Can Acetone Dramatically Increase Your Gas Mileage?

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Can acetone dramatically increase your gas mileage? Wise Bread reader Kip Kay told us that by adding pure acetone into his gas tank, his car now gets 10 extra miles per gallon.

Take a look at Kip's proof for yourself (jump to 1:07):

Acetone is the active ingredient in nail polish remover. It is relatively cheap and therefore the idea that it can dramatically increase gas efficiency is very appealing. (See also: How to Cut Car Ownership Costs)

However, Tom and Ray of NPR's Car Talk say that claims of acetone increasing gas mileage is completely bogus:

It's worse than useless — it's also harmful. Acetone is the primary ingredient in nail-polish remover. And while it will burn and is a high-octane material, it's also a very powerful solvent. So while it's in your fuel system, it'll be eagerly dissolving all of your rubber components...like gaskets and O-rings.

I generally trust Tom and Ray, but as someone pointed out on the Snopes forum, Tom and Ray were following the advice of an oil industry expert, who could hardly be considered an objective source of information.

Acetone as a Fuel Additive

Acetone has also been repackaged as a fuel additive by various inventors. Do a simple Google Patent search for "acetone fuel efficiency" and see the results for yourself. Here's one example:

Roger Crawford, a businessman and independent researcher in Midland, Tex., takes a different approach to fuel economy. He has just begun marketing a gas additive he calls "XtraMPG." He says it boosts octane, burns cleaner and enables motorists to get better fuel economy and buy less expensive grades of gas — saving 10 to 15 percent overall on gas.

What's in XtraMPG? "Most of us know it as nail polish remover," Crawford says. "It is simple acetone, a nonhazardous organic chemical...rated at 150 octane."

Crawford says he'd be happy if everyone bought acetone and added it to their gas tanks. But since people seem reluctant, he's packaging it as XtraMPG.

The EPA hasn't tested XtraMPG. But the EPA's Chandler warns that consumers need to beware what gadgets and fuel additives they add to their cars — especially with today's computer-controlled fuel-injection systems. "There are other, more practical ways to save fuel," he says.

Source: Washington Post

While I found no conclusive proof that acetone can safely boost your gas mileage, there is abundant evidence that acetone is an active ingredient in many "engine cleaners" and "fuel boosters." If you are the adventurous type you might consider doing further research and try formulating your own acetone-based fuel booster — which is probably smarter than handing your money to people like Roger Crawford.

Kip's video also mentions many other wonderful gas-saving tips besides acetone. Make sure you watch the whole video and also check out our articles on gas efficient driving and other gas saving ideas.

Disclaimer: The links and mentions on this site may be affiliate links. But they do not affect the actual opinions and recommendations of the authors.

Wise Bread is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.


Guest's picture
Hazzard

I guess if I owned a really inexpensive, older car, I might try it. But I agree with Ray and Tom. There are so many rubber components in the engine and you could really face a world of hurt if you did have any damage. Replacing a lot of the seals on a modern engine can cost thousands of dollars.

I certainly would like to explore every possible way to save money at the pumps, but I think risk plays in to the equation as well.

Guest's picture
Ryan

Hi,
If you really want to increase your gas mileage I would suggest that you try Ethos fuel saver. They actually offer you twice your money back if you are not satisfied with their product. Visit

http://increaseyourmileage.wordpress.com/

Guest's picture
Guest

If you aren't aware, GASOLINE ALONE will ruin rubber parts, so your argument is not valid.

Guest's picture
Guest

I deal with acetone quite a lot at work. Yes it disolves some things. but most materials used for seals in modern equipment (includeing cars) can handle being exposed to solvents. Do you really think your car has rubber seals in it. Was it made in the thirties? Take the paint of your car? Maybe the wax but a factory finish ain't comeing off with solvent. If someone tells you that it disolves your seals ask them," What materials do you think the seals in my engine are made of? What materials does acetone disolve?" If they say rubber they are full of it. A little bit of acetone is no worse than the gas itself. Remenber when they started putting alchohal in the gas. Some cars lost there seals back then. The automotive industrie has figured out to use good seals that stand up to solvents of all kinds. This is an issue that is history.

Guest's picture
Guest

i read somewhere on a website,think it was "what gas co's dont want us to know" that the Acetone is save if u dont use more than 20ml on 10lit. they recommend 10ml on 10lit. it did work for me, but someone said to me be carefull what it does to ur diesel pump (or petrol). so ye ,i am not sure about that,would like some expert opinion.

Guest's picture
Guest

Didn't MythBusters cover this topic and debunked it?

Guest's picture
Guest

I have used it in my Gas tank AT THE RECOMMENDED rate of 1 OUNCE per 5 GALLONS in EVERY CAR, TRUCK, MOTORCYCLE I have ever owned and it works ! I get plugs which run 2 times normal use gas mileage is up 2 to 3 miles per gallon of gas more plus engine is cleaner removes CARBON build ups all over the place and emissions are lower ! ! Trucks use 1 ounce per 10 gallons of Deseil fuel and run it that way and quit trying to change it
I got fuel injected engine now runs like a scalded CAT ! !
Put the Acetone in first and then add fuel so it gets mixed really well in the tank, best if run almost to bottom of the tank !

Guest's picture
Guest

They did test it. But they used a mix of 200 or 500 to 1. If you use to much acetone it get worse mileage. Your only supposed to use acetone in a 3000 to 5000 to 1 ratio. Or 2 or 3 onces per 10 gallons. They used that much in 1 gallon. So their testing is inaccurate. Also, 4 cylinders accept acetone better than v6's and v8's. 4 cylinders fire micro seconds longer than a 6 or 8 so the acetone has a better chance of helping the remaining fuel burn. The lower the octane the faster it burns. If you use 85 or 87 octane gas ( the lower the octane the better ) and 85% burns in the cylinder you have 15% of the gas left. Acetone being 150 octane takes a little longer to burn, but when it does burn ( after most of the gas has burned ) it also burns 10% or 12% of the remaining 15% of the gas. So here's where you get 10% or 20% better mileage. I use it in my mini-van ( Chevy Venture 3.4 v6 ), I get about 22 miles around town and on the freeway I get about 28 to 32 miles freeway driving. You'll always find people who put this down, but if you look at the people who have this type of attitude, they are usually negative about everything. Good luck

Guest's picture
LisaWolf

Alot of what I see on MythBuster's lately makes me think there just going through the motions for ratings. "Let's test this one, then blow something up" or something. I mean I'm sure they do research and stuff. But I do'n know if I trust there results anymore.

Guest's picture
FlatGreg

Yes, MyBusters did cover the acetone and it didn't help in their experiment, but that doesn't mean it can't ever help. I researched the acetone in gas thing a while back and here's what I found.

1) It may or may not hurt the rubber seals, there's evidence both ways including someone soaking rubber gaskets in pure acetone for a long time and finding that nothing happened. Not quite the same environment as a car though.

2) The acetone works best in 100% pure gasoline which is getting harder and harder to find. Most gasoline these days is blended with alcohol which prevents the acetone from doing its thing.

