year Member
Nov 11, 2003
6,945
1,598
223
Northern KY
Jan 2, 2008
#5
  • Jan 2, 2008
  • #5
Yeah in fact Mythbusters said it HURT mpg.
 

sunil6784

Member
Mar 31, 2005
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Boston, MA
Jan 2, 2008
#6
  • Jan 2, 2008
  • #6
i tried it with no mileage change
 
S

svtpower

New Member
Apr 30, 2005
257
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0
Wisconsin
Jan 2, 2008
#7
  • Jan 2, 2008
  • #7
hahaha

Total BS.

The tricks to improving your gas milage are as follows:

1) A clean air filter
2) Properly inflated tires
3) Spark plugs and wires in good condition
4) properly working, clean fuel injectors
 

strtrcr50

New Member
Jun 21, 2006
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4
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Previously from Dirty Jerzey exit 7a
Jan 2, 2008
#8
  • Jan 2, 2008
  • #8
If you read the link I posted, those guys documented increased mileage. It's worth a look. Perhaps TallAdam or Patrickmx2 will chime in here.
 

stykthyn

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.
15 Year Member
Jul 6, 2006
5,232
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gainesville
Jan 2, 2008
#9
  • Jan 2, 2008
  • #9
I think that if they did a blind study they would find no change at all. I am sure that the people that were testing the acetone did not drive the way they normally do so that they could really maximize any benefit from the additive. proven time and again that it will not work consistently.
 

Darkwriter77

Resident Ranting Negative Nancy
5 Year Member
Jul 1, 2005
314
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Apache Junction, AZ
Jan 2, 2008
#10
  • Jan 2, 2008
  • #10
I've had better luck by adding sugar to gas tanks with each fill-up.

Then again, I wasn't adding sugar to my own vehicles' gas tanks, so I can't verify how effective this additive is...






 

moterhead

New Member
Dec 7, 2007
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Craigfield (near Fairview) Tennessee
Jan 2, 2008
#11
  • Jan 2, 2008
  • #11
svtpower said:
Total BS.

The tricks to improving your gas milage are as follows:

1) A clean air filter
2) Properly inflated tires
3) Spark plugs and wires in good condition
4) properly working, clean fuel injectors
Click to expand...

Another one that works really well is a LIGHT right foot!!
 
S

svtpower

New Member
Apr 30, 2005
257
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0
Wisconsin
Jan 2, 2008
#12
  • Jan 2, 2008
  • #12
moterhead said:
Another one that works really well is a LIGHT right foot!!
Click to expand...

What's that?
 
M

Makdaddymac

New Member
May 28, 2005
323
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orlando
Jan 2, 2008
#13
  • Jan 2, 2008
  • #13
i use to do it in my old 91t. i swore i got like + 10mpTANK,but it could have been my imagination controlling my gas foot
try it, ive done in a couple cars and never hurt nothing, just dont put too much, i heard a little is better anyways... i use to put like 2oz in......
 

bloopbloob

Member
Sep 27, 2006
578
4
16
Alberta
Jan 2, 2008
#14
  • Jan 2, 2008
  • #14
i don't see how this would work, but i may be wrong. i have worked in chemistry labs etc, and used a LOT of acetone over the years... it evaporates extremely quickly, which is one of the reasons why we use it to clean beakers and test tubes etc. it evaporates in a matter of seconds without residue. i cant see it lasting too long when our cars have a system to relieve the vapors from the tank...
 

talladam

Member
Apr 3, 2007
50
0
6
Monroeville OH
Jan 2, 2008
#15
  • Jan 2, 2008
  • #15
I've used acetone in a few of my vehicles with varying results.

My 89 stang picked up 1.5 to 2 mpg depending on how it was mixed. I bought my gas at the same two stations, drove the same route daily, same driving style, etc. 2.5 ounces per 10 gallons of gas gave me the best result. Throttle response did improve and the car seemed to idle smoother. The car got filled up when it hit 1/4 tank on the gauge, which meant it needed 10 gallons on the dot. The mileage always read 175 at 1/4 tank without acetone and 200 with acetone.


