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Lowflyer
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 08:20 pm: | 
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"On a serious note just because the EPA doesn't allow it and oil companies aren't using it, doesn't mean it won't work."
I urge you to bottle it, slap a label on it and sell it as a fuel optimizer. Try claiming the 35% fuel mileage increase. I'll represent you in court defending the lawsuits.  |
Newxb9er
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 - 09:56 pm: |
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I've been on the Mythbusters, you want their number? You can give them a call and give them the idea. I spent 4 friggin hours filming with them, and was on tv about 15 seconds! I was in the "Salsa Escape" episode. The guy standing in the background never getting a chance to speak!! Showbusiness sucks! |
Mfell2112
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 11:11 am: |
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Here is the kind of info I was looking for. Bill states he used it in his Chevy and Toyota with gains of 3 and 5 mpg. That is huge. Even an extra 2 mpg would be huge for me. I have a 20 gallon tank so an extra 40 miles per tank full would be nice. I am going to start running it. I would hope someone would try it in their tube framed Buell next.
Regards
Mike |
Blake
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 02:08 pm: |
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You are right, it would be a huge deal if it were true that adding a few ounces of acetone improved fuel efficiency. But it isn't true.
With all due respect, the kind of anecdotal observations offered above are extremely unreliable on account of WAY too many other factors being involved, not to mention the likelyhood of the basic placebo effect.
The science doesn't lie.
I see GM is now offering vehicles that will run on 85% ethanol (alcohol). So much for the big oil conspiracy theory. |
Garrett1998s1
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 02:36 pm: |
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Went to Mythbusters web site and this idea has been submitted alot. |
Jessicasdad
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 02:37 pm: |
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Blake .. not sure how my observations are anecdotal as you stated. I recorded my data using methods that I have had to in the past to capture data for the military, medical and IT upgrades and changes. Data was gathered, in this case MPG for a few tank fulls of gas. All purchased from a dedicated Chevron in the area that I live. Then I added the minimum ratio of acetone to each vehicle 3 ounces. Toyotas take a while for the computer to "learn" so data was gathered for 6 tank fulls of gas. The Suburban is not that sensitive so from the second tank of gas I recorded the changes. The Toy from the second tank of gas showed improvements, initially 1 - 2 miles but the increase was not consistent. After the fifth tank the results evened out and we repeatable each and every tank full. The Suburban has a 40 gallon tank, and the MPG gains were seen after the second tank full and have been consistent after the 3rd tank. All of this has been gathered after months of trial and error I increased the ratio in both vehicles to 4 ounces. This made a minor change to the Suburban and no change to the Toyota after 2 tank fulls of gas in each vehicle. So now, I run 12 ounces in the Suburban per tank full and 5 ounces in the Toyota.
To each their own .. I have seen nothing but improvements in using acetone and will continue to do so. |
Blake
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 02:37 pm: |
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Mike,
As to your first question regarding the web site...
It is extremely unreliable from what I can see.
Any report that begins with a statement like \indent {This article about ... probably draws conclusions that Big Oil and the American Car Manufacturers and others do NOT want you to know} should not be relied upon for factual information.
Or claims like the following:
quote:Using the ScanGauge at 50MPH, my best mileage was 48-52 in my Neon a few weeks ago. Then I stopped the acetone to do some reverse testing. The next four tanks of the same Texaco gas showed 42-43, 37-38, 33-34, 30-31. No acetone when each tank was filled at half-full. The drop was about 20 MPG overall. Recent tests at a steady 50 MPH show 61-63 MPG in the Neon. People report OVER 62 MPG in Toyota Prius vehicles with a tiny bit of acetone in the gas. The other person with me each time wrote down the results.
Warning! Crackpot ahead!  |
Blake
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006 - 03:19 pm: |
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Bill (Jessicasdad),
I meant anecdotal as meaning not adhering to the rigors of scientific method or statistical analysis. I appreciate your experience and good intentions. I wonder if you might be neglecting to account for some of the factors that can influence the fuel mileage that you recorded.