Guest's picture
paanta

If acetone did anything positive, it'd be _widely_ used. The government would force it in our tanks. Racecars would run the stuff to improve performance. What on earth would lead anyone to believe that the chemical masterminds at the big oil companies wouldn't want to market their fuel as "30% more efficient!" if they could? People have been selling these snake oil ideas on people for decades.

The truth is that other than keeping your tires pumped up, there's really nothing mechanical/chemical you can do to increase the efficiency of your car, short of doing weird aerodynamic stuff.

Guest's picture
Guest

Just a comment for the contributor of "No Freekin Way"....I wonder why big oil wouldn't want to add Acetone at the refinery? Could it be that a loss of 25% in net profit overnight (thats Billions of dollars in case you are wondering) , might be a reason? Are there really people in this country that think that we don't have the technology to increase our mileage? I spoke with a chemical engineer from Chevron Oil about 6 years ago who explained that Government and Big oil, have bought up or buried over 300 patents both mechanical and chemical which substantially improve fuel mileage, since 1963. Why do you think they are pushing Ethynol so hard? This additive increases harmful emmissions, decreases fuel mileage, (because it decreases atomization by increasing surface tension in gasolene), and causes corrosion in fuel system parts and extreme problems with ice crystals in cold areas. He said the technology currently exists which would double mileage in any vehicle at a cost of less than $100 using off the shelf components. Acetone is one component, which by the way WILL NOT harm engine fuel system equipment. It is a solvent just like gasolene is, and at a ratio of 400 to 600/1, is far too diluted anyway. Dont be sheep people. Try it, it works, but remember these things: 1. The Acetone must be pure. Even if it says Pure or 100% look for additives like Benzoate, they will kill the reaction. Go to checker by a quart of Duplicolor Acetone. 2. You gasolene can contain NO Ethynol. Alchohol is water based and will kill the reaction. 3. Use only 2.5 to 3 ounces of Acetone per 10 gallons. More or less will inhibit your reation and mileage.
Now go start Saving!

Guest's picture
Guest

I just wanted to comment on the oil companys. My Dad worked for a division of Shell Oil 50 years and he told us many stories about them and I mean all of them together buying off patents or making people sort of go away. There have been many hunderds of inventors able to make cars run better and last longer for atleast the last 50 years. Also make them run without oil/gas. If you really think you can just go out there and take away 100 billion dollars from these guys with your new great product your wrong and if you persist your will be dead wrong. This business is beyond big they are bullet proof and nothing short of a revolution against them will bring us the cars and enviormental safty we need.

Guest's picture
Mr time

Pure truth go against the big boys with all the oil and the money and you will be dead wrong just look at Stan Meyer for example its a shame he invented a water car and then just up and died of food poisoning ............................................................. the man can create a car THAT RUNS ON WATER just dont know how to properly prepare his meals..............its a shame no one tried to pick up his work.............WONDER WHY? ITS A MISTERY

Guest's picture
Guest

Didn't know you could prepare your own meals at a restaurant?

Stanley Meyer died suddenly on March 21, 1998 after dining at a restaurant. An autopsy report by the Franklin County, Ohio coroner concluded that Meyer had died of a cerebral aneurysm, but conspiracy theorists insist that he was poisoned to suppress the technology, and that oil companies and the United States government were involved in his death.[1][2][15] Meyer's patents are still available online,[16] although there has as yet been no independent verification of his claims.

Guest's picture
B Hayes

Where would I buy gasoline with no ethanol when it says "contains 10% ethanol" on every gas pump? I love that the government makes them add things to gas that ruin my engine and gas mileage.

Guest's picture
William Wright

Dear Pannta,

Sorry to burst your bubble; but I happened to find out about acetone use, to boost mileage, from a "very respected" master mechanic in central Florida who has been using it for years! He has talked about it on a radio show he does locally; where he answers callers questions about problems with their cars.

Your comments indicate that (1) you have never done any testing with acetone yourself, (2) you have no clue about supply side economics, or (3) you work for one of the oil companies; and pray that this information doesn't get widely distributed.

I have just started testing acetone in my 1991 Ford Escort wagon; and have already experienced a 5.2% improvement in mileage! This is with 2 oz of acetone per 10 gallons of gas. One oz didn't do anything to improve the mileage. I am preparing to test 3 oz per 10 gallons to see if I can't get additional improvement.

The last thing oil companies want is for this to be used by consumers!

If everyone increased their MPG by 5 to 15% or more; what do you think that would do to the profit margin the oil companies have? It's only about 10% as it is!

The law of "supply and demand" would force the price of gas at the pump down!

Less fuel consumed = higher reserves=drop in pricing!

For OPEC and the oil companies; that's going the wrong way!

I'll bet even money you're a liberal. They seem to, generally, be clueless about economic concepts in a free market setup.

Guest's picture
josh

it would not matter what we did you know that as soon as every one figured this out and even if it does work they will just raise the cost of acetone and cut oil production to increase our cost. that is how supply and demand work we demand it they supply it but they also control how much they supply and add ethenol it increase our demand. i think i will try acetone just to see.

Guest's picture
Ray Brown

You will have to run acetone in your gas for more than one fillup to notice a good change in mileage.
It took me a couple weeks to see the increase. And your car or truck will run great with it.

Ray Brown

Guest's picture
Andrew

Ok Ray,
I was discouraged by initial results, but I will stick with it and see if things improve.

Guest's picture
Ray Brown

It would help if you would change your engine oil to mobil 1 0-W-20 or 0-W-30, make sure your air filter is good and clean. You can get this oil at Wal-Mart. It is for better gas mileage. Amsoil also sells thier brand. You will have to order it. Amsoil is better oil.
People would save more and get better gas mileage if they would slow down a little. I own a 2007 Ford Taurus,I am now getting 8-10 miles to a gallon more,a 2000 Ford Crown ex- state police car that weights 4000 pounds,I am getting 5-8 miles to a gallon more. Both cars are running great using acetone, 3 ounces to 10 gallons of gas. Some auto stores are selling acetone.
A steady speed and a little light on the gas pedal. I remember the 70's when gas went up. People slowed down and the gas prices went down. We had some big cars then. We would see $2.00 a gallon gas again, but it is going to take a lot of people. Oil companies have all the oil they need and they have made a lot of money. They will lower the price to sell more if we use less.
Ray

Guest's picture
briandoom

I tried this, first few tanks made no differance, and the one time, ZING!!! 79 miles more per tank!!! Only differance being I used 2oz of acetone and 2oz of xyliene per 10 gallons. IT WORKS! NO QUESTION, at least for me, and that increase was with a 16 year old 1992 geo prizm (toyota corolla rebadge) with oil that is 3000 miles past an oil change, a dirty air filter, and extremly old sparkplugs, and thats the truth. and oil companies are more that happy NOT to tell you about this because you'll have to buy more of their gas, they have no interest in saving you money when your handing it to them. CONCLUSION: NOT SNAKE OIL.

