Acetone as fuel additive

[Hondasan]

Has anyone tried it to improve mileage?

[Mr Steve]

I cannot believe this is still going around.  Do not do this.  It will not increase gas mileage and is likely to damage seals, hoses, orings, and gaskets.

[Ferris Leets]

A couple of years ago I did an extensive test with acetone in my Vulcan.  I used it in varying strengths for over 1,000 miles.  I found no statistically significant results.  I did not find any  negative effects either.  At something like $10 gallon it is not worth wasting your time.  If you are interested I have the data on an EXCEL spread sheet.
   As a solvent I think it might be useful to clean fuel systems but, there are enough proven products that I would use them instead.
    I also did another test using diesel fuel, pretty much the same everything up to about 30%.  Then I quit.  I was afraid that something bad might happen and I was not getting any positives from the test.
 

[Old Geezer Richard]

 I remember years ago a friend gave me a recicepe for an octane booster that used acetone and something else ,I never tried it , was not sure what it would do to the engine ... but I have been using this gas drier called HEET in my El Camino's and in the Old Valk and they seem accerlate alot smoother and quicker and seems to give my cars and the Valk a better get up and go and they start up quicker than anything else I have tried ... as far as gas mileage , just keep your foot out of it ... if I cruise at 3500 rpm's ( 60 mph ) I get around 38 - 40 mpg easy ... Thanks the Geezer

[Earl in Pensacola]

Geezer--Did you go to a smaller rear tire??  I ask because 3000 RPM's = 68 MPH on my stock '97 Tourer vs your 3500 = 60mph!  Just asking.

[greggh]

Like Earl said. "Geezer--Did you go to a smaller rear tire??  I ask because 3000 RPM's = 68 MPH on my stock '97 Tourer vs your 3500 = 60mph!  Just asking."

I have the same RPM's as Earl!

[Hoser]

 If you are using heet with a tank of gas, you would get the same result as E10 gasoline, heet is just alcohol.  E10 is a dime cheaper a gallon around here than regular, without having to add anything to it.  That being said, some folks claim it will harm your bike.  but I have no negative or positive difference with it in almost 90,000 miles other than the cheaper price.  I usually just fill up with whatever is cheapest, gasoline or E10.  Hoser

[Hondasan]

I read about it in Motorcycle Consumer news in a letter to the editor, 2 oz/10 gallons in deisel trucks with significant improvement in mileage. (a few percent). At that amount it is not expensive. If wear is increased, by washing out along the rings Etc, it may be a long term bad choice.
I may do some more exploring and consider it if there is any good data somewhere

[GOOSE]

hondasan......once you dump some of that acetone in your tank, and run it for awhile...please let us know how it did, and how much it is going to cost you to repair all of the stuff that you screwed-up.

[98valk]

Has anyone tried it to improve mileage?

has the same BTU content as ethanol both which are much less than gasoline so no benefit for MPG.

the only thing it is good for is if there is phase seperation of the ethanol/gasoline/water. It will keep the water in suspension so as to let it burn with the ethanol/gasoline.

[Ricky-D]

I believe acetone may be bad for some components in the fuel delivery system. I can't say which components those would be, but acetone is a strong solvent and it, in the gasoline is a dangerous experiment.

It doesn't matter how dilute the acetone would be in the gasoline since it's presence is still the deciding factor. The only consideration would be the time for the damage to become noticeable, in a more concentrated dilution the time would be quicker as opposed to a lesser concentration taking more time.

***

[MP]

If you are using heet with a tank of gas, you would get the same result as E10 gasoline, heet is just alcohol.  E10 is a dime cheaper a gallon around here than regular, without having to add anything to it.  That being said, some folks claim it will harm your bike.  but I have no negative or positive difference with it in almost 90,000 miles other than the cheaper price.  I usually just fill up with whatever is cheapest, gasoline or E10.  Hoser

Don't you love it, hoser, when ethanol gets blasted all the time for all its "bad" side effects, then we get the posts about how adding a product with ethanol as its main ingredient helps?!  ???

MP

[Ferris Leets]

I believe acetone may be bad for some components in the fuel delivery system. I can't say which components those would be, but acetone is a strong solvent and it, in the gasoline is a dangerous experiment.

It doesn't matter how dilute the acetone would be in the gasoline since it's presence is still the deciding factor. The only consideration would be the time for the damage to become noticeable, in a more concentrated dilution the time would be quicker as opposed to a lesser concentration taking more time.

***

This acetone idea has been around for years.  With claims of huge mpg gains.  A lot of people have tried it in all kinds of motors.  Nobody has ever reported any negative results.  It is not a dangerous experiment.  Most of the claims were anecdotol with no evidence or data.  That was why I did a controled and documented test.  I got up to 1.7 oz to 3 gal. which was about 3x the reccomended dose.  See my previous post.  I did the tests over a 2 week period and documented all of the results.  Not a huge amount of data but actual numbers over the 1000 miles.
     The concentration is a major factor for any additive.  That is why E85 is different from the 10% ethanol gas.  That extra 5% is enough to damage SOME motors.
      As you said. "I  can't say which components those would be,"  I am not trying to insult you here but, you are making a statement that it could be harmful but you have no real reason for believing that. 
      I like to see real data and solid info.  This is like the "butt dyno" thread.

[Ricky-D]

As you read you will see I am only stating my opinion as regarding acetone of which I've had experience with in my shop and it is a strong enough solvent to melt some plastics so that is why I consider it to be a dangerous additive to gasoline.

This same deal was hashed over and over again a long time ago (on this forum) but at that time the discussion was regarding Tolulene.  Seems like as kids we would add anything that would burn (liquid that is) to the gas tank thinking wrongly that we would realize an amazing increase in horsepower. Never did!

E85 is a ethanol enriched gasoline that is 85% ethanol. I think the special designation for the low concentration ethanol blends, 10% that we now see is E10 and the 15% that the government (EPA) has just authorized to be allowed to use in cars is E15.

Just a little side note here. The gasoline producers (and EPA) recommend to only use 15% ethanol blended gasoline in cars made after 2007-8 and 10% ethanol blended gasoline in cars made after 2000-01 although their concern is with the pollution effects mainly.  Some components in older cars are not able to withstand the affect of a water exposure.

***

[Ferris Leets]

Yup Ricky I understood that it was your opinion.  I also use Acetone for a solvent and I agree it is pretty good at disolving things.
    I apparently misunderstood the E85 designation.  I thought it was 15% alcohol.
     I am not reccomending any of the other solvents either.  No idea what they will do.  As I said before there are enough proven engine cleaners on the market and every one of the super mpg raising snake oils has been proven false.

[The Anvil]

Acetone could be bad, depending on the age of the bike. Modern bikes use rubber and plastic seals that can take acetone, but some older bikes use seals that will be eaten away lickety-split.

But since there's no practical benefit (as proved by Ferris's experiments) then why bother finding out?

[Hoser]

E85 will play havoc with any non flex fuel engine.  Serious havoc.  E10 is supposed to be usable with a Valk.  I believe from personal experience that it is.  JMHO.  There is no E15 around my neck of the woods at this time.  Hoser

[Ricky-D]

"There is no E15 around my neck of the woods at this time."

There's none around here either Hoser.

I think it'll be a hard sell seeing only late model cars are able to use it.

Actually my feeling is that non-ethanol gas station are fast becoming more popular as people are having increased difficulties with the ethanol blended gasoline.

***

[Hondasan]

didn't see much difference?

[Ferris Leets]

No statistically significant change.  I ran 6 different concentrations and they only varied by .5 mpg.  and not directly correlated with the concentration.