Acetone as a fuel additive ?!?!?

[richardoren]

I know this sounds crazy - and amazed I was to read in a diesel forum that Super Duty John from Vero Beach Florida uses ACETONE in both his diesel and gasoline engines:

"Acetone is about $13 a gallon at paint stores.

Add 2.5 ounces for every 10 gallons of diesel or B-100.

It provides about a 10% improvement in fuel economy.

I've used it since 2002 in 2 diesels and 4 gassers with no problems ever in any of them.

Use 3 ounces per 10 gallons in gassers."

Here's the link, let us know if any of you have been wild enough to risk your DDs:

http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/f54/cetane-booster-193329/

 

[TedZ]

There are web references to damage to injectors and valves.

Also, in as much as acetone is a solvent for various resins i think Hatteras use would be limited with most having fiberglass tanks.

Might try it in the pickup but the turbo'd injectors and valves are stressed quite a bit already.

Ted

 

[Genesis]

NO NO NO NO NO!

This is an absolutely false load of crap that goes around the net every now and then.

Acetone is an extremely powerful solvent, has essentially zero lubricating properties and does NOTHING to contribute to the fuel mileage of an engine.

In small enough quantities it will do no harm, but it will also do no good. In larger quantities it will do tremendous harm by dissolving all sorts of things you DO NOT want to dissolve.

 

[krush]

Acetone on occasion can help clean up the crap that exists in gassers. Look at the ingredients on B-12 chemtool can.

Diesel doesn't really turn to varnish like gas. But of course, too much for a long time will eat through stuff. No biggie dumping some in the tank if you are going to run it all through in an hour....just don't leave it lest you see all the rubber go bye bye.

edit: additionally, some car buffs running high boost on their engines will use Xylene or Tuolene to raise the octane.

 

[richardoren]

There are web references to damage to injectors and valves.

Also, in as much as acetone is a solvent for various resins i think Hatteras use would be limited with most having fiberglass tanks.

Might try it in the pickup but the turbo'd injectors and valves are stressed quite a bit already.

Ted

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the words of caution. The fuel tank issue is one which even now has me wondering if diesel Kleen or other cetane enhancers don't create risks for our resin fuel tanks...

 

[Wayne Withrow]

I just finished watching an episode of MYTHBUSTERS on the discovery channel and they busted the Acetone myth.
It actually decreased the gas milage of the vehicle that they were using for the test.

Wayne

 

[BUSTER]

I definately would not recommend this especially over a longterm,it may be damaging to your diesel fuel injection system. ULSD is an issue in itself as it lacks the lubricity that regular #2 fuel has,to further destroy the lubrication of the fuel could cause problems for pumps and or injectors.

 

[Mike36c]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the words of caution. The fuel tank issue is one which even now has me wondering if diesel Kleen or other cetane enhancers don't create risks for our resin fuel tanks...

I've been using Diesel Kleen for years, no tank issues.

 

[Brian Degulis]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the words of caution. The fuel tank issue is one which even now has me wondering if diesel Kleen or other cetane enhancers don't create risks for our resin fuel tanks...

Cetane boosters are ethyl nitrate which is not a highly flamable liquid like acetone they work diffrently. I don't think pure ethyl nitrate would even run an engine but when added to diesel it improves the ignition quality. I have never heard of a tank issue from cetane boosters.

Brian

 

[SKYCHENEY]

When I change filters, I fill them with straight DK and the engine fires right up. I don't know exactly what the makeup of DK is, but a diesel will run on it.

 

[Brian Degulis]

DK is a mixture of chemicals in a petroleum based carrier. The amount of ethyl nitrate is very small probably less than an ounce in the 96 ounce bottle it is the carrier that is combustable. My point is that a cetane booster is not a small quanitiy of some highly flamable liquid it is a chemical reation with the fuel that improves the ignition quality

Brian