Acetone
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Registered User
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Mooresville, NC
Acetone
what are your thoughts on this article...any downfalls to using it?
http://pesn.com/2005/03/17/6900069_Acetone/
http://pesn.com/2005/03/17/6900069_Acetone/
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,768
From: Friendswood, TX, USA
Re: Acetone
There's a pat answer for this, that's the same for all these additives.
Your favorite oil company spends mucho bucks and thousands of man hours developing and testing their gas and oil to insure that it exceeds both government and industry standards. The gas is refined and the additive packages are added so you get the best of all thats required for your car. If it were that simple the oil company would already be adding the acetone. What often happens in these cases is that an increase in one additive causes a corresponding decrease in the effectiveness of another additive. Oil companies have the means and money to test these effects, individuals seldom do.
P.S. If you want better gas mileage shift sooner, don't put junk in your gas tank.
Your favorite oil company spends mucho bucks and thousands of man hours developing and testing their gas and oil to insure that it exceeds both government and industry standards. The gas is refined and the additive packages are added so you get the best of all thats required for your car. If it were that simple the oil company would already be adding the acetone. What often happens in these cases is that an increase in one additive causes a corresponding decrease in the effectiveness of another additive. Oil companies have the means and money to test these effects, individuals seldom do.
P.S. If you want better gas mileage shift sooner, don't put junk in your gas tank.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,428
Re: Acetone
yea, someone posted a great link to an oil guys web site. it showed how the oil with additives would foam up.
on the acetone, i wonder how they get it to mix evenly throughout the gas and not precipitate to the bottom or go straight to the surface.
on the acetone, i wonder how they get it to mix evenly throughout the gas and not precipitate to the bottom or go straight to the surface.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,326
From: fairless hills pa
Re: Acetone
Originally Posted by idunno
anybody know if the chemistry of this would even theoretically work?
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,347
From: Austin/Houston, TX
Re: Acetone
Id bet it was for emmisions purposes that they dont do this. It very well could be bogus, but it might also be that it puts out more emmisions. Car companies spend alot of time designing sports cars for power... doesnt mean that they make more power w/ aftermarket parts. They have noise and emmisions to deal with. Same concept.
Just playing devils advocate here. I am by no means a chemical expert.
Just playing devils advocate here. I am by no means a chemical expert.
Originally Posted by Z28SORR
There's a pat answer for this, that's the same for all these additives.
Your favorite oil company spends mucho bucks and thousands of man hours developing and testing their gas and oil to insure that it exceeds both government and industry standards. The gas is refined and the additive packages are added so you get the best of all thats required for your car. If it were that simple the oil company would already be adding the acetone. What often happens in these cases is that an increase in one additive causes a corresponding decrease in the effectiveness of another additive. Oil companies have the means and money to test these effects, individuals seldom do.
P.S. If you want better gas mileage shift sooner, don't put junk in your gas tank.
Your favorite oil company spends mucho bucks and thousands of man hours developing and testing their gas and oil to insure that it exceeds both government and industry standards. The gas is refined and the additive packages are added so you get the best of all thats required for your car. If it were that simple the oil company would already be adding the acetone. What often happens in these cases is that an increase in one additive causes a corresponding decrease in the effectiveness of another additive. Oil companies have the means and money to test these effects, individuals seldom do.
P.S. If you want better gas mileage shift sooner, don't put junk in your gas tank.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,768
From: Friendswood, TX, USA
Re: Acetone
I'm not saying that adding Acetone WONT increase the octain, believe it or not adding mothballs(benzene) will also.
What I'm saying is that when you add for one specific purpose you often upset a very carefully designed package. And make some other additive less effective. Say the one that helps keep your engine from waring out.
So I definitely think you shoud experiment on YOUR engine and let the rest of us know how it went.
What I'm saying is that when you add for one specific purpose you often upset a very carefully designed package. And make some other additive less effective. Say the one that helps keep your engine from waring out.
So I definitely think you shoud experiment on YOUR engine and let the rest of us know how it went.
Administrator
Joined: Nov 1998
Posts: 71,086
From: Hell was full so they sent me to NJ
Re: Acetone
I don't think he's pushing acetone as an octane enhancement. He is claiming that it reduces surface tension to the extent that there is greater vaporization of the gasoline, resulting in more complete burning. He claims as benefits increased MPG, increased power and reduced emissions. He blames the great "petroluem company" monster/monopoly for suppressing the potential improvements in economy. I have no idea which if any of his claims are valid, but when he starts talking about 50% improvements in MPG on cars that are already fairly economical, I get a bit skeptical.
As far as the "mothball" thing..... that's not really a slam-dunk either. An interesting quote from the online "Gasoline FAQ" that I have used as a frequent reference:
As far as the "mothball" thing..... that's not really a slam-dunk either. An interesting quote from the online "Gasoline FAQ" that I have used as a frequent reference:
6.20 Can mothballs increase octane?
The legend of mothballs as an octane enhancer arose well before WWII when
naphthalene was used as the active ingredient. Today, the majority of
mothballs use para-dichlorobenzene in place of naphthalene, so choose
carefully if you wish to experiment :-). There have been some concerns about the toxicity of para-dichlorobenzene, and naphthalene mothballs have again become popular. In the 1920s, typical gasoline octane ratings were 40-60 [11], and during the 1930s and 40s, the ratings increased by approximately 20 units as alkyl leads and improved refining processes became widespread [12].
