Acetone increases gas mileage !!!

[mebedave]

So that's what I here, google it read for yourself. I would like to try it but not sure if it will hurt my engine or fuel components 2005 Silverado 4.3L. Have any of you used acetone? Here is a good read I found (it's long) check it out. http://neubranderinc.com/blog/2007/01/03/acetone-in-gasoline-busted/
Too much acetone can make you get worst gas mileage only use about 1 to 3 oz. per 10 gal of gas no more! and it must be Pure Acetone.

 

[toyotadriver]

I've done it. It does increase mileage in the vehicle that I tried it in....but not much. Maybe 1 mpg at best....in a vehicle that normally gets about 18 average mpg. Did it for awhile and finally decided that it wasn't worth the hassle.

I keep very good records of my gas milage so I know it increased. I have the past 6 years worth of fill up records.

Works but not worth the time IMO.

 

[Gary S]

I use it most of the time, but I have never checked my mileage. I use it because it helps keep the fuel system cleaner and working better.
Years ago, the gas had some acetone in it, and things worked better. Today, the crappy gas we get doesn't have the necessary additives to clean the fuel system and stabilize the gas for long life.

 

[brownbagg]

but the acetone will cost more than the half gallon of gas you save

 

[Thruxton]

but the acetone will cost more than the half gallon of gas you save

Exactly. Do the math and you'll keep your acetone for shop use, not for the gas tank.

 

[NitroPress]

Today, the crappy gas we get doesn't have the necessary additives to clean the fuel system and stabilize the gas for long life.

All gas sold in the US (at least for road use) contains more additives these days - including EPA-required detergents - than in any prior era. Most of them are required, either by regulation or to boost octane into advertised levels. It's a substantial percentage of the mix.

Acetone has never been a standard additive except for methanol-based fuels. And yes, it's likely to be more expensive than any fuel saved on that tank. I'd also question whether all the plumbing is acetone-safe - remember what happened when they started running ethanol in older cars.

 

[mebedave]

remember what happened when they started running ethanol in older cars.

I think the newer cars like my 2005 Silverado that are capable of running ethanol could handle acetone

 

[mebedave]

I use it most of the time, but I have never checked my mileage. I use it because it helps keep the fuel system cleaner and working better.
Years ago, the gas had some acetone in it, and things worked better. Today, the crappy gas we get doesn't have the necessary additives to clean the fuel system and stabilize the gas for long life.

Gary what make and year vehicles do you use the acetone in, and how much do you add to the gas?

 

[mebedave]

Exactly. Do the math and you'll keep your acetone for shop use, not for the gas tank.

1 or 2 mpg increase... I would agree with you Thruxton, but if you research many are getting 10 mpg increase for 1.5-3 oz.of acetone per 10 gal's of gas!!

poster above Gary S. stated "I use it most of the time, but I have never checked my mileage. I use it because it helps keep the fuel system cleaner and working better.
Years ago, the gas had some acetone in it, and things worked better. Today, the crappy gas we get doesn't have the necessary additives to clean the fuel system and stabilize the gas for long life."
It appears there's other benefits besides just more miles per gal.

 

[tdkkart]

many are getting 10 mpg increase for 1.5-3 oz.of acetone per 10 gal's of gas!!

I call on this one........

 

[carterbeauford]

I quit reading anytime I see "increase gas mileage"

 

[garboui]

I think the newer cars like my 2005 Silverado that are capable of running ethanol could handle acetone

ethanol and acetone are two very different beasts chemically and therefore very different in how they will interact with different materials.

for example,
-ethanol will tent to dry out and crack rubber, acetone not so much
- ethanol can be contained by abs and pvc materials (what most fuel system components are made of) almost indefinitely, acetone will dissolve these materials (what does pipe glue smell like?).

 

[StaggeringGoat]

Nobody is getting increased gas mileage from acetone! Most of the people who try it don't have the slightest idea how to accurately measure their MPG - even if they could the results would mean nothing unless you tested it on a dyno.

