Today’s tip really isn’t a “tip” but more of a discussion in regards to cutting your gas with Acetone.
This topic is something I’ve received a lot of emails about, however I do not feel comfortable recommending it; the reason being I just don’t know enough about it to feel like I’m giving good advice that’s not going to ruin your car.
Acetone is a colorless, flammable liquid and its most common use is as nail polish remover but can also be used to make plastics, fibers, drugs and other chemicals. (from Wikipedia).
That’s all fine and great, but how did people get the idea that it would be good as a fuel additive? Well, some people believe that if you add small quantities of Acetone to gasoline, the Acetone helps to improve the fuel’s ability to vaporize completely as well as increase the burning temperature of the fuel. In turn, all this stuff (yes, that’s my technical jargon) supposedly helps increase gas mileage and possibly reduce emissions.
On the flip side, there have been plenty of reports that adding Acetone does not increase your vehicle’s fuel economy and because of it’s nature, over time may erode and weaken plastic and rubber in your car’s engine. I have also read that while the Acetone/gas mixture may increase fuel economy, when burned it produces less energy, causing you to use more of the mixture to get the same power. Since you are using more of the mixture, the benefits are a wash.
Long story short, I have not tried adding Acetone, but because so many people have asked about it, I felt it was worth addressing. I do not recommend it, however if you do your due diligence and find that it works, by all means post a comment to let everyone know. Or, if you have had a bad experience, post a comment as well.
Here are a couple of links that might be of interest regarding the use of Acetone:
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
The Mythbusters just did this one a little while ago, and it was totally busted. IIRC, their vehicle actually got slightly lower mileage with the acetone in the gasoline…
Thanks for the information (that’s a great show, by the way). I hadn’t seen that episode.
At the same time, there seem to be plenty of people who swear their gas mileage has increased by 20% or more. Is this because they’re paying attention to their driving habits or because Acetone actually works? Looks like it may be more the habits than the Acetone.
Tried the recommended “ideal” percentage of 3 oz/10 gal, which is actually quite small, in an ’87 302 EFI engine, 130k miles. I wouldn’t worry about eating rubber or damaging anything at this percentage.
No gains, maybe even a minor drop in mpg.
Did not pass emissions with acetone in the tank. Ran that tank down to next to nothing, refilled, replaced spark plugs, plug wires, distributor cap, reset timing. Nothing seemed unusual, to be honest. Then it passed with flying colors. Not completely conclusive, but suggestive of an emissions issue.
You could blame it on being an older EFI design, whatever, the websites swear “any engine”. I have disproven the “any engine” claim at least.
You’re certainly not alone in reporting a drop in MPG with the use of acetone. I’ve received several emails from people stating when gas was $3 they tried adding acetone to their tanks and ended up with worse gas mileage.
I have tried the acetone and it works. I use a concentration of 2 ounces per 10 gallons of gas.
Over the last 3 months my mileage has increased to 35 mpg!
The EPA rating for my car is 26 mpg on the highway. It is a
1993 Chryser Lebaron Sedan. 3.0 liter V6, with a 4 speed auto transmission.
I advicate that people use Acetone wisely. They need to make sure that the acetone is pure. Get it from the hardware store and make sure it is 100% pure. NO ADDITIVES!
One very common mistake is to add too much. That will lower the mileage. For example: if you have a 20 gallon tank use 4 ounces upon fillup. But if you fill up again at the half tank (10 gallons) only put enough in to cut the additional 10 gallons or 2 ounces of Acetone.
Keep the ratio of 2oz/per 10 gallons of gas.
Give it 3 tanks before dismissing the Acetone. It takes a while to clean your injectors and the inside of your engine.
My driving habits are the same 50 miles round trip on the highway 5 days a week.
P.S. Mythbusters used the wrong concentration!!
Mythbusters MUST have used the wrong amount. You have got to remember that acetone is a high-octane-rated petroleum distillate; too much will raise the fuel’s flash point to a higher temperature than at which the engine runs efficiently, actually causing fuel mileage to drop. Way too much (in upwards of 4 oz. per 10 gallons) can cut mileage in half! You do not want the engine to “run” on acetone, you just want enough acetone present to remove the fuel’s surface tension. The key is in the concentration. If you have not seen improvement using acetone USE LESS and give it at least two tanks. I’ve experienced a 26% increase (from 23 mpg to 29 mpg city) in 1997 BMW 3-series, accelerating hard as one of my controls in experimentation and arrived at 1.3 to 1.5 ounces per ten gallons to be ideal for gasoline used in a naturally aspirated engine. If you’re worried about the fuel system and internals: there is a difference between the rubber and plastic in your fuel system and that in a balloon. Gasoline itself is very corrosive, so your car is designed accordingly. Even pure acetone has trouble with those quality components. Test it for yourself on some fuel line and a pump diaphragm. If you’re worried about your paint, well, use a long funnel that extends far from the car and reaches far into the tank neck, be very careful, and be prepared for the possibility of spills. I know acetone is worth the benefit, one must be wise about it.