Guest's picture
random882

OMG really.. Are you so blind as to think that the government wants us to have better gas mileage... If you think for one second that the government is on our side as far as any thing including gas mileage you are one sorry ...

Any ways good luck..

Guest's picture
Guest

30 % fuel efficiency means 30% less gas sold.

Your pessimism makes you a perfct customer for gouging oil companies. Never den ,just buy.

Guest's picture
Guest

check out the website for Fuel Freedom International. it's an organic chemical that you put into you gas tank; its registered by the fda, i believe is the association that's in control of that,and it is insured. check it out.

Guest's picture
m spencer

maybe you should reconsider your stance it is very good for MPG my father in law uses it and is a firm believer in it he gets 48 mpg out of his car before using, it was at 32 on a 98 honda civic it all depends on how you drive if you take it easy you will see a noticeable differance i have gained about 20-30 % increase in my three cars as well as far as the government they will tell you nothing the make tons of money off this oil do a little reserch

Guest's picture
Guest

you must have something wrong with you if you are actually thinking that the government would help you save money. They get all kinds of money and kick backs from high fuel cost. Thirty years ago a blue print was made for an engine that would get 100 miles to the gallon and the wonderful government that you are hallucinating about killed the idea before it ever got made.

Guest's picture
Vahuran

That is completely disprovable. The oil/gas companies would never offer a fuel that is more efficient when they know that by offering fuel that is less effective to a public that is completely dependent upon it they can make more money. Even if they were to offer this fuel that was more efficient it would be more expensive and the savings compared to adding an additive would not compare. Several people have mentioned rubber rings and hoses being tested in 100% mixes of acetone for extended periods of time and with no corrosion. These parts are designed to withstand some levels of wear. They will eventually give out but not from the acetone. Gasoline can already eat away at most things, and acetone is really no different so by mixing them all you are doing is making a slightly stronger solvent. People have been doing this for years and I have never heard a report on the news about how it is detrimental to the life of a car. All the oil/gas companies want to do is cover it up and make their profits.

Guest's picture
josh

look up lead and the gas companies

Guest's picture
Guest

you're an idiot.. Of course gas/ car companies don't suggest ideas that increase fuel economy. They're all in it for the money, not our sake.

Guest's picture
Wade Hawk

Funny you should mention race cars, because it just so happens that race cars used to run a very high amount of this stuff. And as far as oil companis go, you are so nieve. What makes you think they want to sell you less gas? They can't tell you lies about gas running out and raise the prices, and at the same time say they can cur your fuel cost by adding acetone. In fact what they did do 4 days after this acetone additive went public was make E85 fuel replace 100 percent fuel. The E85 kills the effect, the acitone won't work then.

For you people thinking its gonna eat your fuel lines, etc. Heres a secret for you, gas is in its own rite a powerfull solvent, just ask any mechanice and they will tell you that. Your car is already set up to deal with acetone just by the fact it runs gas, this won't hurt your car. Be carefull who you listen too, there are powers at be who won't to control you by keeping you dumbed down and ignorent. They make money from you only if you don't know how they are stealing it.

The acitone cleans your fuel system and injectors, makes your car run better and reduces knock. It will pick up your gas miliage if you use gasoline, not E85, gasoline. Look at the ingrediants in octone booster and fuel system cleaners, quess what the main ingrediant is, thats rite acitone.

The worst thing you canput in your car is alcohol or E85. If you want to see your gascets dry and and fall apartuse alcohol, quess what its in both fuels highly, both gas and E-85. E-85 will clog up your injcetors and whole fuel system, pretty much kill your engine out, but seems your ok with that rite everyone?

How about this, just for once think for yourself and do your own research, it's empowering. Only then can you say you know anything. I have tested this and even put it in my 60k sports car just today. If I can risk and Audi, you can test it in your car too. I won't tell any of you my results, do your own research by actually testing it. You can get a gallon of acitone, i fuel funnel anda 4 ounce measuring cup for about 20 FRN, thats federal reserve notes to you that don't realize we don't have dollars anymore.

Some tips, it will take about 4 to 6 tanks to achive best results.

You need to fine tune the amount, start with 1 oz, then move up till miliage drops. Each time you move up, move up by .25 ounces.

Do the above over at least 4 tanks between each switchof amount added. When it said and done you will still have a running car, in fact it will have more power and get better miliage. If you don't believe it try it yourself, but never ask an oil man if this works, thats stupid. They will lie before they will sell you sell gas.

Guest's picture
JaK

So let me get this straight.

You are saying that if a cheap/affordable additive that is easy to buy at any hardware store could drastically decrease how much we spend at the pump and by proxy on taxes, that the Government would be all for it?

And for something to be _widely_ used it normally has to be endorsed by so called experts, and where do these so called experts in the field of refining Gasoline come from? Oh wait, they work for the people that would lose those record profits they posted last year in that Multi-Billion Dollar a year industry.

I am sorry, I don't mean to sound mean, but if you think about what you posted it seems a bit backwards.

Quote: "there's really nothing mechanical/chemical you can do to increase the efficiency of your car, short of doing weird aerodynamic stuff."

Wow, that's so... um, how is a nice way to put it? "Uninformed" works I guess... Here's what I mean;

The bad thing about the molecular composition of today's gasoline, it simply is too tight making it burn as efficiently as tightly binding a bunch logs as opposed to providing air gaps between the logs where the oxygen can feed the flames. As a result between 50-80 percent of the gasoline that goes into the engine, comes out the same way, unburnt causing the majority of what we consider pollution from gas burning cars. The theory behind acetone in 3oz per 10 gallons is a sound principle. Acetone has some properties that on a molecular level give the molecules in gasoline the much needed spacing between the molecules allowing for better combustion, and on top of it acetone is in itself very flammable, but unlike Gasoline burns very clean.

So if we can get the gasoline to burn better we could get more power out of less of it, making gas mileage improve and even more importantly reduce emissions. Is that not more efficient?

We just gotta learn to think for ourselves and try not to rely completely on the professional opinions of those with a huge financial interest in us believing them. Trust me they are far from impartial.

Some worry about doing damage. Acetone can dissolve cheap rubber & plastics and is a very effective solvent, but guess what, fuel systems aren't supposed to be made of the cheap grade rubber and plastics and even if they were 3oz per 10 gallons of fuel isn't concentrated enough to likely have any noticeable wear effect. Although I have myself cleaned many engine parts with Acetone I can imagine it would keep spark plugs and valves pretty clean.

Guest's picture
Dr.Octane

They don't do such things because oil companies are in it for one thing: Money. Frequent trips to the gas pump = more money in their wallets. There are actually LAWS put into place about doing things like this, (though only in Diesel vehicles as far as I know) to prevent you from adding things into your tank to increase fuel mileage. One common additive many people use instead of diesel fuel is using common Fuel oil, which will get you same same MPG that diesel does, but at half the price. Though if your vehicle was ever inspected, and this was found in your gas tank you would be ticketed, or you would have your vehicle impounded. I know that sounds extremely far fetched, but ask any truck driver like myself, they'll tell you the same thing.