If acetone increased gas mileage then the EPA would already require it to be mixed with your fuel.

 

[Randy in Maine]

Kind of tough on O-rings also.

You would get better mileage if you backed of the throttle by 5 mph.

 

[StaggeringGoat]

Busted.

 

[Gary S]

Gary what make and year vehicles do you use the acetone in, and how much do you add to the gas?

I use the recommended amount. I put in about 1.5oz per 10 gal. Like I said, I do not check the mileage, so I can't comment on that.
Right now, I'm driving a '81 carbureted Chevy truck, a '89 fuel injected Caprice, and a '01 fuel injected Ford pickup.
There seem to be no bad effects from adding a little acetone, but lots of negatives without it. I got started on this from a professional airplane mechanic. He claims that all aviation gas has some acetone to be able to handle the altitude changes without vapor locking. I don't know enough about aviation gas to dispute what he says. He has almost 40 years experience in this field, so I have to trust what he claims.
I get the acetone cheap, so if it heads off even one of the $500 or $1000 repairs of today's fuel injected cars, it pays me back 1000x more than it costs.

 

[NitroPress]

I quit reading anytime I see "increase gas mileage"

Yep. Anyone who thinks makers aren't doing every single thing they can to squeeze mileage out of the cars they build probably has an extensive collection of tinfoil hats. Other than really twisted conspiracy theories, there is NO advantage for makers not to use every trick, and they do. Most "increase mileage" schemes are scams, folk wisdom and/or based on aspects of cars that haven't been true for many decades. The efficiency of modern engines approaches 99% and there is next to nothing a shade-tree mechanic can do to improve that.

 

[StaggeringGoat]

The efficiency of modern engines approaches 99%

Not even close. A gas engine is about 25% efficient, a diesel is more like 30% efficient...the most efficient diesel engines in the world reach around 50% efficient. ("efficient" being the amount of fuel converted into useful work rather than wasted heat)

 

[NitroPress]

I got started on this from a professional airplane mechanic. He claims that all aviation gas has some acetone to be able to handle the altitude changes without vapor locking. I don't know enough about aviation gas to dispute what he says. He has almost 40 years experience in this field, so I have to trust what he claims.

I've never heard of acetone as a regular additive in any gasoline-based fuel, aviation, racing, road or other. The only references I can find to it are in some of the experimental synfuels, which are way off the standard line.

Forty years or not, acetone is a more volatile compound than gasoline. I can't imagine how it would combat vapor-lock. If anything, it would increase it.

Frankly, most claims that start with "this old mechanic told me..." prove to be those same folk wisdoms and applicable only to 1948 John Deere tractors, if at all.

 

[sberry]

I know someone bought a 300$ coil and set of spark plug wires to put on a 10 yr old Merc Topaz to "get better mileage"

 

[NitroPress]

Not even close. A gas engine is about 25% efficient, a diesel is more like 30% efficient...the most efficient diesel engines in the world reach around 50% efficient. ("efficient" being the amount of fuel converted into useful work rather than wasted heat)

99% efficient in burning the fuel. There is absolutely nothing that can be gained by tinkering with a modern engine's fuel content or handling. All blither-blather about "increasing fuel burn" and so forth is nonsense. Voodoo. BS.

Net output, as you correctly point out, is much lower, but there is very little that can be done about those losses without radical redesign and a completely different set of assumptions about longevity, drivability etc. Putzing around with the fuel mix won't help that problem.

 

[mebedave]

Yep. Anyone who thinks makers aren't doing every single thing they can to squeeze mileage out of the cars they build probably has an extensive collection of tinfoil hats. Other than really twisted conspiracy theories, there is NO advantage for makers not to use every trick, and they do. Most "increase mileage" schemes are scams, folk wisdom and/or based on aspects of cars that haven't been true for many decades. The efficiency of modern engines approaches 99% and there is next to nothing a shade-tree mechanic can do to improve that.