I have a 2002VW jetta TDI. On a commute to the city&back I get 56.5 to 57.5 MPG/IMP GALLON. I am going to try 1.5 oz/8 imp gallons and see what happens. I regularly use an injector cleaner so I know my fuel system is clean already. Incidentally,this mileage I am reporting has always been the same since I got the car almost 4 years ago. I will keep everybody posted on my results.
hi. all
first id like to say i work with pure acetone everyday
it does eat up certain plastics not all of them.
otherwise it wouldn`t come in a plastic container itself.
i`m not gonna discuss here what i do with it cause i can`t.
ok, ppl try straight away the highst percentage of mixing
acetone and “fuel” to get that super increase of mpg`s
that is stupid. when you eat , you do it also with a full mouth?
right try using smaller dossis. try 1 or 1,5 oz per full tank
or even 0,5 per full tank .
fill up when almost empty , don`t add any acetone when filling is not full tank.
and your spark plugs and air filter must be in tiptop condition.
and keep driving your normal way of driving.
i can only say one thing to you all. it does work. shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…..
there is a new plug out @ pulstar plugs.com
I use acetone in small quantity-on a camry 98 and will get 39 mpg doing 70mph in wa. state. city stays about the same. use to much and you will get poor gas milage. I have been using for over a year.
I think I have read every post on this issue. The only common themes that I see are less than 3 ozs per 10 gallons and the folks that say it will eat fuel lines offer no proof. I just hear a few people that have used it and say good things
I am going to buy a new ford focus , next month. I am going to try adding acetone, after I get a baseline milage. Ill keep everyone informed.
If anyone has a suggestion email me @ david_chandler@yahoo.com
I have a 1995 Buick Regal 6 cy 3800 engine. Was getting 25 mpg all around and 27-28 on highway. I filled up and used about 4.5 oz of acetone in a 17 gal tank. Traveled 178 miles on highway at 50-55 mph and got 31.78 mpg. Something happened!
u can reduce gas consumption thru simple math.
just calculate your vehicles full weight with a full tank of gas thats just been topped off plus the weight of the main driver of the vehicle plus the weight of the same daily passengers in the same vehicle daily.get rid of everything in the car and trunk that you dont have to haul around.but keep your spare tire and jack. figure the vehicles full weight plus the weight of all daily passengers,plus a full tank of gas.each gallon weighs 8 lbs.from all calculated weight figure on 5 to 6 % of what the vehicle weighs then subtract that weight from the amount of fuel in the tank and only put that amount of gas in the tank that represents the car being 5 to 6 % lighter in overall weight and you will get a 5 to 6 % better fuel economy simply by keeping the overall vehicle weight 5 to 6 % lighter and you will proportionately get 5 to 6 % better fuel economy by simply keeping your car 5 to 6 % lighter. to keep it easy, just never put more than 8 1/2 gallons of gas in your tank at a time.doing that will keep your car 90 to 157 lbs lighter thus giving u 5 to 6% better fuel economy just by keeping the car 90 to 157 pounds lighter by not carrying around a bunch of deadweight fuel more than what u need to get around.simple math works.u might even get 7 to 8 % better economy by doing this which should represent a saving of 2 1/2 gallons to 10 gallons conserved doing this per week in most cars just by keeping the car 90 to 157 lbs lighter in fuel weight at all times.u will not only save on costs but this should get u more driving range of 2 to 10 gallons of extra driving range just by keeping the tanks fuel weight to just the absolute minimum.u will have to fill up a little more often but overall u will spend less money just by keeping the vehicle 90 to 157 pounds lighter in fuel weight you’re not hauling around in deadweight. best regards-utopian websurfer.
FOR PERSONAL REASONS;
YES…I USE THE ACETONE IN THE GASOLINE FOR MY ’99 DODGE DURANGO.
5.2L
318 C.I.
OLD CAST IRON BLOCK
A DESIGN OF THE 1960′S?
THE ENGINE RUNS…’SMOOTHER’
LESS TAIL-PIPE EMISSIONS
AND
GAS MILEAGE HAS INCREASED SLIGHTLY…10%
JUST THE QUIET SMOOTH ENGINE IS GREAT.