Naphthalene has a blending motor octane number of 90 [52], so the addition of a significant amount of mothballs could increase the octane, and they were soluble in gasoline. The amount usually required to appreciably increase the octane also had some adverse effects. The most obvious was due to the high melting point ( 80C ), when the fuel evaporated the naphthalene would
precipitate out, blocking jets and filters. With modern gasolines,
naphthalene is more likely to reduce the octane rating, and the amount
required for low octane fuels will also create operational and emissions
problems.
The legend of mothballs as an octane enhancer arose well before WWII when
naphthalene was used as the active ingredient. Today, the majority of
mothballs use para-dichlorobenzene in place of naphthalene, so choose
carefully if you wish to experiment :-). There have been some concerns about the toxicity of para-dichlorobenzene, and naphthalene mothballs have again become popular. In the 1920s, typical gasoline octane ratings were 40-60 [11], and during the 1930s and 40s, the ratings increased by approximately 20 units as alkyl leads and improved refining processes became widespread [12].
Naphthalene has a blending motor octane number of 90 [52], so the addition of a significant amount of mothballs could increase the octane, and they were soluble in gasoline. The amount usually required to appreciably increase the octane also had some adverse effects. The most obvious was due to the high melting point ( 80C ), when the fuel evaporated the naphthalene would
precipitate out, blocking jets and filters. With modern gasolines,
naphthalene is more likely to reduce the octane rating, and the amount
required for low octane fuels will also create operational and emissions
problems.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,931
From: Upstate NY
Re: Acetone
Originally Posted by Injuneer
I don't think he's pushing acetone as an octane enhancement. He is claiming that it reduces surface tension to the extent that there is greater vaporization of the gasoline, resulting in more complete burning. He claims as benefits increased MPG, increased power and reduced emissions. He blames the great "petroluem company" monster/monopoly for suppressing the potential improvements in economy. I have no idea which if any of his claims are valid, but when he starts talking about 50% improvements in MPG on cars that are already fairly economical, I get a bit skeptical.
As far as the "mothball" thing..... that's not really a slam-dunk either. An interesting quote from the online "Gasoline FAQ" that I have used as a frequent reference:
As far as the "mothball" thing..... that's not really a slam-dunk either. An interesting quote from the online "Gasoline FAQ" that I have used as a frequent reference:
Here we go again. Anyone remember the "Fish" carburetor? There are still many claims out there that didn't prove true in controlled testing.
I was involved in a couple of tests at GM Milford Proving Ground of very strange gimmicks purported to improve fuel economy. The "inventor" got the ear of a big enough wheel in GM (no names, please) to get it tested. We ran an honest test with the inventor onboard each test car. The results were zero improvement to very slight loss, but within the experimental error of a couple hundreths of an MPG. He was astounded, but believed us.
Think about this: If such a thing as mothballs, corks, a special carb, TB or other relatively simple device could increase mileage AND power, it would be standard equipment on every OEM engine. It just doesn't happen, folks. Physics and thermodynamics still work.
I never had a Big Oil Company offer me any $ to keep quiet about the miracle cure....nor did anyone I ever knew in the auto industry. Shoot, I was just a poor graduate and could have used the money.
My $.02
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,326
From: fairless hills pa
Re: Acetone
putting 8oz of acetone (generic, home depot) in one gallon of gas 93 octane dropped the octane level by .09%. burn rate inreased and more intensly. oil breakdown showed harsh breakdown on conventional motor oil, but not as harsh on mobil1 synthetic. waiting to get some toulene in so i can try with that. id say dont run the acetone, try something else. it did clean the metal test plugs great though.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,768
From: Friendswood, TX, USA
Re: Acetone
Originally Posted by Injuneer
I don't think he's pushing acetone as an octane enhancement. He is claiming that it reduces surface tension to the extent that there is greater vaporization of the gasoline, resulting in more complete burning. He claims as benefits increased MPG, increased power and reduced emissions. He blames the great "petroluem company" monster/monopoly for suppressing the potential improvements in economy. I have no idea which if any of his claims are valid, but when he starts talking about 50% improvements in MPG on cars that are already fairly economical, I get a bit skeptical.
As far as the "mothball" thing..... that's not really a slam-dunk either. An interesting quote from the online "Gasoline FAQ" that I have used as a frequent reference:
As far as the "mothball" thing..... that's not really a slam-dunk either. An interesting quote from the online "Gasoline FAQ" that I have used as a frequent reference:
Wonder what ever happened to STP and Slick-50.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,326
From: fairless hills pa
Re: Acetone
Originally Posted by Z28SORR
Yah, myslowcamaro, mentioned octane and I got side tracked. Like y'all stated these claims have been around for so many years.
Wonder what ever happened to STP and Slick-50.
Wonder what ever happened to STP and Slick-50.
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