Posted on 07/26/2005 10:55:35 AM PDT by rface
Many months ago, I read a post on FR about adding acetone to gasoline to increase mileage. I tried the method outlined in the posting and paid attention to the naysayers and to those who thought that the idea might work.
Here’s the FR thread that I am referring:
Acetone In Fuel Said to Increase Mileage 15-35%
The original paper:
Pure Energy Systems: Acetone In Fuel Said to Increase Mileage
I immediately noticed that my 1996 Ford Explorer w/ 5.0 L V8 increased from 16 mpg to 19 or 20 mpg. This was a substantial increase, so I have added acetone to my gasoline for some 700 gallons of gasoline --- which equates to around 33 tankfuls of gas or 13,000 miles. I now add 10 ml acetone/gal of gasoline at every fuel stop.
My Ford Explorer has about 175,000 miles on it, and the “Check Engine” light (probably Oxygen sensor) has been on for about 50,000 miles – but it runs good and uses no oil. I have changed the oil regularly and I keep my tires at ~35 lbs of air pressure. It’s a good running Ford and it looks good --- when I get around to cleaning it up.
The Miracle:
I was driving home from work a few days ago and something didn’t look right on my dashboard……something was wrong.
I looked again at the oil pressure gauge. Okay. Temperature? Okay. Voltmeter? Okay. Hmmmmm. The “Check Engine” light is off.
What’s up with that?? Probably the dang bulb finally burned out.
No biggie. The Ford still runs good and I was tired of seeing that “Check Engine” light stare me in the face.
When I got home, I turned the engine off, and then re-turned the key to the accessory switch….and the dash board lit up as it was supposed to …. Including my “Check Engine” light!
Results: Yes, folks. Acetone in your gasoline will increase your mpg and it will make your “Check Engine” light go off.
Lesson Learned: This is just another example of the truth in the philosophy that I occasionally go by: “If you ignore a problem long enough, it will go away.”
Painting model airplanes when I was about 10 or 11, I was pouring paint thinner into a styrofoam cup and what dumbfounded when my feet starting getting wet - went straight through it.
I think one of the reasons that acetone is NOT added to the "gasoline pool" is that the acetone evaporates out of the gasoline too fast....especially in a fuel tank/system that is not air-tight. I run through gasoline pretty quickly in the Explorer.
I would like to see the change in the concentration of acetone in a tank full of gasoline over time.
I use 1 gal of vinegar in my dishwasher once in a while. Serviceman recommended. He said it's cheaper than those dishwasher cleaners aprox $1.00 a gallon.
Acetone added to gasoline is a disaster waiting to happen. DO NOT ADD ACETONE TO YOUR GAS UNLESS YOU ARE WILLING TO VOID YOUR WARANTY!
The only concern I would have is For a clogged catalytic converter..
More from bobistheoilguy:
"Here is my thinking how people sometimes get better gas mileage by adding bogus things to vehicals that claim to increase fuel mileage. They instantly change their driving habits. They are driving more conservatively after adding such devices, and contribute the increase in mileage to the product. "
Your improved gas mileage most likely came from from other factors. Been there and done that.
I posted that in the original thread, it probably wreaks havoc on the rubber and plastic pipes and seals. The concentrations are pretty low in this application, which is probably why the cars that have tried it have not yet fallen apart, but who knows about longer term usage. Also, I wonder if the corrosion problems could be worked out. I was also concerned about the possible "wash down" of the cylinder walls, of the oil layer that protects them, just a few caveats.. I might try this on an older cheapo car, but not on my new Odyssey...
yeah...plastic and acetone dont get along too well
common solution for 02 sensors. if you think about it, the sensor is actually IN your exhaust. has the potential to get extremely dirty..
You will like bobistheoilguy. Others have tried it there with a lot of mixed results from lower mileage to better. No clear answer and lots of opinions that I could see.
negative. I am always concious of my mileage and my driving habbits. I am annal about it. You won't find a V8 Explorer getting 20 mpg driving like I am doing....it's just not gonna happen.....but it is safe to be skeptical
In my Neon, it frequently has cut the MPG in half on trips when I take pot luck at the pump.
Half the mileage? No way. My BS meter is beyond pegged.
In below-zero weather, the water and alcohol can form abrasive, icy particles that may damage fuel pumps and clog injectors.
Water and alcohol forming icy particles? I wonder if he has ever heard of the winter gasoline additive called "HEET". It's alcohol, and meant to prevent any water in your gas tank from turning into an icing problem.
FWIW.
so swap out to braided steel/ stainless steel lines.
As kids, when we got our hands on some dry ice, we'd put it in a can of acetone. The stuff got so cold, anything you dropped in it -- earthworms, for instance :-) -- instantly froze solid.
"ping" for the record
Just for fun, we used to apply some really fine plastic coatings on various items by merely dissolving the plastic cores used in long rolls of film in acetone. Then when the plastic was liquified ( the cores dissolved very fast and we used just enough acetone to cover the core), we dipped our test items into the new plastic/acetone solution and out came a perfectly plastic-coated keepsake. Worked well with most everything we tried. Acetone is a great solvent, but try not to breath its fumes. It also dissolves alveoli and that's not healthy. In concentrated amounts it will dissolve any plastics it finds in a vehicle.
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