ANYBODY….WITH AN OLD ‘BEATER’ KINDA VEHICLE
TRY AN OIL CHANGE HEAVY OIL 10-40…
THEN 2 OZ. OF ACETONE FOR FULL TANK 20 GALLONS
TIRE PSI AT MAX
AND
DRIVE ….NORMAL DRIVING HABIT
YOU WILL NOTICE LESS GASOLINE ‘USED’ FOR YOUR DRIVING ROUTINES
SMOOTHER QUIET ENGINE
JUST TRY…
To RW: Possibly, but probably not. There are a variety of reasons why such testimonial evidence is unconvincing. See http://www.fuelsaving.info/testimonial.htm for an elaboration of these reasons from an automotive engineer.
tried it 7 ounces for 24 gallons 11.0 3.5 ounces for 24 gallons 11.2 i see no change for it to be worth it and i use paint grade acetone its a 1989 toyota land cruiser 4.0 6 clinder
Let’s have a trial run. Fill in the contact form on my website and I will put the results up for everybody to have a look at. I will use it in my Golf Mk2 16V 1989 Fuel Injected and my Ford Cortina V6, also in my Golf MKV GTi.
Please add quantity per gallon used before and after milage.
Let’s get to the bottom line of this especially when petrol has such a high price these days!
R U Weetawded? HELLO! What part of 2oz/10gal. don’t you understand?
I have used acetone in my Dodge Ram Crewcab 5.2ltr v8 and my mileage has gone up to 17.1mpg from around 14.8mpg under the same driving route. I used a very small amount 2 oz per entire tank and I also used an old QX500 of which some residue was probably still there.
Wow, there are so many negative articles about Acetone. Three years ago I decided to add acetone to my 2006 Jeep liberty 3.7 litre gas engine. After three years using acetone my Jeep runs awesome, great power and modest fuel consumption. The mileage fluctuate from time to time, however my average was about 420 miles (600 km) per tank with acetone using 2 oz per tank, 350 miles without acetone. My advice try acetone in different amounts every time you fill up, the result may surprise you. Too little acetone does nothing to improve mileage, too much acetone does not improve mileage either. Measure properly.
Andreas
Every single test I have seen involves a car which could account for the variation in results. What about a lawn mower? If you kill the engine its no the end of the world and it won’t leave you stranded on the motorway. I would be out there doing it right now if I had a petrol lawn mower, but I don’t. In anycase I suggest this.
1. getting a petrol lawnmower and running it until uses up the current fuel and stops.
2. Measure up a small amount of petrol in a beaker. Pour it into the tank set the RPM to a fixed level and time it until its stops.
3. Mix the required ratio of acetone to petrol and repeat the test but ensure the acetone added adds up to the same level of fuel as before. Run engine at same speed until it stops.
4. Compare times.
5. Adjust mixture of acetone and compare times.
6. Adjust the air/fuel ratio on the carburetor mixture of the engine using straight petrol and compare time.
7. Add acetone mix again and compare time.
This should provide some solid leads if their is any truth to this whole story without using the variance of using a car for the test.
I have been using acetone in my newbeetle for almost 1.5 years now, and now hate driving without it! def see an increase mpg when you don’t use it!
I have been using acetone in my newbeetle for almost 1.5 years now, and now hate driving without it! def see an decrease mpg when you don’t use it!
there are actually some fuel treatments that have acetone in them.
After reading this article, I am sure like many of you – feel confused… The auricle is like reading a false positive… Brian; where did you get your journalism from? Terrible!!!
There was nothing confusing about this article at all… the author said upfront that he didn’t know enough to give a recomendation, and that instead this was an attempt to generate discussion (which appears to have been successful). Good Job Brian – Steve, it might be better if you had advised Brian of what specifically you think he did wrong and how to correct it.
Wonderful results. 1979 ford bronco,400cid engine,4bbl, used 2oz./10gal and went from 12mpg to 17mpg! been consistantly getting this milage.WOW! never would of imagined this was possible by using 100%acetone. Also I own a 2007 chrysler sebring,2.4l,automatic trans. used to get 30-33mpg. use 2oz./10gal acetone/87oct.regular gas-no ethanol,now I get 37-39mpg! I drive hwy miles daily,and achieve consistant numbers.Both viehicles run excellent,and do not have any troubles since using acetone. 48k on chry.,and 90k on bronco. adding this to gas for 2yrs now. Just don’t add too much! You’ll defeat the whole purpose and milage will suffer.
Hello. Well to the mythbusters, you cant believe everything on TV. I have been adding acetone to my vehicles for months now and I couldnt believe the difference it makes. I have an 02 explorer with 112K miles and it gets 22 mpg city and 29 mpg highway. I was hesitant at first but after reading many articles that is works I gave it a try. It will take about 4-5 tank fulls to get the maximum results. It is worth it and I will always add acetone when I fill up. Just 1 ounce per 5 gallons, no more than that. So I add 4 ounces per 20 gallon tank.
I put a 1/2tsp in my lawnmower and instead of 1500ml I used just under 1000ml.