Acetone as a fuel additive?!

[JGK]

I was filling up at pump early this evening when a guy in a 3rd gen pulled up and started filling on the other side of the pump. He noticed me adding my Amalgamated additive (from a plain bottle) and inquired about it. He then offers that he has been adding acetone to his 3rd gen and his wife's (gasser) car at the rate of about 3 oz. per 10 gallons for some time now. Says he was told it was a good thing to do. He says it has cut smoke emissions, smoothed out the engine and slightly improved mileage. Whoever recommended it to him said it will cut soot! Yeah, I'll bet it does!



Somehow, all I can think of is reduced lubricity and a much shorter engine/pump/etc. life span.



I don't buy it. Anyone else heard of this?



(Thought I'd post this here since he was driving a 3rd gen, though it could apply to any diesel rig I'd think).



-Jay

 

[JGK]

The comments in those threads pretty much sums up my thoughts and understandings of it.



I'm not trying it. I'd like to talk to the guy in a few years to see how his truck is running. He says he pulls all the time. Had a 5th wheel hitch in the back and it was a single-wheel 3500 I believe. He said he's running a Banks Six-gun and is real happy with it.



Time will tell, and it should be short with those stresses.



Thanks,

-Jay

 

[rbattelle]

Let's think about this scientifically. The density of acetone is 789. 9 kg/m^3. The density of #2 diesel fuel is 920 kg/m^3.



Since acetone is less dense, it will "float" atop the diesel in the tank. Now, anyone who's ever worked with acetone knows it's vapor pressure is pretty high at room temperature, which means it evaporates very very fast (one of the reasons its such a prized cleaner for electronic parts). So, you pour acetone into a tank of diesel and it's going to float on top and evaporate VERY FAST. 3 oz. probably evaporates by the time you're 1 mile down the road. Or, if the action of driving is enough to keep it mixed up, it'll evaporate when the truck sits overnight and the acetone settles out on top of the fuel.



Gasoline, on the other hand, has a density of 702 kg/m^3. Since acetone is more dense, it will immediately sink to the bottom of a gas tank where it will be quickly sucked up by the fuel pickup (presumably) and burned within a very short time. I doubt it would have any measureable affect on the running of the engine, and it might hurt something along the way.



Bottom line: on a diesel it would do absolutely nothing at all. On a gasser, it's use is questionable. That guy's mileage improvement is purely imagination (or the engine is breaking in). Next time someone talks about some product improving fuel economy, ask them to see their fuel log.



-Ryan

 

[KD7GYJ]

Ryan,



The acetone is a solvent, it is a non polar substance just like the #2 Diesel fuel. It will blend with and thin the diesel oil. It will make the fuel less lubritive than it is now, so in my opinion, I wouldn't use the stuff. Fuel pumps have a difficult time now with the low sulfer fuel.



Blair

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Yep, I think anyone putting acetone in the tank is a fool

 

[XJSuperman]

I am a member on several jeep and 4x4 forums as well as here... and this SAME debate has been floating around on nearly every one of them for about 2 months now.



While I agree that in the diesel with the lubricity of the fuel the acetone may not be the best thing to do to it.



BUT on many other forums (gasser vehicles) there are a lot of 'old timers' who swear at doing this for years in street and racing vehicles. So much so that a lot of the younger crew have started to do it... and even though there haven't been many miles logged there have been documented... MARKED mileage improvements. Don;t know why anyone would need or want to lie so I believe them.

Again in my opinion not enough miles have been logged to determine if this is OK to do... but in gasoline engines... it may work out fine.

 

[rbattelle]

Ryan,



The acetone is a solvent, it is a non polar substance just like the #2 Diesel fuel. It will blend with and thin the diesel oil. It will make the fuel less lubritive than it is now, so in my opinion, I wouldn't use the stuff. Fuel pumps have a difficult time now with the low sulfer fuel.



Blair

Well, that pretty much blows my theory out of the water! Oh well, not the first time I was ever barking up the wrong tree.



On edit: I'm really sorry about jumping to conclusions about acetone "floating" on the fuel. Man, I need to learn to think more carefully before posting. I still wouldn't use it in any of my vehicles.



-Ryan

 

[bombero]

This reminds me of a happening in Co. when my 92 CTD was almost new. One night when it was cold, like zero, I pulled into a truck stop for fuel. I was concerned that they had winter blend because it was so cold. Here pulls in a gal with a old Olds diesel car. She started putting gasoline in it. I yelled at her that she had the wrong pump but she just put in some more. Then she moved to a diesel pump. Topped of the rest of her tank. O well I got in mine and left. End of story.

 

[Donn]

Yep, I think anyone putting acetone in the tank is a fool

I agree! Just take the 3 oz. sniff it and you will imagine you get much better milage

 

[KD7GYJ]

In the 70's we would take all the old Ethyl Benzene (carcinogen) and pour it into our cars and motorcycles. Man, that was good stuff. We were told to properly dispose of it since it was classified as a carcinogen, so, we emptied the bottles in our tanks and tossed the empties in the trash.



We use to use Odorless mineral spirits (Naptha) in our Motorcyles, but they really fouled up the plugs.



So I guess it's best to stay with what's best, good ol' #2.



Blair



I really wasn't trying to toss a wrench into the cogs, but Ryan, your theory would be correct if they were polar (water, pop etc) and non polar (oil, gas, diesel, solvents etc. ) substances in the came container.

 

[Fireman]

On edit: I'm really sorry about jumping to conclusions about acetone "floating" on the fuel. Man, I need to learn to think more carefully before posting.



-Ryan [/QUOTE]



Look at it this way, you floated and idea out there and someone expounded on it and YOU learned something new. I would not feel sorry about that. That is the beauty of these forums, we are always exposed to new ideas and learn new things. Just remember to verify information that you do not know to be true. So, we all benifit, thanks Ryan and KD. Keep thinking.



If it makes you feel any better, I've done the same thing... ... more than once



Fireman

 

[KD7GYJ]

You're right Fireman,



This is a forum of learning. I have learned so much about the Cummins and the great people who drive them.



Blair