so.. anyone use Acetone in their gas tank?

RacEoHolic330 · Nov 4, 2005

Im gonna give it a shot on my subie tomorrow when I fill up. I have a long, glass somewhat test-tube looking thing that I'll use to pour the acetone in the tank with.

vristang · Nov 5, 2005

So what is the downside? I have been through all the SAE papers I can find (the only automotive source I completely trust) within my company library, and have not seen any mention of acetone and efficiency. I would think that at the very least there would be an impact on emissions. If there was a major increase in economy, with no side effects, then the auto manufacturers would be pushing very hard to increase the acetone levels in pump fuels.

I have read (it was a while back now) about Toluene as well. How does acetone compare to the results with toluene.

I am not trying to be a skeptic, or start an argument, I am just trying to understand better.
:Word:

jrichker · Nov 5, 2005

Toluene is an excellent octane booster. I have a two page tech note I copied on its use as an octane booster, and it is very impressive when used for that purpose.

First hand experience - if you add too much Toluene, the car is hard to start. Toluene doesn't vaporize very easily. Maybe adding acetone to it would make a terrfic racing fuel for use in unleaded vechicles.

04sleeper · Nov 5, 2005

Hmmmmmm. Interesting.

Michael Yount · Nov 5, 2005

vristang - keep in mind - the energy lobby and the automakers' lobby have a love/hate relationship. They're clearly in a symbiotic relationship; however, they frequently point the finger at each other and say 'you solve the problem'. The automakers want lower emissions via different fuels (e.g. - natural gas runs MUCH cleaner than gasoline -- but obviously there are storage, safety and infrastructure issues), and the energy companies want the automakers to solve it with engine control technology. They're positioning has little to do with the best solution, and EVERYTHING to do with economics. Follow the $$$ my friend. It's all economics.

RacEoHolic330 · Nov 5, 2005

Well, I put 3 ounces in my subaru today when I filled up (12 gallons). The car didn't blow up or anything, so I guess it's okay, haha. I'm taking a 130 mile round trip tomorrow so I'll see what difference the acetone makes.

luckythirteen13 · Nov 5, 2005

do you notice a performace difference?

RacEoHolic330 · Nov 5, 2005

no.. no performace difference at all. From all the research i've done, there have never been claims that it increases performace, or at least no hard facts to support any sort of performance gain. People said that they have noticed smoother idle though.

Look Its Aaron · Nov 5, 2005

Lucky13

www.lamustangclub.com

www.socalhorsepower.com

Since you are local here check out those websites and start postin!

FiveOfastback · Nov 5, 2005

Autobodypro_1 said:
All I can say is: I wouldn't do it on my car. Acetone can melt plastic parts like your fuel tank strainer giving you delivery problems and clogging your electric fuel pump and lines, leaving you stranded and it can melt plastic or rubber o rings elsewhere in your fuel system which by the way is under pressurization...can anyone say fire hazard....I think the miniscule increase in power and mileage aren't worth the risks...I played around with the stuff when I was a kid with a go cart and it made it run faster....

A couple ounces will not hurt as long it is added to full tank of fuel. It dilutes very quickly. You may pick up some mileage. Maybe a few HP. Check google for acetone as a fuel additive for specific mixture recommendation.

Michael Yount · Nov 6, 2005

I added some and topped the tank today - it's liable to be 2 or 3 weeks before I have to fill again to check mileage. I'm skeptical it will make any difference at all.

vristang · Nov 6, 2005

Michael Yount said:
I added some and topped the tank today - it's liable to be 2 or 3 weeks before I have to fill again to check mileage. I'm skeptical it will make any difference at all.

I am curious how much you added, what ratio? What car are you putting it in?

For all who are doing this...
Are you compensating for the acetone left over from the last tank when you calculate how much acetone to add to the next tank?

cardudeusa · Nov 6, 2005

Interesting...

ECU5.0 · Nov 6, 2005

vristang said:
I am curious how much you added, what ratio? What car are you putting it in?

For all who are doing this...
Are you compensating for the acetone left over from the last tank when you calculate how much acetone to add to the next tank?

from everything i have read its 3 oz per 10 gallons. so even if you added 10 gallons on top of 5 gallons still in the tank you would still add 3 oz. i think the proper amount in your gasoline is something like .234 % of the gasoline in your tank. you just calculate how much acetone to put in depending on how much gasoline you put in.

vristang · Nov 6, 2005

ECU5.0 said:
from everything i have read its 3 oz per 10 gallons. so even if you added 10 gallons on top of 5 gallons still in the tank you would still add 3 oz. i think the proper amount in your gasoline is something like .234 % of the gasoline in your tank. you just calculate how much acetone to put in depending on how much gasoline you put in.

It's a little embarassing to keep posting questions that don't really make sense. I am not even sure what I was thinking when I typed that. Maybe I was thinking about changing the ratio from fill-up to fill-up?

I guess sleep is required.

Has anyone tried different ratios? What worked best for your car?
I am suspecting that there will be more of an improvement in economy for less trubulent heads, and lower compression motors?

RacEoHolic330 · Nov 6, 2005

Well, so far I have put 200 miles on my car since adding acetone. I've done a lot more city driving than usual this weekend and the needle isn't at the halfway mark yet. Usually it hits the halfway mark in the 200-210 mile range and that's with mostly highway driving. I'll know for sure how much of a difference it made in about 2 days when I go to fill up again. But so far, so good. There seems to be an increase in mileage.

RacEoHolic330 · Nov 6, 2005

I found this to be interesting in the article too. Might be useful for those guys needing to pass the sniffer test for inspection:

"Acetone can reduce hydrocarbon emissions up to 60 percent. In some older cars, the HC readings with acetone in a 1986 GMC went from 440 PPM to 195, as just one example. Though mileage gains taper off with too much acetone, hydrocarbon emissions are nevertheless greatly reduced. Pure acetone is an extremely clean burning fuel that burns in air with a pretty blue, smokeless flame."

302RollinHard · Nov 7, 2005

All this Acetone/toluene talk is pretty interesting. The whole surface tension/better atomization theory sounds good, and has some merit. I would try filling up your tank first thing in the morning. Cooler ground temps = more dense gasoline = more bang for buck. Also pay attention to where you fill up. Different refining techniques yield different densities of gasoline, and give you different mpg's. Each company does it a little different. The toluene idea would make for great race gas because it is a more dense hydrocarbon than gasoline. This would allow you to really bump up your timing without detonation. Personally never tried the acetone thing, but I have a gallon in the garage. Ya never know.....

Look Its Aaron · Nov 7, 2005

I await for your results raceoholic

RacEoHolic330 · Nov 7, 2005

I'll be filling her up tomorrow afternoon, so I'll let you know.

so.. anyone use Acetone in their gas tank?

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