Acetone Improves Fuel Economy 35%?

[Robert YellowVette]

With the high gas prices in the US these days, the fuel economy devices are becoming more popular although they still don't work and the 'science' behind them is just incredible...

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

This guy claims the added acetone uses 'inherent molecular vibration' to take 'sluggish' gasoline molecules and reduce their surface tension to vaporize better, thus increasing fuel mileage 35%! And you only have to use 2-3 ounces of acetone per 10 gallons of gasoline.

His source article for this has a long rant against 'EVIL BIGOIL' to prevent us from knowing and using this method, naturally so we waste more gas and buy it more often.

Any chemistry/physics majors here to comment?

My favorites are 'cow magnets' slipped over the fuel rails and lines to either 'align' or 'fracture' the fuel molecules to make them burn better... =;-]

 

[Ken Anderson]

It's baloney, plus if you spill any on your nice car-then goodbye paint!

 

[donnyonee]

no its not the wondermeat your thinking of.

it does work in my ranger.

 

[wwr]

Acetone response

So will moth balls(if they still make them) which used to have
ether in them but we were told as teenagers(long ago in a galaxy far far away) they would eat the gaskets away. We still put them in the school bus tanks though.

wwr

 

[JonM]

I wonder whos job it is to castrate all the little moths balls? :L

 

[jr7221]

naptha instead of ether,

 

[jrose7004]

As the price of gas continues to rise we'll be seeing more and more things like this!

 

[wx briefer]

Believe it or not, there is something that one can put into the tank and FEEL the difference for real. Go down to wally world and buy a can of chemtool B12? (i think) gasoline additive. You can feel the difference at once! Don't use it but once or twice a year, though. It could be that it facilitates a more complete fuel burn or maybe a little octane boost to allow more timing, but it does work.

I suppose the problem of gasoline not igniting fully is for real. There are cases of observed gasoline droplets hiding around the rings and not igniting. It happens.

 

[Dragon Daddy]

Watch Out

A lot of chemical engineering and testing goes into to formulating your gasoiline. Making "field" adjustments can be harmful to your engine. Think about it for a minute - if this small adjustment can improve fuel econony - wouldn't a major chemical company take advantage of the feature and market it to the public. The OEM references a very specific oil for your vehicle, and I'm sure that they have similar concerns for the fuel. There's also a warrantee issue that you cannot overlook. Watch Out!

 

[Robert YellowVette]

A lot of chemical engineering and testing goes into to formulating your gasoiline. Making "field" adjustments can be harmful to your engine. Think about it for a minute - if this small adjustment can improve fuel econony - wouldn't a major chemical company take advantage of the feature and market it to the public. The OEM references a very specific oil for your vehicle, and I'm sure that they have similar concerns for the fuel. There's also a warrantee issue that you cannot overlook. Watch Out!

Did you read my original post?

 

[o2bnkc]

I also discovered that if you use high carb, low protein in your flux capacitor, it will run much lighter.

 

[DkBG]

I think I'll just buy some new spark plugs for my truck . I'm pretty sure a good tune up helps and almost as sure miracle products don't . And new plugs wont ruin any sensors either . JMHO . Cliff

 

[tmiller24]

Be careful not to add things to a near empty tank, as harsh chemicals can shorten the life of the fuel pump, significantly.

 

[DRTH VTR]

It used to be snake oil salesman- now it is these fuel economy frauds.

"Big oil" assumes a giganic conspiracy. A conspiracy of that size cannot be kept secret. I work in cancer treatment, and I hear the "there is a cure for cancer and it is kept quiet so we can all make money" theory. Bunk!

That kind of statement demonstrates the lack of knowledge on the part of the speaker.

"Inherent molecular vibration" is magical thinking, not chemistry.

 

[Dragon Daddy]

Yup.

 

[The Drakester]

Think CAFE! If anything would significantly (or even insignificantly) increase fuel economy, I would think that Auto Makers would leap to the use thereof so as to improve CAFE.

 

[Robert YellowVette]

Think CAFE! If anything would significantly (or even insignificantly) increase fuel economy, I would think that Auto Makers would leap to the use thereof so as to improve CAFE.

Well, they could use it only during the combined smog and fuel economy test which is run on a chassis dyno, and it would have unknown effects on the smog part, and I certainly don't think it does anything for fuel savings based on the wacky theory of "molecular vibration"...

Even if it did work during the EPA test, people would start complaining they are not getting the mileage listed on the new car sticker just like they do with the hybrids now...

 

[Dragon Daddy]

The Chemtool product most probably acts as a fuel injector cleaner. Techron works the same way.

 

[wx briefer]

The Chemtool product most probably acts as a fuel injector cleaner. Techron works the same way.

The impact is immediate. The particular tank of gas that it is added to really performs. I don't believe in snake oil any more than the next college grad. but try it and then let's talk about the experience. (besides, I have never had injectors go bad so far. I use only premium and switch brands every 4 or 5 thousand in order to remove what additive residue is left from the previous brand)