# Acetone as fuel additive **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\ **Created:** [March 24, 2006, 10:16pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/acetone-as-fuel-additive/9810 "2006-03-24T22:16:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![botardtim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@botardtim](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/botardtim)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 10:16pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/acetone-as-fuel-additive/9810/1 "2006-03-24T22:16:09Z")
Has anyone considered or tried the acetone as a fuel additive? Awhile ago, I did a lot a research on it, and it seemed like a good argument. I tried it in the 535 and didn’t get a whole lot out of it, I calculated about an 11% improvement in my fuel efficiency. But maybe it’s the car, and it was in the dead of winter on one of the the nice cold windy Buffalo days. Has anyone else tried it? Thoughts? Check out a useful site too: [http://www.opensourceenergy.org/C8/Acetone%20in%20Fuel/default.aspx](http://www.opensourceenergy.org/C8/Acetone%20in%20Fuel/default.aspx) ---
**Author:** ![RedGoober4Life](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/redgoober4life/32/7610_2.png) [@RedGoober4Life](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/RedGoober4Life)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2006, 10:24pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/acetone-as-fuel-additive/9810/2 "2006-03-24T22:24:17Z")
I wonder _why_ it increases efficiency. This has to be written by an engineer, because no chemist would leave that huge tad of information out. ---
**Author:** ![ieatpaint](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ieatpaint/32/7311_2.png) [@ieatpaint](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ieatpaint)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 4:26am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/acetone-as-fuel-additive/9810/3 "2006-03-25T04:26:25Z")
but acetone is more expensive than gas per gallon… ---
**Author:** ![rskrause](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/rskrause/32/7367_2.png) [@rskrause](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/rskrause)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 5:04am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/acetone-as-fuel-additive/9810/4 "2006-03-25T05:04:48Z")
It improves mileage because if you don’t retune for it, the car will run leaner (and make less hp). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Russian](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/the_russian/32/7414_2.png) [@The\_Russian](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/The_Russian)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 7:43am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/acetone-as-fuel-additive/9810/5 "2006-03-25T07:43:13Z")
Wont it eat at all of your seals? ---
**Author:** ![RedGoober4Life](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/redgoober4life/32/7610_2.png) [@RedGoober4Life](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/RedGoober4Life)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 7:49am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/acetone-as-fuel-additive/9810/6 "2006-03-25T07:49:20Z")
[http://www.pureenergysystems.com/news/2005/03/17/6900069\_Acetone/](http://www.pureenergysystems.com/news/2005/03/17/6900069_Acetone/) hmm ---
**Author:** ![Fetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fetter](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Fetter)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 7:53am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/acetone-as-fuel-additive/9810/7 "2006-03-25T07:53:28Z")
Interesting find… can’t be all that great for the engine and internals though… ---
**Author:** ![botardtim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@botardtim](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/botardtim)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 9:56am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/acetone-as-fuel-additive/9810/8 "2006-03-25T09:56:48Z")
> [@ieatpaint315](#): > > but acetone is more expensive than gas per gallon… Did you check out the link? And ‘additive’. You put it in as a ratio. I used 2.4 ounces per 10 gallons. ---
**Author:** ![Jack](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jack/32/7613_2.png) [@Jack](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jack)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 1:32pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/acetone-as-fuel-additive/9810/9 "2006-03-25T13:32:14Z")
doesn’t leaner = more power? ---
**Author:** ![woz](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/woz/32/7605_2.png) [@woz](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/woz)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 1:39pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/acetone-as-fuel-additive/9810/10 "2006-03-25T13:39:17Z")
yea i think acetone is an ingrediant in octane booster… ---
**Author:** ![Jon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@Jon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jon)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 1:39pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/acetone-as-fuel-additive/9810/11 "2006-03-25T13:39:30Z")
no,lean is mean. ---
