Adding acetone to gasoline

I heard about this from a friend, and decided to do some research. I typed it into google and their are tons of stories of people who got improved gas mileage. I just wanted to know if anyone here had ever tried this.

I havent tried that, but a local shop is putting in a few gallons of E85.

Snopes article:

Urban Legends Reference Pages: Acetone Improves Gas Mileage

First and foremost, this has been around before gas prices went sky high, so in that regards the Snopes article itself is wrong. Additionally, it just says acetone will eat up things. Well this is true, but it failed to mention the treat levels used in gasoline. Generally speaking, the treat levels are around 3oz / 10 gallons of gas. So the concentrations are hardly harmful. So that just goes to show you snopes is not the end all be all in final words.

That all said, I have tried this before, including in the Grand Prix and have never noticed any thing that was significant that would warrant the need to keep acetone around for anything other than as a solvent.

Furthermore, the only real ways to assist in the vaporization of fuel is to warm it up, which of course, if not done properly can cause other issues. You can atomize it more, but that takes better injectors and higher fuel pressure and Ive never seen any real experiments on this.

This is why you get better mileage in the summer than you do in the winter. The air is hotter, so the fuel is warmer and there is less oxygen per pound of air (density).

ive tried it have not noticed any difference.
AT most it might have helped clean fuel injectors

Originally Posted by Toofastgs

ive tried it have not noticed any difference.
AT most it might have helped clean fuel injectors

That was kind of my conclusion. If nothing else it may be a cheap injector cleaner.

Which may promote fuel efficiency and helped spur the myth over the years.

Originally Posted by Sabrewings

Which may promote fuel efficiency and helped spur the myth over the years.

Very possible. You will find the usage of Acetone more prevelant in a group of people called hypermilers. They go to some extreme lengths to get better fuel economy and while they use some techniques I would not want to use, they do prove rather authoritatively that you can get way more mileage out of most vehicles that you would be lead to believe.

There was one that held the highest mileage out of a Prius at one point. He got some 250 mpg out of it, repeatable. Dont ask me how, it was just well documented and proven.

Ive seen countless examples of them getting 50% better fuel economy in many many vehicles.

Tried it; you won't see an increase in mileage.

It will help reduce detonation, but the mix has to be weak. Use only pure Acetone, about 3oz for a half tank. Any more and the car will run soft.

Glad to hear your input Ron. Ive seen lots of references to using pure Acetone. Would that be the kind you go into Lowes or Home Depot and buy by the gallon?

If it reduces detonation, then in a small way, doesn't it increase power

I think that would be an interesting experiment. Anyone getting KR now that the know for sure what they are getting and when that could test it out?

Originally Posted by SyntheticShield

That all said, I have tried this before, including in the Grand Prix and have never noticed any thing that was significant that would warrant the need to keep acetone around for anything other than as a solvent.

This is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you.

Totally unrelated, but I figured I would ask here anyway. Has anyone ever bought an O2 sensor off of ebay? It is a generic brand, but there is a $40 difference between them and autozone.

Edit: Here is one that I found. It is a Borg Warner brand.
eBay Motors: NEW BWD OXYGEN SENSOR 97-03 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX AFS109 (item 160195855454 end time Apr-03-08 12:08:42 PDT)

Originally Posted by spenc938

This is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you.

Totally unrelated, but I figured I would ask here anyway. Has anyone ever bought an O2 sensor off of ebay? It is a generic brand, but there is a $40 difference between them and autozone.

Edit: Here is one that I found. It is a Borg Warner brand.
eBay Motors: NEW BWD OXYGEN SENSOR 97-03 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX AFS109 (item 160195855454 end time Apr-03-08 12:08:42 PDT)

Bump. Anyone?

I think link will provide you with some your answers. I am sure Scotty will have something to say about it Granted I have not yet attempted this and I am not going to attempt in my GTX, but if I had a beater GP, I would

Acetone In Fuel Said to Increase Mileage

To answer spenc, I have never personally bought O2 sensors off ebay before. I have bought WB sensors before online at a stupidly low price.

With regards to the acetone, I will say that you will not harm your fuel system. The concentrations are not that high. You're talking about 3oz/10 gallons of gas as a starting point. I will also add, that based on my experience, it seems to have a better effect on lower grades of gas than does premium. I cant prove that, its just my theory at this point. But I may try it again in the Isuzu since its the first car Ive had in about 6yrs that doesnt use premium. But as I stated, I did not see any gains in the GP, though I didnt scan for anything like reduced knock, and I ran a chip in my last vehicle that required I run premium and I never noticed anything there.

Originally Posted by SyntheticShield

But I may try it again in the Isuzu since its the first car Ive had in about 6yrs that doesnt use premium.

Are Grand Prixs supposed to have premium?

Supercharged Grand Prixs are. They call for 91 or higher octane. L36 type engines I believe can run 87 safely, I wouldnt dare in a GTP though without some specific tuning to do so and even then Id have to have a lot of time scanning to make sure I wasnt getting any knock.

Oh, ok. So I'm fine with 87.

Well I dont know what engine you have, but if it is not a supercharged engine, then you should be good to go.