Guest's picture
Guest

You must be one of the most brain dead people on earth if you truly believe that he government gives two shits about the environment and how our fuel mileage effects it. The people in charge of our government are funded almost completely by the oil industry, and the same goes for our car companies (Ford, GM,...) Why is it that in 2005 the car with the worst gas mileage in Japan and China got just over 50 MPG? We have the technology to get far better mileage than that now. Too many people in our government rely on the success and profits of the oil industry, there is a reason why the U.S. consumes over 30% of the oils industry's yearly output. We as a nation do need to take action against the oil companies, car manufacturers, and even those in our government that support them. 

Guest's picture
Walt

Think before you write. Why wouldn't they want to market their fuel as being 30% more efficient you ask? Well how about because they don't want it to be more efficient because then they sell less of it. They have a market full of consumers who need their gas, who have no real alternative. As the supply, though allegedly dwindling, is still abundant, they have every reason to prevent efficiency from rising because they have plenty of material to sell. The last thing they would want at this point is increased fuel efficiency.m As to the government insisting that we have the benefit of improved fuel economy if it were this available I need to ask you what planet you are on because it is certainly not the earth I know. Race cars are never built with fuel economy in mind by the way although they would be interested in anything that could increase the horsepower output but it is my understanding that fuel additives are not generally allowed in most sanctioned race events and would be considered "cheating" primarily because there is a good chance they could work. The reality is that lots of things can be done to increase the efficiency of our cars because there is a lot of room for improvement, which is why auto makers are constantly putting in technological advances each and every year. So your suggestion that no such advancement is possible flies in the face of all known facts and general common sense, but apparently I am the only one who felt the need to educate you following your incredibly insipid remarks.

Perhaps you are just another victim however. It is time that people begin to understand the degree and level to which large corporate powers have achieved nearly complete domination over our political system. For those of you who are not yet aware of this, not too long ago our US Supreme Court ruled that corporations may freely give as much money as they want to any politician to aid in their election campaign because such donations are part of their right to exercise free speech under the 1st amendment. That's right children! Corporations are now just like you and I at least in terms of their human and inalienable rights, except that of course they are many many times more wealthy than any single living individual on this planet. This means that they have vast stores of political clout and no single group, besides perhaps the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry, has bought more influence than the oil companies. Make no mistake about it, they run our country for the most part and there is nothing anyone can really do about it at this point. The real horror of it is that we did it all to ourselves.

Do a little research and you will find there is nothing "snake oil" about this idea. Internal combustion engines powered by gasoline have been proven to be incredibly inefficient because they do not make full use of the fuel itself, which is why we have so much smog people. If all the fuel burned it would not exist, but it does. It is also true that anything you can do to increase how much fuel is actually burned will increase your mileage.

Now what works and what doesn't and why are completely different topics of discussion and it is generally going to take personal experimentation to determine which is which. This is because despite the huge explosion of human knowledge that has increased over the last century or two, real traditional science is limited in some ways because of the limitations imposed by the scientific model which insists that for anything to be true or real it must be proven with repeatable testing that utilizes a single variable. The reality is that it is often extremely difficult to design experiments wherein only a single variable exists and/or such testing is costly and no one is going to fund the same without an economic incentive. For example, how can anyone design a test to prove that global warming is a real problem or what causes it? The answer is that they can't. Now despite the fact no one has a definitive answer for you about whether or not acetone works, common sense should tell you that somewhere out there a formula could be created that when added to your fuel tank it would increase your gas mileage. There is probably even one in which the negative effects such as increased deterioration of seals etc is not a problem. Now some people have told you that acetone is quite likely at least a suitable major component to such a solution and given the fact these types of fluids have been marketed successfully for years with people watching to see if they really did achieve improved gas mileage, the reality is that there most likely is quite a bit of truth in the claim. Why don't you try it for yourself rather than just putting it down and naively believing that if there was anything to it those who are actually least likely to help you find out if it works would actually do so.

It is time to grow up and understand the reality which we are all facing. Although I am not a religious person whatsoever, ironically I do believe that the bible put its spiritual finger right on the problem by stating that "the love of the pursuit of money is the root of all evil." Corporations, these fictitious third parties who now have rights equal to our own as human beings are designed to do only one thing and in fact they must do this one thing in order to honor their commitment to their shareholders, and that is to make money, period. They make decisions each and every day which balance the cost of human lives against their own ability to make money. A classic example was the Ford Pinto with the exploding gas tank. Ford researched the alleged problem and found that there was a design flaw that could be fairly easily corrected merely by placing some rubber caps over a couple of bolts that were likely to be driven into the gas tank and spark in the event of a moderate to high speed rear end collision.

Ford looked at the number of vehicles on the road and the cost of the required recall and pitted this against the actuarial tables telling the the number of likely incidents and made the actually extremely easy business decision to not recall the vehicles since it was going to be much less expensive to simply pay the claims for wrongful death after they wore out the plaintiff's who tried such cases, than it would be to do the retrofit. Unfortunately this perfectly acceptable memo regarding this analysis was discovered by a plaintiff's attorney and was introduced at trial to support a punitive damage claim. The attorney was of course hugely successful although Ford appealed and the punitive damage claim was subsequently drastically reduced. Why? Because under the current paradigm Ford in fact did nothing wrong whatsoever and in fact it did everything right except for missing the problem in the first place. Its primary duty was to its shareholders , to make money for them, and was not to the public at large although they did have a general duty not to place a defective product on the market. However, they did not knowingly do so, and they took steps to curb problems with all their newer cars being released so the same thing would not occur, and it was going to be cheaper to let people die and litigate the matters thereafter, than it was going to be to fix the problem. From a nonhuman accounting point of view it made perfect sense and arguably had they chosen to do the retrofit and the same document surfaced, Ford could have faced a lawsuit being brought by its own shareholders for squandering their profits. They were damned either way really.

But as humans we need to begin to understand that sometimes the needs of the one or the few must outweigh the desire of a big corporation and that these companies are not human and should not be treated as if they are. They don't see themselves that way except when it becomes convenient or profitable to do so, yet we have sold out our entire political system to them and it is they, not people, who now make virtually all of the important decisions of our time. When our interests are parallel this is fine but that rarely happens, and ultimately what is best for them is what ultimately is decided by those making the decision.

Those who like to think America is a "good" country should pay much more attention to how we are seen by other countries and people around the world. Our reputation has fallen considerably in the last few decades, during the time the corporations managed to create and solidify their power base here. There are very real reasons why this is so and the rest of the world are not merely full of **** etc. Although our press is ostensibly "free" this is merely an illusion. Why? Because the media is owned by large corporate entities with their own agenda and they are not neutral. People talk all the time about a liberal press which as far as I can tell, doesn't really exist at all. The reality is that although we do not have governmental censorship per se, what is the difference when those who are writing the editorials and publishing the documents are the ones to whom those in power in the government are beholding? The government does not need to censor things that are already appropriately slanted for mass consumption. Is there any wonder why these same companies look outside of the US for the their most important personnel concerning engineering and design? Why look here when nearly our entire populace has forgotten how to question what we are doing or why we are doing it? Surely finding innovators among such stupid sheep is pretty difficult and it is much easier to look elsewhere for those who can still think for themselves because they have been taught to do so. A hundred years ago you would have undoubtedly been one of the people saying that if men were meant to fly we would have been born with wings. Open your eyes and perhaps your mind might be able to follow but I will not hold my breath for you.