**Author:** ![botardtim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@botardtim](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/botardtim)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 2:01pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/acetone-as-fuel-additive/9810/12 "2006-03-25T14:01:28Z")
> [@The\_Russian](#): > > Wont it eat at all of your seals? Well I think that’s kind of what my wonder is and the question for debate. There’s not a whole lot of documentation on it’s effects on rubber and plastics when diluted with gasoline. But I know for sure, in its pure form, it’s not the greatest. ---
**Author:** ![Jack](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jack/32/7613_2.png) [@Jack](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jack)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 2:13pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/acetone-as-fuel-additive/9810/13 "2006-03-25T14:13:57Z")
so… rich = more power? I don’t think so. Please re-educate me in 50 words or less. ---
**Author:** ![RedGoober4Life](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/redgoober4life/32/7610_2.png) [@RedGoober4Life](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/RedGoober4Life)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 8:03pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/acetone-as-fuel-additive/9810/14 "2006-03-27T20:03:34Z")
apparently… the oxygen in the acetone will burn more even. Also, it will absorb water. Also, it can make certain rubber parts very brittle. ---
**Author:** ![JEG](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jeg/32/7246_2.png) [@JEG](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JEG)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2006, 8:33pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/acetone-as-fuel-additive/9810/15 "2006-03-27T20:33:46Z")
Its awsome for taking paint off your hands lol. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Russian](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/the_russian/32/7414_2.png) [@The\_Russian](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/The_Russian)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2006, 5:09am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/acetone-as-fuel-additive/9810/16 "2006-03-28T05:09:24Z")
or melting your hands in pure form 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2006, 5:13am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/acetone-as-fuel-additive/9810/17 "2006-03-28T05:13:02Z")
There was a thread about this on the Expedition forum. Most found an initial improvement (15% or so) that fell off considerably after a few tanks. My opinion… If there was a miracle device/additive that would make a big difference in fuel economy without adverse side effects, car companies would all ready be using it. ---
**Author:** ![rskrause](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/rskrause/32/7367_2.png) [@rskrause](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/rskrause)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2006, 1:25pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/acetone-as-fuel-additive/9810/18 "2006-03-28T13:25:55Z")
I am not in the mood to write an essay, this info is freely available. But the right AF ratio for max hp may be richer, leaner, or exactly what your car currently runs at. Any of the three are possible and which is operative will also depend on conditions. However, when I said that simply dumping acetone in will make it leaner AND decrease hp, I didn’t mean to imply less hp 'cause it’s leaner (see above). If there are no other changes, you will be replacing equal volumes of a fuel with a higher energy density (gas) with a fuel with lower energy density (acetone). So, unless some very strange stuff is going on you can be pretty sure power will decrease. Now, if you retune for the acetone, it’s another matter. And then OTOH, adding acetone may decrease knock. If your ECU is pulling timing due to knock sensor activity that might help power. So, while generalizations always have specific exceptions, in this case I stand by my original generalization as generally true. Add some acetone and make no other changes and the result will be less hp and a leaner running engine, generally speaking. ---
**Author:** ![rskrause](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/rskrause/32/7367_2.png) [@rskrause](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/rskrause)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2006, 1:28pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/acetone-as-fuel-additive/9810/19 "2006-03-28T13:28:26Z")
> [@JayS](#): > > There was a thread about this on the Expedition forum. Most found an initial improvement (15% or so) that fell off considerably after a few tanks. > > My opinion… If there was a miracle device/additive that would make a big difference in fuel economy without adverse side effects, car companies would all ready be using it. The fall off is logical. What may be happening is that the ECU will “learn” over time to compensate for the lean condition created. ---
**Author:** ![RedGoober4Life](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/redgoober4life/32/7610_2.png) [@RedGoober4Life](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/RedGoober4Life)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2006, 2:11pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/acetone-as-fuel-additive/9810/20 "2006-03-29T14:11:53Z")
I like how the one website says, “the vibration of the oxygen bond creates a stirring of the gasoline.” I really think people don’t understand that there’s a difference between vaporizing and burning. [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/acetone-as-fuel-additive/9810.md?page=2)