The makers or automobiles do not make the fuel going into the tanks,if they did I think the cars today would get far better fuel mileage!!! The makers of fuel have all kinds of EPA rules and bs they go by, and that does not mean they are producing the best fuel with fuel mileage mind!! And don't they what you to fill up often? Gas years ago was way better as far as performance was concerned, and performance means better MPG in my eyes.

 

[Alchymist]

Hey, just wait a minute. Those things do work! About a year ago, I got one of those "propeller" type things that goes into the air inlet. Saw an immediate MPG increase (gas savings) of about 17%. Started searching for other gas saving devices and found the one that clips onto the main gas line and "ionizes" the heavier gas molecules for better combustion. Tried it, and got a gas savings of 48%. I have th figures to prove it. Then I stumbled across a hard to find set of plans for building a water injection setup, in kit form. Finally found a kit, assembled and installed it. Another increase, about 25% on top of what I already had. Went from about 18MPG on the test vehicle, to almost 40 MPG.

To top it all off I found a device that separates unburned volatiles from the exhaust, adds oxygen and recirculates to the intake. Another 30% increase in gas savings.

Unfortunately I saved so much gas (over 100%), that the gas tank overflowed and the car caught fire. To this day I can't find all the stuff to duplicate the savings.

 

[Frank The Plumber]

The acetone is going to dissolve all of your hoses. Your rubber parts are not rubber boys.

They are plastic.

Take a couple of your plastic parts and put them in the acetone over night.

In the morning they be GOoooooooo.

 

[mebedave]

ethanol and acetone are two very different beasts chemically and therefore very different in how they will interact with different materials.

for example,
-ethanol will tent to dry out and crack rubber, acetone not so much
- ethanol can be contained by abs and pvc materials (what most fuel system components are made of) almost indefinitely, acetone will dissolve these materials (what does pipe glue smell like?).

Thank you very much garboui for that info!!

 

[mebedave]

Hey, just wait a minute. Those things do work! About a year ago, I got one of those "propeller" type things that goes into the air inlet. Saw an immediate MPG increase (gas savings) of about 17%. Started searching for other gas saving devices and found the one that clips onto the main gas line and "ionizes" the heavier gas molecules for better combustion. Tried it, and got a gas savings of 48%. I have th figures to prove it. Then I stumbled across a hard to find set of plans for building a water injection setup, in kit form. Finally found a kit, assembled and installed it. Another increase, about 25% on top of what I already had. Went from about 18MPG on the test vehicle, to almost 40 MPG.

To top it all off I found a device that separates unburned volatiles from the exhaust, adds oxygen and recirculates to the intake. Another 30% increase in gas savings.

Unfortunately I saved so much gas (over 100%), that the gas tank overflowed and the car caught fire. To this day I can't find all the stuff to duplicate the savings.

I'M LOL, That is funny!! But for reals I'm talking about increasing octane here, does anyone agree octane boost gives better mpg ?

 

[PsRumors]

99% efficient in burning the fuel. There is absolutely nothing that can be gained by tinkering with a modern engine's fuel content or handling. All blither-blather about "increasing fuel burn" and so forth is nonsense. Voodoo. BS.

Net output, as you correctly point out, is much lower, but there is very little that can be done about those losses without radical redesign and a completely different set of assumptions about longevity, drivability etc. Putzing around with the fuel mix won't help that problem.

Not much experience in tuning modern engines?

A good tune ignoring certain mandates that auto manufacturers must abide by will net better fuel economy and more power all without a sacrifice in longevity and driveability.

 

[Alchymist]

I'M LOL, That is funny!! But for reals I'm talking about increasing octane here, does anyone agree octane boost gives better mpg ?

Actually, the octane rating determines how far the timing can be advanced before spark knock (pre-detonation) occurs. Majority of the gas engines today are designed for 87 octane, and putting the higher octane gas in will do little to improve gas mileage, and any slight gain is more than offset by the higher cost of premium gas. And changing the timing when using premium - well, the computer has more control than you do!