Guest's picture
Guest

Are you really that gullible? Of course the Government don't want you to use it, they don't want you to use it, so you keep spending hundreds on petrol!!

Guest's picture
Guest

I bet you are the same type that used to say that if there was a product that increase sex drive,the pharmaceutical corporations would have come up with it,long time ago.

Andrea Karim's picture

Let me preface this by saying that I will not be putting acetone in my tank anytime soon. OK? It sounds risky to me.

Now, when was the last time that the oil industry tried really hard to make sure that we were using less of their product? Why on Earth would the oil industry encourage us to decrease consumption? Unless they were just going to jack up the price of acetonoline so that their profits would still be rising?

Guest's picture
Marcus

I have a 2001 Toyota Sienna that gets 358 miles per tank full. I have driven it now for 7 years and I am very cautious of fad experiments. Having said that, I drove from North Houston to Mission, TX and had to refuel my tank. My cousin in Mission suggested I use acetone. He placed some in my tank as I was filling for my return trip. I drove from Mission to North Houston and did not have to refuel. In fact, I was able to drive an addition 85 miles on that tank. It made a believer out of me. He has used it for the last 4 years and has had no ill effects on his vehicle.

Guest's picture
Marcus

I have a 2001 Toyota Sienna that gets 358 miles per tank full. I have driven it now for 7 years and I am very cautious of fad experiments. Having said that, I drove from North Houston to Mission, TX and had to refuel my tank. My cousin in Mission suggested I use acetone. He placed some in my tank as I was filling for my return trip. I drove from Mission to North Houston and did not have to refuel. In fact, I was able to drive an addition 85 miles on that tank. It made a believer out of me. He has used it for the last 4 years and has had no ill effects on his vehicle.

Will Chen's picture
Will Chen

Paanta, I agree with your first point but not the second.

If acetone is the magical elixir of fuel efficiency, I'm sure it would be more widely used. I'm sure someone out there is trying this thing right now and will report their findings back to us in this thread (hint, I like charts, lots and lots of charts).

I disagree with your assessment of the oil companies. There is no advantage for them to advertise fuel efficiency based on acetone, because that's not a brand-specific advantage.

In other words, Chevron cannot say "only Chevron Techron works with Acetone, buy our gas!"

Guest's picture
Reyan

I haven't tried adding acetone to my cars fuel but I have been considering it. While doing some research I found this web page http://www.lubedev.com/smartgas/additive.htm . The guy who wrote it is not selling anything and claims to have been using acetone in his cars for over 50 years. He is an engineer.

Guest's picture
Guest

we've been putting acetone in our gas tank for about two weeks and I've noticed the car running better and gas consumption has definitely decreased (sorry no graphs)

Guest's picture
Guest

Andrea Dickson - "...the price of acetonoline.."

You sound very, very intelligent, buddy! You really know your substances, dont you.. ;)

Andrea Karim's picture

Did you not get the joke? That was a joke. Or did you get it? You have an emoticon, so it seems like you are finding me funny. But then, you call me 'buddy', so that's a sort of insult, no?

My small, delicate female brain is hurting from just contemplating it.

Will Chen's picture
Will Chen

"You really know your substances, dont you.. ;)"

Please, stop flirting with our writers. 

Guest's picture
js

This is to those who commented on oil companies wanting to cover up things that increase fuel efficiency in order to make people use more of their products.

If a fuel company did discover that a simple, harmless additive made the internal combustion engine significantly more efficient, they would do two things: first, get a patent ASAP to get a competitive advantage; second, create a product out of the more-efficient gas, an "Extra Power" kind of thing.

They would be able to price the "Extra Power" gas higher to find a point where the new product brings the company more profit per gallon sold, while keeping the dollars-per-mile cost competitive. Lets's say the "Extra Power" gas were 30% more efficient than ordinary gas. The company might price it to make its dollars-per-mile cost 10% lower. The reduced mile cost would be heavily advertised: "Go the Extra Mile with Extra Power!" They'd count on getting a certain number of new customers as a result of the ad campaign. In the end, they might be selling the same number of gallons per month as before, but making more profit per gallon, making more profit as a result.

In other words, this would be a killer product: the consumer would get more miles for their dollar, while the gas company would get to keep more of that dollar as profit, as the amount of fuel bought (as raw material) and delivered (to the gas stations) would be less than with standard gas.

So I do not see why an oil company, or any business for that matter, would decline the opportunity to make its operation more efficient and gain a competitive edge.

Guest's picture
Guest

Its not added in gasoline you purchase as it evaporates very fast.
It raises my Town and County from 340 KM per tank
to 370 km every time. It takes one tank to get it working properly. about a 11$ improvement here.
It is also in Fuel injector cleaners. (smell it)
It is an alcohol product can be made from Bio's or from
Cracking. I question how it can bum out seals as it is sold often in plastic bottles. ask your wife. Further it burns, Valve of simple motor opens, fuel goes inside metal chamber Simple motor goes "Bang" Metal value opens and it goes out the tail pipe. It is not an Oil additive.
I have used it 1989 Caravan turbo 240 KM, 1994 Caravan
180 KM 1997 Caravan 160KM and the latest 01 TC at 150 KM
No broken parts here...
You will notice simple motor runs smoother, faster take offs, which I had to prove to myself several times

Guest's picture
Guest

"...It is an alcohol product..."
acetone is NOT an alcohol product. alcohol kills acetone - probably why they add ethanol to gas - to kill any advantage adding acetone would give.
ever noticed the little triangles with a number in them on plastic containers? there are many different kinds of plastic. some are not affected by acetone. some disolve like the wicked witch of the west in a bath tub.

Guest's picture
tommy

hey:)
ok so if one company put in acetone to thier mix all the other company's would have to as well to keep up with competion. so eventually all of them would do it. now every company would suffer the loss of x% fuel not being used by the consumers.

Guest's picture
dc910

WHO cares whether BIG OIL sells LESS % of fuel??? THAT'S "the" whole idea... We NEED to cut back. In fact, the US is ALREADY driving 50 BILLION LESS miles because of their grossly OVERPRICED oil and gas. We need to keep on being conservative in our oil/gas consumption to KEEP the oil prices coming DOWN. IF we return to our "old" ways (INCREASING DEMAND), that will CAUSE prices to shoot right back up again.

Guest's picture
Guest

All great points, with only one major exception..... YOU CAN'T PATENT ACETONE, YOU IDIOT!!!! You just spent who knows how long on speculating about this, and you still have no idea if acetone as an additive works or not. Classic case of another idiot who loves to outdo himself with his own talk, without a single effort of prior substantiation. Good work moron!

