Do any of you smart types know anything about this? I want to know if it can HARM my engine.

http://pesn.com/2005/03/17/6900069_Acetone/





also

http://www.lubedev.com/smartgas/additive.htm



http://www.lubedev.com/smartgas/octane.htm



"Acetone operates on the unburned portion of the fuel through better vaporization to improve combustion efficiency. Acetone further operates like an electron absorber. It is the ideal additive for gasoline and diesel fuel.



It only takes 2 to 3 ounces per ten gallons to greatly improve fuel vaporization. We try not to add too much acetone into our gasoline because it can raise the octane too high for best mileage. Acetone acts like an electron absorber.

We treat acetone as a vaporization tool rather than an actual fuel component because the aim is to reduce the amount of unburned fuel speeding out the exhaust."



Acetone in Fuel Said to Increase Mileage

Readily-available chemical added to gas tank in small proportion improves the fuel's ability to vaporize completely by reducing the surface tension that inhibits vaporization of some fuel droplets.

 

Interesting..
but i'd never do it
even if it works!

 

If it's safe and it works, why not? Are you baseing your decision on science or superstition?

 

Ever buy octane booster? ever buy premium gasoline? Unless you can determine how much is safe, rather than going by their hype, stay clear.

 

First off, it's YOUR car. Feel free to do what you like with it, but be very careful when dorking around with the fuel system... who knows what long term problems could arise.

My thoughts:

Too many "my cousin/friend/distant relative/buddy tried it on his [insert high performance or low performance vehicle - NEVER used long term in a daily driver that I've been able to tell] and it got better MPG and a LOT more power!" anecdotes with no facts to back it up... The typical "claim" has every single aspect of common urban legends.

Also, too many long descriptions on how it works (or should work) on junk science websites, with few-to-no valid, conclusive evidence on anything I would deem reliable and credentialed.

Lastly, simply too many inconclusive, sketchy posts with too few solid claims backed by simple fact and test procedures on the web: http://www.google.com/search?q=Aceto...en-US:official

I truly think that if it were that simple and that safe, it would be widely accepted and used - the practice seems to hang out in a shadowy area of the automotive fringe communities (if at all) and you cannot really be certain of any long-term side effects. I'm sure you can find all sorts of immediate benefit mods to make to your car to make it faster, more fuel efficient, etc., but at what cost in reliability or reduction in time for the components' mean time betwen failure?

In closing, I will defer to the wise PT Barnum.

 

A wise man indeed

 

I tend to doubt claims made about increasing fuel economy through something as simple as reducing the surface tension of the fuel mix. Such an approach requires me to believe that the collective engineering talent in GM, Ford, MBZ, BMW, and, and, and are all a bunch of incompetent *****. What was that about P.T. Barnum? Something about a sucker born every minute....

On a more serious note, if you screw around with the fuel mix (by adding acetone to the gasoline), and engine damage results (such as damage to the fuel injection system due to exposure to water), you will be on the hook for any repair expenses if BMW/MINI decides to deny the warranty claim.

 

Too much acetone would do a good job of cleaning your cylinder walls causing the rings to gall & tear out of the pistons. BMW won't cover that? Boy some warranty

 

octane booster and premium gas is safer for the engine, it reduces it's explosion risk (does not explode easily) under pressure.

what does that have to do with this board?

 

Well, why do you doubt it? The factory puts a cheap and relatively inefficient air filter and exhaust system on your car.

You can increase the mileage on any vehicle by adding a better air filter, changing a computer ECU map, and adding a header(s). Something as "simple" as tire inflation pressure can also have HUGE effect on mileage.

Look, I'm not endorsing this. I want to know if there is any science behind it.

 

Do you mean detonation or explosion?

 

They're not talking about huge quantities. 0.5 to 4 ounces per 10 gallons.