 

[mebedave]

Actually, the octane rating determines how far the timing can be advanced before spark knock (pre-detonation) occurs. Majority of the gas engines today are designed for 87 octane, and putting the higher octane gas in will do little to improve gas mileage, and any slight gain is more than offset by the higher cost of premium gas. And changing the timing when using premium - well, the computer has more control than you do!

That's why I come here with questions you guy's are always spot on!!! I posted the same thing on a Chevy forum and I did not get one reply.

So who can recommend a good tuner for a 4.3L v6

 

[PassnThru]

A word of warning to those willing to listen - the Bac'tre species from the galaxy known by us as The Kiwky MartWay use acetone as fuel for their sub-light engines.
Don't make yourself a target of their less than humane mining operations.

I'm sorry but I can't divulge any more than that.

You're on your own from here.

 

[Thruxton]

This has turned into one hilarious effing thread, and Alchymist, your post is going into my collection for further quoting, it's gotta be a classic like the synthetic oil (motorcycle) post that's been banging around the 'net for ages. Don't know if you wrote it, but it sure is good!


Gentlemen, thanks, I needed this!! (And PassnThru, your clearance is hereby revoked.)

 

[Fastback]

I think some people need to understand what an oxidizer does. In some instances quackery, while not based in mainstream science can end up acting as oxidizers and could possibly enhance mpg or power just by returning the engine to levels it had before wear n such.

If you really want to see some wild stuff google "Paul Pantone" and his GEET device.

 

[StaggeringGoat]

does anyone agree octane boost gives better mpg ?

Octane has nothing to do with MPG. Use the lowest octane your engine will tolerate without knocking to get the best MPG.

 

[StaggeringGoat]

I use the recommended amount. I put in about 1.5oz per 10 gal.

Recommended by whom? Some whack job on the internet? I can guarantee you no car manufacturer makes this recommendation - in fact most cars come with a recommendation never to use any fuel additives.

 

[Alchymist]

A word of warning to those willing to listen - the Bac'tre species from the galaxy known by us as The Kiwky MartWay use acetone as fuel for their sub-light engines.
Don't make yourself a target of their less than humane mining operations.

I'm sorry but I can't divulge any more than that.

You're on your own from here.

I received an anonymous email from someone at High Command, to pass a message on - you are in danger, a contract has been let. They will not tolerate security breaches, and you are to be rendered into acetone, Run while you can.

This has turned into one hilarious effing thread, and Alchymist, your post is going into my collection for further quoting, it's gotta be a classic like the synthetic oil (motorcycle) post that's been banging around the 'net for ages. Don't know if you wrote it, but it sure is good!


Gentlemen, thanks, I needed this!! (And PassnThru, your clearance is hereby revoked.)

Guilty as charged!
Yep, that's what happens when yu have time on your habnds. Feel free to quote....

 

[ddawg16]

Funny how these things go in circles...we get these topics about every 6 months or a year.....I'm surprised the Acetone BS took so long to come up again....I guess it's because the price of gas has been pretty stable..

Then there is the CFL debate....

Then we have the home security debate....

Then there is the bi-anual poser.....

So much entertainment to be had here....at least the hot babes thread is still hanging in there strong...

 

[Zick]

http://www.snopes.com/autos/techno/acetone.asp

 

[G_P]

I quit reading anytime I see "increase gas mileage"

Yup. Reminds me of those clamp on magnets that "aligned the fuel molecules" to increase mileage.

 

[Gary S]

Recommended by whom?

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

 

[Alchymist]

Funny how these things go in circles...we get these topics about every 6 months or a year.....I'm surprised the Acetone BS took so long to come up again....I guess it's because the price of gas has been pretty stable..

Then there is the CFL debate....

Then we have the home security debate....

Then there is the bi-anual poser.....

So much entertainment to be had here....at least the hot babes thread is still hanging in there strong...

You missed a couple:
Backfeeding from generator
PVC airlines