Cutting Your Gas with Acetone
May 19th, 2006 | by Brian Carr |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:
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11 Responses to “Cutting Your Gas with Acetone”
By Anonymous on May 19, 2006 | Reply
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…
By Brian Carr on May 20, 2006 | Reply
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.
By Dannym on Sep 28, 2006 | Reply
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.
By Brian Carr on Sep 28, 2006 | Reply
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.
By Michael McC on Nov 29, 2006 | Reply
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!!
By Brandon on Dec 5, 2006 | Reply
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.
By Dave Lindsay on Jul 11, 2007 | Reply
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.
By Tony M on Aug 4, 2007 | Reply
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…..
By jim on Oct 29, 2007 | Reply
there is a new plug out @ pulstar plugs.com
By jim on Oct 29, 2007 | Reply
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.
By monkee on May 4, 2008 | Reply
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