Operating a vehicle and recording odometer mileage and fuel consumption as reported by the odometer and fuel pump fails to eliminate a number of factors that can significantly affect the type of fuel efficiency observations like you have recorded. For instance, did you take into account and be sure to eliminate the effects of variable factors like:
atmospheric pressure,
humidity,
ambient temperature,
driving conditions,
road conditions,
traffic,
rain,
wind,
tire pressure,
engine state of tune,
engine operating temperature,
engine oil viscosity (yes it can varies over time, often decreasing with oil use),
air filter integrity,
engine oil condition,
route,
terrain,
payload,
consistency of operation,
changes in fuel formulation,
fuel tank refill level,
fuel pump error,
accuracy of odometer,
effect of tire wear,
and on and on and on, not to mention the statistical variance problem, meaning that a small sample of data points having a significant variance is far too insignificant to be statistically meaningful. That sure was a mouthful. 
You assume a reason for statistical variance in your initial observations, explaining away a contradiction to your desired conclusion. Bad scientist!  The scientific method does not allow such off-handed explanations.
Scientifically speaking, it is simply impossible to arrive at any kind of valid conclusion based on the type of limited data you collected and with the very slight change in fuel mileage that you have documented.
Does that make any sense?
I'm not wanting to be insulting or come across as a knowitall jackass. The truth is that very few folks and not all engineers understand what is required to justify/support a valid scientifically based conclusion.
I was baptized in the rigors of scientific method, testing and statistical analysis as a young structural analyst managing and reporting on the structural testing of aircraft component structure and materials. When it comes to ensuring and verifying the structural integrity of aircraft, all conclusions must be absolutely 100% supported by sound scientific method and statistical analysis. So I am a major NERD-GEEK when it comes to testing and any conclusions drawn thereof.
(Message edited by blake on February 22, 2006) |
Sooner
| | Posted on Sunday, February 26, 2006 - 02:19 am: |
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Hey Blake, fellas,
I just purchased a new Dodge 1500 ram pick up truck. After doing some research on the acetone subject, I did some personal trials myself.
I found that the first tankful, I gained two mpg extra. BUTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
After that, my mpg actually decreased by three mpg!!!
I did this for a month. I talked to a very qualified (Read Nascar) mechanic friend of mine, and this is his opinion on my situation.
Many of the newer, fuel injectors have a sprayed on coating on their tips which help to create the appropriate inner diameter of the nozzle tip, in order to have the proper amount of atomization, or dispersion into the cylindar, or venturi system.
After the acetone (also used in paint thinner) does its work on these systems, it changes the inner diameter of the injector tip, thus increasing the size of the fuel droplet, and decreasing the rate of burn, and dispersion into the atmosphere of the cylindar.
Any way, I tried it, and found that it didn't work for my particular vehicle.
I am not about to try in in my tuber tank.
Just my two cents, for what it's worth. |
Blake
| | Posted on Sunday, February 26, 2006 - 02:55 am: |
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Interesting for sure, but please see post above. Not sure acetone is any more effective a solvent than some of the more volatile components of pump gasoline. I don't know. I darn near flunked chemistry. |
Panic
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 10:49 pm: |
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Blake's analysis of other contributing factors is excellent. Even the road surface temperature and texture will affect mileage.
Let me add that statistics can be compiled without the ability to vet and evaluate these factors, but the number of miles (or vehicles, or both) would be multiplied by a factor of at least 100 to get reliable results.
It doesn't work. |
Lowflyer
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 11:01 pm: |
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Acetone is used to dilute nitro-glycerine in the making of smokeless gunpowder. It will soak through your skin and give you a headache like you have never had before.
It does not affect gas mileage any more than leaving the tailgate on your pickup down will. |
Interceptor
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 11:05 pm: |
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We can make diesel bikes and run 'em on vegetable oil! The exhaust will have a real nice french fry smell.
http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2006/01/28/royal-enfield-biodiesel-motorcycle/ |
Blake
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 11:19 pm: |
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That Panic fella is all right! |
Reepicheep
| | Posted on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 10:51 am: |
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I'm sure others saw it, but Mythbusters did a nice set of dyno tests for the "acetone in the gas" myth, as well as the magnetic gimmicks and magic carbs.
I won't ruin it for people that may not have seen the episode yet, let's just say the results were not suprising. |
Lowflyer
| | Posted on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 12:26 pm: |
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I saw it, but I have serious doubts that the collusionists and conspiracy theorists will believe that the show was not somehow influenced by "Big Oil" and "Big Automaker."
I was glad when they finally did the tailgate mileage show too. However, I still see people driving around with their tailgates lowered presumably for better fuel mileage in their late model pick-ups.
I guess I shouldn't judge, though. I lift my feet when going over bumps to make myself lighter. It's easier on the suspension and makes shocks last longer. |
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