Guest's picture
aviris

I am going to try this theory today. I will fill up my tank. Here is the car specs that I will be trying out with.

2007 Pontiac G6. Automatic 4 cylinder. Milage just under 6,000. I am currently getting about 24MPG.

I will use the formula initially of 2 oz acetone to 10 gallons of gas. This means that on a full tank I will need 3.2 oz of acetone, since I am sure that I will find anything that measures a half an ounce, I will do my best to use just under 3.5 oz which will mean a ratio of 2.1 oz to 10 gallons.

I will report back my findings in about 2 weeks when I refill my gas tank.

Guest's picture
Guest

I tried 4 ounces in 15.5 gallons of premium, each fill up. Gas engine has 260K miles, original mechanical fuel injection, 4 cylinder, Toyota van. Was getting 14.5 - 16 mpg, response was getting "tired", time to rebuild the engine or get a new car. MPG with acetone is 20.0-20.5 mpg, perky response, about like it was at 75K miles. Not as good as new but the gas savings is useful and the savings in delaying the purchase of a new car is worth even more. So far so good. Keeping an eye on gaskets, seals, etc for seeping or leaks.
Tried it with mid grade, engine was better than regular gas, but not perky. Although the slow response bugged me, the mpg was 19.2 though it didn't feel like it. Ran this for two tanks, same result.
I suppose the acetone is resolving issues of poor injector spray patterns, sludge in the intake manifold, probably some piston ring blow-by pulling slight oil into the cylinders. So probably more useful in an ill-tuned engine than one that is in great shape.

Guest's picture
Guest

I read somewhere that the ideal amount is 4 ounces of acetone to 10 gallons of gas. I use the metric system so I mixed 60ml of 100% Acetone with 20L of gasoline in a Gerry can and added it to my tank.
I spilled some of the blended gas on my car's paint but it did not strip away, probably because the acetone was not concentrated enough while mixed.
I did notice a small increase in mileage. I drive the exact same route every day and I managed to get 200km on 20L of blended gas. I normally get about 180km on 20L of regular gas.
Also, when my engine is running cold it normally spews a huge trail of thick exaust while I accelerate. It did not do this while running on blended gasoline.
I drive a 2000 Mazda Protege.

Guest's picture
Guest

I have a 2004 Silverado truck which is still under warranty. The GM local dealership said that the usage
of acetone as an additive would void my warranty.

Will Chen's picture
Will Chen

You're going to try this out on a brand new car?  =)

Way to take one for the team.  That's a big sacrifice.

Guest's picture
Guest

I am driving a Subaru Legacy '02 since 2005, and for more than a year and a half I'm adding 3 oz acetone to each full tank (appr. 13.5-14 gallons). Before I started, gas mileage was about 23-25(driving on jammed highways in NYC!); a few tanks with acetone, i was at 30 miles per gallon and only during the coldest days it drops to 28-29! The car is in excellent condition, drives absolutely like new and I want you to see my engine-it is as clean as it could ever be!Well, probably the constant use of Mobil-1 motor oil is also very important, but i still believe it's the acetone that gave mi these 20% increase.FYI - the car is with a manual trany, and i love to turn it off on traffic lights where the red is at least a munute or more and I just arrived there...On the other hand, I do usually not less than 65 mph on the road, not a fan of the state-regulatons in NYC... I don't think though that acetone could give you more than that, from 20mpg to jump to 35 or more-that sounds impossible to me.

Guest's picture
Guest

Where do you think acetone comes from? It is an organic product that is mass produced from products found in crude oil. The oil companies would not be loosing money, they would just charge more for the 'enhanced' gas, if it really worked.

Guest's picture
CGs

I tried Acetone in my 2002 Mini Cooper for a few weeks between October and November of last year (2006) while commuting between Charleston SC and Columbia SC; which is about 180 interstate miles total to and from. All in all, I did this drive 4 days a week for about 4 weeks at an average of 65 mph. After the first week of filling up every day, I did a search on a forum for another car I own and found a post where people were talking about how Acetone can increase fuel mileage (and also how Toluene would lower gas mileage but increase octane, but I never tried that).

I tried 2 and 3 oz in 10 gallons of gas on different fill ups but never noticed any change in mileage. A few times, I even tried to reset the car's ECU with the new fuel (disconnect battery, press brake down for 30 seconds, wait a half hour before reconnect) .. but still never noticed any change.

P.S: I normally get around 30 mpg during highway travel when it's just me in the car.

P.P.S: The Mini is equipped with a digital gauge that tells you what your average mpg and mph are, so looking for differences should have been easy.

Will Chen's picture
Will Chen

Mr. 300 Patent, if your dad wants to do any sort of tell-all story, you know where to find us.  Thanks for sharing that inside info with us! 

CG, thank you for the detailed information.  It is good to know that people have tried this out without getting positive results.  Let's see if it matches up with Aviris's experience.

 

Guest's picture
Guest

actane has a very high octane level which is found in premuim and super gas types

Guest's picture
T Henley

When I was about 10 years old and I was using our Cub Cadet mower (with attached plow) to clear driveways in our neighborhood. We finally had enough snow that was worth plowing and there was a lot of work and money to be made that day. I was disapointed to find our storage shed gas tank empty. Being home on this snow day meant I would have to wait until about 6pm for my parents to return home so I could get the tank filled. So I made my own mixture of turpentine and acetone. I knew acetone had a much lower flash point and was a much lighter fuel than Turpentine so it would be a good item to spike the fuel with and help make the turpentine more volatile.

Turpentine, as I new from experience, was a slow burning and smokey fuel with a higher flash point. I mixed seemingly random amounts of both liquids in the tank and the mower ran like a champ all day. I was smart enough to know that it could soften up the rubber parts in the engine but because this was an old riding mower I was not concerned wether it would start another day. However, we continued using it to mow our lawn for several more years. The Turpentine and Acetone booster had no ill effect on the engine and I made quite a bit of money that day plowing driveways with my home blended fuel. Glad my parents never new !

Will Chen's picture
Will Chen

You figured this out at 10?  Are you working for NASA now?  Tell the truth.  =)

 

Guest's picture
Don

A Guy I work with has been using acetone in his cars, and swares it increases his millage with no adverse effects, I'm not quite brave enough to add it to my LS460, since I'm getting 25 MPG now, I Would hate to have to replace anything on that engine just to get a few more MPG.

Guest's picture
Guest

I have started testing on my 2005 cavalier. I filled up last week, put in 11.5 gallons, and 2 oz of acetone. I did notice improved power, and a smoother idle. I filled up again today, and put in 8.3 gallons. My MPG is 31.3 MPG. The rated MPG for the 2.2 cavalier is 26 to 35 mpg. This is an automatic car, and I am driving in hilly appalachian country. There are other items I am looking into to get better MPG. I will keep you all posted.

