Is this total BS or not? Acetone in gas?

Darkwriter77 said:

Anyone tried Everclear in their gas tank?

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no, but i tried them in my cd player back in high school! Not a big fan these days!

i have used paint thinner in my lawn mower for years and works like a injector cleaner... try it!!!! cleans it rite up

Everclear (and vodka) works good for cleaning the bearings of a ceiling fan, at least - something my dad showed me years ago, using some of granny's "cough medicine" booze to fix the living room fan.

Seriously, though ... I remember reading previously about folks using grain or denatured alcohol in their gas for some similar results to this acetone silliness. Although I think it had more to do with trying to pass smog than anything else...

i agree that acetone is likely a good cleaning agent. my point is how reactive it could be with the fuel delivery components, which were designed for gasoline, not acetone! i just think that acetone would eat up a lot of things, which is why i'd never try it personally..... and i highly recommend the rest of you don't either. If anyone knows exactly what the fuel system is made of, from tank to injectors, i could give a definitive answer on whether it would eat any of the components....... but my first guess is YES!

Darkwriter77 said:

Anyone tried Everclear in their gas tank?

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if by gas tank you mean belly then yes I have. in the proper amounts it also has a tremendous cleaning effect as can be evidenced by the residue left in the toilet or any handy five gallon bucket

bloopbloob said:

i agree that acetone is likely a good cleaning agent. my point is how reactive it could be with the fuel delivery components, which were designed for gasoline, not acetone! i just think that acetone would eat up a lot of things, which is why i'd never try it personally..... and i highly recommend the rest of you don't either. If anyone knows exactly what the fuel system is made of, from tank to injectors, i could give a definitive answer on whether it would eat any of the components....... but my first guess is YES!

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in everything that I read the acetone was supposed to promote surface tension of the gasoline thus allowing to burn more completely. IMHO this is a bunch of garbage. it is also MHO that this stuff will eat your filler neck and any other plastic based polymer that it will come in contact with. I have also noticed that most tests were done on smaller econo cars where the injector spray pattern could make a different effect. I dunno just random musings. I really wish I had some everclear right now.

stykthyn said:

if by gas tank you mean belly then yes I have. in the proper amounts it also has a tremendous cleaning effect as can be evidenced by the residue left in the toilet or any handy five gallon bucket

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I got my dad in the habit of using it in his lawn mower, which he has for the past 2 years. It now takes him 1/2 a tank instead of a full tank to mow the lawn. Maybe its because it cleans up and maintains the fuel system, maybe it does reduce surface tension, I don't care. The point is I personally increased 1.5-2mpg in one of three vehicles. I continue to run it in my mustang regardless, as I have seen the benefits and plan on testing it in my truck during warmer weather. Most fuel injector cleaner is acetone, xylene and gas based from what I've read (MSDS sheets and googled info).

I also really doubt that acetone on rubber for 2 seconds prior to filling the vehicle with gas would cause any damage.

The filler neck is rubber, the tank is steel or aluminum, the lines are steel or aluminum. Fuel injector o-rings and other fuel seals are normally made from viton which is fuel/oil/grease/chemical resistant.

3 oz to 10 gallons of gas is like making a grade school strength rum and coke, one shot of rum to one five gallon bucket of coke. It wouldn't hurt anyone.

Google homemade racing fuels (IIRC) and see what "dirty" fuels people make with xylene, toulene and other chemicals.

Adam

try xylene its friendly to your fuel system.

I found this thread as I am getting ready to try some acetone tomorrow...

bloopbloob said:

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.
...
then pour some on different types of rubber and plastics and see what happens....

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You make a good point with chemical polarity...
and evaproation rates...

But remember that Acetone (finger nail polish remover) is sold in PLASTIC bottles.
HDPE - and if a cheap-o milk jug material can hold up to acetone, then surely automotive fuel system plastics should be ok

According to 'combustion theory'
The more volatile elements in the fuel will begin the process of combustion.
Because acetone is so volatile, it will improve the beginning stages of combustion.
This is the 'theory' that I have found from various sources...
Just theory at this point...
But,
I can't wait to try this out in my n/a 2.3 Mustang... I have mpg data back to '05. If there is a difference I should see it...
Tomorrow I'll put about 2.75oz in the tank...
I will refill on Thursday morning...

jason