dburt
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A few months ago a friend sent me info on a website that talked about the benefits, advantages, and "be carefuls" regarding Acetone as a diesel fuel additive for better MPG. (Sorry, I don't remember exactly what the website address is, I think it was a scholarly/government type site) At the time I was working at my old Ford/Dodge dealership, so I quizzed our top diesel mechanics about this idea. Our most senior old timer said he had known about it for many years, and said the idea was sound, and should work. The premise behind it is this: the Acetone supposedly breaks the molecular bonding of the fuel which results in better atomization of the fuel mixture, you don't run as much raw fuel into the cylinders, and what you do run into the cylinders mixes better with the air resulting in more power, and less overall fuel used. The website said it worked best to add two ounces to 10 gallons of diesel, and average increase of mileage was anywhere from 15%-35%. Our old time mechanic said at that 2 ounces/10 gallons ratio, you would not due any damage to anything in the new diesel pickups. I drive an '07 Dodge 1-ton DRW 4X4 6.7 Cummins w/auto OD trans, so thought I would try it. My mileage, empty or loaded, for 6 tanks of fuel that I tested with, went up by 2-3 mpg. I keep very good records on such things as fuel mileage, etc so I always hand calculate my mileage, and fuel up my truck myself so I know when it is full or "topped off". (I don't rely on the "average MPG" overhead lie-o-meter for accurage readings!) I told a good friend who is an over the road trucker about it. This being when diesel was $4 per gallon, he thought he would try it in his truck. Loaded he averaged 4.9MPG before trying it, and when he started adding Acetone, it went to 6.9MPG average. So he still does it, and with many road miles over the last 6 months or so, has reported no problems associated with it. I have not driven my deuce enough over the road to fully test it for mileage yet, but I am wondering if anyone else has tried this, and what were the results? I am a very pessimistic sceptic about most inventions and gizmos to help increase your fuel mileage, but the adding of Acetone to the diesel seemed to work. Recently the TV program "Mythbusters" tested the idea of adding Acetone to gas, and did not see any improvement. What do you all think??