Guest's picture
Guest

I went to a few drug stores which only have nail polish with all sorts of additives - glycerin, aromatics, etc. I found one that says "100% Pure Acetone" but the label also lists Ricinus communis, Limonene, and Denatonium benzoate. Does this sound safe in a fuel system?
Rubber fuel delivery hoses, o-rings and such used to be an issue many years ago.
Water has been considered by car manufacturers to be fed into the intake for years, but was never implemented because most folks would forget about it and neglect to fill the reservoir. The steam created helps to clean the cylinder and boosts the power stroke naturally.

Guest's picture
My lil' secret

Can't beat my Vespa. 70 Mpg naturally. Also My parents told me of a story of having someone who built a very efficient car "go away" from the country where they used to live thanks to big oil companies. Guaranteed I only carry a gallon and a half in the tank so I am there about twice a week, but you can't beat $4-5 fillups.

Guest's picture
Grimwood

I once spilled automotive paint in the garage, and a week later i went to clean it up. I first thought to use acetone, and so i sprayed some, and it worked okay, but evaporated too quickly to be effective. So i moved to paint thinner, and it worked pretty lousy also. So having spent about $12 on two quarts of abrasive materials, i looked at a gas can sitting on the ground, i thought i'd give it a go, and sure enough the $2.00 a gallon (at the time) stuff worked like magic getting that paint up.
My point? my point is that i don't think the acetone would be much, if any, more harmful to rubber and plastic components in your fuel system than the gasoline itself

Guest's picture
jasnjules

I read dozens of threads after watching the youtube video. I finally decided to quit reading and start driving. I drive 25 miles to work. It's country driving with only two stop signs. The best average mileage I've had consistently is 34mpg. I put 3oz/10 gal ratio in my tank, ran two trips and found I got 33 one day and 34 the next. After reading the note about needing to run 100% gas, I'll have to retry. (I live in NW Illinois corn country so it's hard to find unblended fuel) Talk is cheap so I'm going back to test mode. I control my driving close enough that I should see any significant gains.
Thanks for the page.

Will Chen's picture
Will Chen

You guys are awesome for sharing your data with us.  =)

 

Guest's picture
Guest

hi
I tried acetone in my 2004 Durango 4.7 liter
2 on per 10 gal.
Before was getting about 19-20 mpg on highway
now getting 25.3 mpg
tested 405 miles with 16 gallon = 25.3mpg
can't beat that

Guest's picture
Flyboy

What type of gas did you use to get these results? Most local gas here contains ethynol and I'm getting little improvement. I think the key is ethynol free gas to start with!

Guest's picture
My2Cents

Bingo !!!!! The wide spread force of ethonol in the fuel might have just been the solution to this problem for big oil. But that is just a hunch.....................

Will Chen's picture
Will Chen

Looks like we're getting more and more good news from the test results.

Guest's picture
Guest

would the people who have tested this please say whether or not the state they live in requires gas to have ethanol in and if so how much?

Guest's picture
Guest

have been browsing a few sites lately and decided to trial this, i am fairly confident that this will not harm my car as it is too diluted. can definitely say it has improved the engine running, quiter now and seems to run more smoothly. too early to tell regarding consumption though. am getting 15 mpg in heavy city driving, uphill lots of times so nowhere near epa estimates. hopefully the mpg increases but can recommend trialling this, the gas im getting though has 10% ethanol as this is required here in NZ. worst case i get my engine cleaned as acetone is in most injector cleaners

Guest's picture
John Glenn

I threw a couple of ounces in each booster rocket before we blasted off and I noticed the shuttle was a little peppier then normal, we made it around the moon in record time, thanks for the good info.

JG.

Guest's picture
Gabre

I am totally sold to acetone, (3 oz per 16 gallons). The acetone in the gas not only increases mileage, but also makes the car to run smoothly, I am currently using acetone and I will continue using acetone in my car for the following reasons:

Car runs much better; I have a mini van Toyota Siena 2001 with 131,000 miles

The smog check went so low that the mechanic said that for an engine with these miles the engine is running like a brand new car

Acceleration is wonderful; I have same response than when the van was brand new... maybe even better

I do not smell to burnt fuel in the morning and I have no smoke coming out from the tail pipe when cold, and absolutely none when is hot.

The increase of mileage for the last three months went from 17.6 mpg to 22.7 mpg average, and this is money that I did not spend

IF I follow, your erroneous figures of 8% of mpg increase, this still representing a sizable amount. If you follow current statistics,

US OIL DEMAND, 2004: Over 20 million barrels per day and 2007 is obviously higher ref.(http://www.gravmag.com/oil.html).

Subtracting 8% 1,600,000 – 20, 000,000 = 18400,000 of barrels a day

Supposing a sale price at the pump 0f 2.50, the Oil Companies will lose 4,000,000 per day. And a year 144,000,000 of dollars

It is not rare that they refuse to implement acetone in the gas, and is not rare that ANYONE will sell their soul to the Devil for much less than this.

Unfortunately, I think this web site has serious interest in BUSTING this TRUE, “Conspiration” theories are not my forte, however hiding the truth and publicizing a lie is not ethical, moral, or professional. I am sorry to read the opinion of this publisher ... Mr. publisher sorry to “bust your myth”

Gabe

Guest's picture
Gabe

My last comment was posted in myth busters, the owner of the site said that the most probable gain is +8%... I think he is full of .... probably full of money from the Oil companies.

Gabe

Guest's picture
lysdexia

Could it be that the acetone cleans out the fuel line so that mileage is better and up to the original engine's mileage? rather than burn better than gasolin? Does the mileage drop back if you go off acetone?

Guest's picture
Gene R.

I have a 2000 Pontiac Montana and I am going to add acetone on my next fill up. The Montana holds 25 gallons so I will start off with trying only around 3 oz for the tank and will increase it to 2 oz and then 3 oz. I will keep records and come back and post after each tank of gas. Currently I am getting around 20 - 25 mpg with mostly highway driving. After 3 tanks of gas I should have a good idea if this is going to work or not. If it does not work I am out a few bucks for the acetone and then won't use it any more. But I am sure that it will work.

I will be back in a few weeks with the results of tank 1.

Guest's picture
Gene R.

I said that I will increase to 2 oz then 3 oz. I meant I will increase it to 2 oz per 10 gal then 3 oz per 10 gal. That is the most you want to use.

Again I will post results in a few weeks.

Guest's picture
dan

I love the group mentality everyone has here

Upon adding acetone to my 1987 Celica GT gas tank,
at about a 3 oz / 10 gal mixture, Once the gas in my lines cleared out, i actually FELT a difference in the way my car ran.... noticeably better. I also drive 50 miles two times a day to commute to/from work, and without changing my driving habits, have already noticed my gas gage slowing down.

"Well if acetone works so well than why doesn't everyone use it"
Because every one is a stupid sheep, haven't you figured that out yet?, if you havent, heres an eye opener; you are a stupid sheep. If you belive something inst right, just because the big dumb general public hasn't 'accepted' the idea yet... well,
what I'm saying is, everyone who ever said that or the like, is a follower, and a fool. You think the oil companies have your best interest at hand? HA! A great quote out of a stupid movie to end this with: "What the American public doesn't know, is what makes them the American public."

