RocketMan on 6/3/2009 at 22:57

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I've been adding acetone to my gas for a while now after doing some reading about the benefits it can yield. The problem is two-fold. First, everything out there is contradictory. Some swear by it and some say it's bullshit. The scientific explanations given seem plausible but the results seem to vary quite a bit. One of the things reported is that you can't use acetone if you already have ethanol in the gas because they fight each other somehow and you get nothing.

I've been filling up on Sunnoco 94 because I've chipped my car and need the anti-knock that it provides. However I've heard rumours that 94 is just 87 pumped up with alcohol to raise the octane level. If this is the case I'd be better off filling with 87 and putting 500 mL or so acetone in a full tank. Acetone is also an octane booster and is supposedly superior to alcohol as an additive.

First thing I wanted to discuss with everyone is this: Is there any information anywhere that tells us what the composition of a particular vendor's gas is. If I want to know what's in Sunnoco 94, where can I get that from?

Second, does anyone here have anything to say about acetone as an additive, without talking out of their ass? Everything I've mentioned so far has come from the net and the sources have varying degrees of credibility but I'm not 100% convinced that it actually is advantageous. Here are the arguements FOR:

1. Acetone is highly volitile and increases the volitility of gas thereby allowing for more complete vapourization and combustion

2. By the same mechanism, the vaporizing air/fuel mix has an enhanced cooling effect on the air charge, compacting the air and increasing volumetric efficiency and therefore power

3. Acetone is a wonderful solvent and cleans crap out of your injectors, fuel system and cylinders, while oxygenating your exhaust and reducing emissions of CO and hydrocarbons.

Arguements against are:

1. It eats your fuel system components and causes swelling (in some cases)

2. It reacts with water to create a precipitate that settles in the gas tank and clogs stuff up

3. Together with ethanol the benefits of the acetone are lost alltogether.


These are just the arguements that I've heard "as is" and I'm not saying they're true.

..Oh yeah, one more thing. Where can you buy gas with no ethanol in it and/or "race gas"?

Volitions Advocate on 6/3/2009 at 23:01

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I dont know about this particular application. although i must admit its scary hearing you talk about it knowing you've chosen "rocketman" as your avatar.:thumb:

serious now:

Using an acetylene torch at work is quite frightening when it starts to behave errantly.

To get a good cutting flame you only need about 11 - 13 psi of acetylene to mix with the oxygen. If you have the pressure too high it condenses and spits liquid acetone on the thing you're trying to cut and the results can be terrifying when you're the one holding the torch.

Beyond that I know nothing. Be careful.

jtr7 on 6/3/2009 at 23:24

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They're tellin' you they don't know, but in an amusing CommChat way, so it's not a complete loss.;) Personally, the thread title made me think, "No, I don't want to be doused with gasoline! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF!" *WHUMPff*

Sounds risky. I can verify that these strong additives will eat your fuel pipe, connecting below the cap to the tank, if it's not made of metal. You can delay that by putting the strong additives in first, and then flushing it out with the gasoline.:erg:

fett on 7/3/2009 at 03:33

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Can I use my cellphone near it without catching my head on fire. That happens all the time with gasoline y'know. :sweat:

RocketMan on 7/3/2009 at 09:03

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I don't take mythbusters as a credible source. IMO half of their experiments are half-assed and entertainment driven. They don't control things properly sometimes.