Filed under: Maintenance
Acetone to improve gas mileage?
Organizers behind a project involving the use of acetone as a
fuel additive claim an improvement in mileage of up to 35 percent. Used in small amounts, this commonly-found chemical
is said to aid in the vaporization of gasoline or diesel, increasing efficiency, performance and the life of a
vehicle's engine.
Interesting idea, as far as we're concerned. Be sure to do your research before joining in the fun — no one at Autoblog has tried this and can comment on it personally, so proceed at your own risk. If you tried it or are currently doing this, let us know how it has worked out for you.
Thanks to 38off for the tip.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
exhappen 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
This does work. I got 21+ mpg on my 5.3l V8 silverado. 3ounces to 10 gallons of gas is the magic number.
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freestufftimes.com 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
From what I hear, it likes to eat rubber fuel lines, I can't confirm that, but its too risky for me to try at this point.
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Maverick 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
My neighbor has successfully increased his mileage by about 20% by using 2.5 ounces of acetone per 10 gallons of fuel.
He commented that many "performance booster" products are made mainly of acetone. He also said that he has seen more improvement in older cars than new.
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dj 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
This is the simpliest and quickest way to potentially increase power and performance but to also void your warranty, blow your engine apart and possibly set yourself on fire. Cruisers have been using Acetone for years to get a "rush" of power for their cars, sorta the poor man's nitrous oxide.It's also about TEN times more flammable than gasoline and can easily combust spontaneously. It's also regulated as a hazardous material in many states. It's just not worth the risk or potential for disaster! As General Honore would say "Let's not go with stupid!"
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gptin 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
i hate to be nitpicky, but the image of an actetone molecule is incorrect. there should be a double bond on the oxygen, making the molecule a ketone, as the "-one" suffix indicates.
also, if this is a good idea, i think it would be alot more commonplace. im sure manufacturers and gas companies have messed with this.
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Jaymez 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
We were talking about this on another forum I visit. The fact that acetone doesn't like certain plastics and rubbers is the biggest thing that keeps me from trying it in my Silverado.
Having to drop a 34 gallon gas tank and replace it because I tried to improve my mileage by using an additive is not something I look forward to trying.
I may never need my warranty, but, I paid over $20K for that truck. I'm not going to do anything that may void it.
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Derek Bill 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
Anyone know what it does to the exhaust? Like....does it hurt the catalytic converter, does it stink up the air? On the other hand, could it help your emissions test? Do the melting fuel lines clog the injectors? Does it screw up the seal on your cap so it fails the pressure test? Make the 'check engine light' come on? if I drip it down the side of my car will it cut the paint?
Aren't I a pain in the ass?
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Mike 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
Sounds like the old "mothballs in the tanks" old-timers try to convince me about...
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JayP 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
What does stuff like octane boost and injector cleaner use as a base?
I'd try it but with my luck with cars this week, it'd better not push it.
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Team ZR-1 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
This stuff will ruin the oxygen sensors and when you have 4 of them that is big bucks to replace. It will also then screw up smog tests and harm the injectors.
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Joseph Willemssen 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
Doesn't sound like a very good idea.
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38off 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
Remember everyone, you are only adding acetone at a 1 to 640 ratio to gasoline. Sure, if you poured your whole tank full of pure acetone, you would surely have some problems. But are you really going to cause so much trouble at such a low ratio?!
I will probably try it on my rusty old 1990 Honda Civic, first. I figure I do not have that much to lose.
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dj 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
Oh, one other thing I forgot to mention......Acetone spilled on the paint or finish of your car will RUIN it. Ruin it to the point that it simply can't be buffed or polished out, but repainted. The stuff is toxic in so many ways.
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Brandon 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
Acetone is the main ingredient in nail polish remover... of course it will ruin your paint! It will also instantly cloud any plastics you get it on.
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powergyoza 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
The main ingredient in many fuel system cleaners IS acetone. It can't corrode the rubber, plastics or gaskets at the percentages used. We're talking 0.3% concentration AT MOST.
And lastly, it won't hurt emissions or the emissions controls. In fact, acetone is the trick some people use to pass their emissions tests.
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DGTLLVR 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
I demand proof!
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jtarheel 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
I was just wondering, since there was concern about plastics and rubber being damaged by acetone, but isn't gasolene bad on plastics and rubber, too?
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pnchpenny 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
I tried this on a recent road trip. It did not really seem to help at all in a 1 to 640 concentration. Base mileage for my Crown Vic is 25mpg(observed) in mixed driving. On this road trip, we got 24.7mpg. All highway miles. Previous best for this particular trip was 27.8mpg.
May try this again during a regular commute cycle. I'm not terribly confident though. It is a cheap experiment with a small risk though.
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theautoprophet 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
NEVER follow advice from a web site that posts such things as "Free energy" motors made from permanent magnets, "Zero Point Energy", etc.
Quacks.
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exhappen 10:37PM (12/18/2005)
from what I've read on the internet (I know, the internet) Ethanol is supposed to be much worse on rubber and metal than acetone. GM builds many of their engines to be compatible with E85.
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