Guest's picture
Rich

Okay, so I'm now at 60 days using one teaspoon per fill up (1.3gal tank) on my 50cc scooter, here are the results:

9.9 miles each way back and forth to work, 100 miles/wk.

*week 1, baseline, no acetone - 97mpg
*week 2, 1 teaspoon acetone - 122mpg
*week 3, 1 teaspoon acetone - 124mpg
*week 4, NO acetone - 109mpg
*week 5, NO acetone - 106mpg
*week 6, NO acetone - 102mpg
*week 7, 1 teaspoon acetone - 126mpg
*week 8, 1 teaspoon acetone - 125mpg

Terrain: 9.95 miles each way on flat concrete state road.
Conditions: No traffic, no stop lights, wide open throttle all the way at 42mph.

I would have to say that it does work. Also, my top speed has been a consistent 39mph for 1700 miles since new. Top end goes to 42mph with the acetone and the scooter starts and idles much smoother.

I ride the scooter on Saturday's and Sunday's as well. Usually 30-40 miles of the same conditions, WOT.

My business is selling scooters and gas mileage, so I am going to publish these findings in the store for my customers.

Guest's picture
Dan

I'm in corporate, And I would bet money that on any forum or blog discussing this (or any other issue), including this one, there are posts from people who are pay'd to sway your mind either direction...
Would you put your money on big oil/gas/auto here?
Or on Rite Aid?

Guest's picture
Guest

Acetone will not harm any components in your fuel system. Acetone reacts inertly to gaskets and o-rings. And at a dilution of 640:1, it's solvent properties are rendered useless.

Tom and Ray better go back to school.

Guest's picture
Guestbry

After reading a lot about Acetone as a fuel additive, I finally decided to try it out. I live in Houston, TX and drive about 22 miles to work, and an additional 22 miles back. My toyota 4runner, 1990, gets 15 miles to the gallon. 17 HWY. There are no stops and I drive in heavy traffic to and from work.

Before Acetone was added to my tank, I retimed my engine. No new air filter, no new fuel filter or spark plugs. Filled up at an EXXON with regular gas, 11 gallons. Added 1.5 oz of PURE ACETONE bought from CVS for 2.79. Immediately after running the car for a few minutes, I could tell the gas gauge was barely moving. I drove a total of 67.7 miles on a quarter of a tank. That's a total as a whole of 270.8 miles per full tank. Previously without acetone, it was 220.

I know that most will say it's because of retiming my engine. And yeah, that's a good assumption. But 15 mpg is what a Toyota 4runner (Automatic) gets. Now it's almost 20mpg, which is right near today's standards for a small SUV.

I'm not saying ACETONE works, but I am saying that you should try it before ever making a comment on here. Despite if your car is new or not. If you're interested in anything, it has a price.

Thank you. :-D

Bryan

Guest's picture
Guest

i have also beeen resaerching this idea and have became confident enough to begin my own trial with acetone but the funny thing is that if the big oil companies see this more than a fad or above a grassroots amount of useage acetone will soon be two dollars an ounce or somthing of that nature i can see leverage buyouts of acetone maufactures or better yet a clever chemist who makes a fuel additive to render it ineffective dont mean to drag in a dark cloud but after all we are just sheep doing as were told in our free country run by big business rather than the people .......our founding fathers are rolling over in their graves

Guest's picture
Gui

I have a 2007 civic ex coupe. Its estimated MPG is 30 city and 40 highway, which is very good. But after reading all of this stuff about acetone I cant help but wanna try it.

I was wondering though, do I have to buy the best quality premium gas at the pump? I normally just always buy the regular cheapest one.

Also, the only thing im a little afraid of is harming my brand new car, is there a risk?

Guest's picture
Guest

those who oppose the use of acetone in gas warn that acetone will disolve plastic and rubber parts.. and i can see that B12 Chemtool and Seafoam fuel treatment, with acetone being active ingredient, come in tin cans.. but then again, they are meant to be used in the fuel system.. so what the fuss about acetone harming effects??

before the invention of internal combustion engine, gasoline was sold as solvent and cleaner, and then no body gets scared about putting gasoline in their cars..

but just to be safe i bought the acetone from CVS, which comes in a plastic bottle and the label say pure acetone.. WTF??

anyways, i put about 3oz of that stuff in a full tank of regular gas and my 89 accord (240K miles, with fuel injection) got about 32 mpg vs 25mpg without acetone, that about 30% increase.... impressive!!!!

next time i'll buy kleenstrip acetone from homedepot cause it's cheaper

Guest's picture
BP

I tried acetone in by 2006 Chevy Uplander and I didn't have much of an increase in milage. I knew this going into trying it. I wanted to make sure it wasn't going to work well. In Illinois fuel is required to have 10% ethenol in it. This is why it didn't work. The gas must be pure. The ethenol increased oxygenization in the fuel so it burns cleaner.

I did have an increase in milage I'm getting 2 miles to the gallon better in the city and on the highway. Driving habits can also help with milage. For example, you can coast more and use the natural terrain to you advantage. I coast on downhills, up to stop signs and traffic lights. Learn when you can cost on your daily driving and where you can start coasting. This has increased my milage a lot more than the acetone additive. (Don't forget where I'm at has 10% ethenol in the gas).

I put it in my 1976 self propelled Lawnboy mower. The mower runs better and cleaner. It doesn't have that 2 cycle smoke from the exhaust anymore.

Guest's picture
Guest

I live in Australia and have a 3.1turbo diesel engine, just wondering if adding acetone would be viable. I've read all your comments but you speak of gas (petrol/diesel??). I know it's a dumb question but if you don't ask.....

Guest's picture
Guest

Gas or gasoline is the american term for petrol not diesel.

Guest's picture
Guest

Gas or gasoline is the american term for petrol not diesel.

Guest's picture
Wade Hawk

Yes this works in diesel too, but again use real diesel not corn grown fuel, what they claim to be dinosour fuel, which is more BS.

Guest's picture
Guest

acetone in gas will only improve the efficiency of the engines with higher compression ratios, like those Japanese-made engines. It's proven that acetone in gas increases its octane rating, whereas ethanol reduces it. But engines with lower compression ratios, like those made by GM, Fords, ect... won't exhibit any performance degradation when using gasohol, nor do they show any improvements when acetone is added to fuel. ..

Guest's picture
Guest

You talk like you know so much, yet you think ethanol lowers octane. How could something with a high octane rating, lower the octane of something that has a considerably lower octane rating? You're just another person spreading wrong information. Thanks a lot.

Guest's picture
Guest

I live in Mauritius and after reading all the comments here and other
forums I am trying it on my 2004 X5 4.8IS.I have added 150ml(5oz)in my
93l(20gallons)tank.Unfortunately the tank was already full when I added.
it's doing 17mpg at present without acetone.I will post results later.
Anyone tried on the X5?

Guest's picture
Kev_

Hi.. Ive been reading the posts and would like to try it as well. I am from Mauritius as well. Where did you buy the acetone from and is it 100% pure acetone?. I am currently doing 350 kms per tank 32L. Will try it and post results as well.