I tried this trick in my 90 vw golf with a 1.8L automatic and found no change. I think part of it was the car only got cheap gas (rich, grocery store gas station fuel, meijer fuel). Didn't help that the digif**k (digifant II) fuel injection that vw used was total ****.

My 90 GMC 1500 ext cab 2wd truck has an 11:1 327 that hasn't seen any increase yet but I'm waiting til spring to check the mileage with acetone again. I know warming the truck up for 15 minutes has affected it tremedously. Seriously the weather goes from 45 to 20 in a day here in northern ohio. Hell I even mowed my lawn two days before thanksgiving.

Even if it doesn't give you any increase, it will keep your fuel system clean. For the people that think this will hurt the fuel system, dream on...2 to 3 ounce for 1280 ounces of gas (10 gallons)...the ratio is rediculosly small. Fuel injector cleaner is about the same quantity.
 

bloopbloob

Member
Sep 27, 2006
578
4
16
Alberta
Jan 3, 2008
#16
  • Jan 3, 2008
  • #16
the more i think about this, the more i have to call .... it just doesnt add up to me. i could very well be wrong, but i play with chemicals all the time, and this idea is not really adding up to me. first of all, acetone is a wicked polar solvent. that makes me worry about all the plastics in a car it may come in contact with, which it would dissolve (ie. fuel delivery!!!) . second, if it's so great, why isn't it in gas already? third, it evaporates extremely quickly, so i think the effects would be short lived. my general impression is that it may (at best) act as a cleaner for the first few miles since it's a great solvent, but after that i think it will have left the system.... i'm going to check whats in my fuel injector cleaner tomorrow!
 

bloopbloob

Member
Sep 27, 2006
578
4
16
Alberta
Jan 3, 2008
#17
  • Jan 3, 2008
  • #17
talladam said:
Even if it doesn't give you any increase, it will keep your fuel system clean. For the people that think this will hurt the fuel system, dream on...2 to 3 ounce for 1280 ounces of gas (10 gallons)...the ratio is rediculosly small. Fuel injector cleaner is about the same quantity.
Click to expand...

i'm thinking it will probably keep it clean also, but it is also a very harsh chemical. why do you think 2 to 3 ounces won't hurt anything since the ratio is SO small, but 2 to 3 ounces will help???? if it does indeed have an effect, then is it not reasonable to think that it may have an effect on other components???

edit: see post below. now that i have looked at the chemicals, yes, fuel injector cleaner is safe, acetone is not. they are very different, and the effects on your fuel system are also going to be different.
 

bloopbloob

Member
Sep 27, 2006
578
4
16
Alberta
Jan 3, 2008
#18
  • Jan 3, 2008
  • #18
ok, well i did a little drawing, for anyone who has some experience with chemicals, they will probably understand the major difference just from the drawing. and if not, i hope you just take my word for it... acetone is a MUCH more polar solvent than fuel injector cleaner (see pic's!). a highly polar solvent is not good for all the plastic/rubber on the car. as for an effect on mpg's, i don't really know, but i know i will never run it in my car. i also suggest to anyone considering doing this to dump some of your gf's acetone based nail polish remover on a (non polar) surface, and watch how fast it evaporates!!! then pour some on different types of rubber and plastics and see what happens....

anyways, heres my doodle for those who might understand the massive difference in polarity....

 
D

Deleted member 87397

Jan 3, 2008
#19
  • Jan 3, 2008
  • #19
You may notice a difference after a few tanks, but it most likely comes from the cleaning effect it has on the engine. If you run it consistently is will not really net you any extra mpgs but may maintain current performance by keeping the engine clean. What I noticed alot is when I ran it on a car of mine that has not cats was that the black build up that always ends up on th bumper was significantly decreased because it does reduce hydrocarbon emissions. Its a good thing to run if you have to do the tailpipe sniffer emissions test.
 

Darkwriter77

Resident Ranting Negative Nancy
5 Year Member
Jul 1, 2005
314
281
134
Apache Junction, AZ
Jan 3, 2008
#20
  • Jan 3, 2008
  • #20
Anyone tried Everclear in their gas tank?
 
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