acetone in gas?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,168
Likes: 523
Back in the early 2000s, it was rumored to increase octane as well
I have to assume that was BS because E85 exploded as cheap race fuel and the price of acetone was like $12 a gallon
Bro out here literally citing YouTube as a source tho, lmao
I have to assume that was BS because E85 exploded as cheap race fuel and the price of acetone was like $12 a gallon
Bro out here literally citing YouTube as a source tho, lmao
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,013
Likes: 726
So i'll tell you it works great for removing paint but for what your asking i can't help you there. Give it a try and get back with a conclusion.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,956
Likes: 135
From: Maryland
Tried it >15 years ago in my POS B2200 (computer controlled carb). Did nothing.
Also built a browns gas generator. Didn't do anything either, except suck up a ton of current from the alternator. It did generate a combustible gas maybe just not the quantity required to overcome the alternator load or maybe the computer controlled carb / O2 sensor couldn't compensate.
Also built a browns gas generator. Didn't do anything either, except suck up a ton of current from the alternator. It did generate a combustible gas maybe just not the quantity required to overcome the alternator load or maybe the computer controlled carb / O2 sensor couldn't compensate.
Last edited by Rx7Rob; Apr 5, 2026 at 08:00 AM.
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Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2024
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,864
Likes: 4,667
As others have said, NO!! It will increase octane IF you use enough of it. Why do you need race gas, or higher octane than the pump offers? It will also strip paint, and not nearly enough of it required to strip paint as to boost octane. Spill some on your paint, and you could buy a lot of high octane fuel for the cost of paint repair....
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,568
Likes: 1,104
From: Ex DPRK, now just N of Medford, OR
Toluene is sometimes used to up the octane... Some of the100 UL reeks of it.
It's expensive and exposure is unhealthy.
Better ways to increase octane, if that's the goal.
It's expensive and exposure is unhealthy.
Better ways to increase octane, if that's the goal.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2024
Posts: 17
Likes: 2
As others have said, NO!! It will increase octane IF you use enough of it. Why do you need race gas, or higher octane than the pump offers? It will also strip paint, and not nearly enough of it required to strip paint as to boost octane. Spill some on your paint, and you could buy a lot of high octane fuel for the cost of paint repair....
I will post results good or bad
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,168
Likes: 523
This myth surfaces every time fuel prices rise
It's a waste of money. If acetone was a good fuel additive we would have been utilizing it for decades, and it would be common knowledge- just like it's common knowledge that higher compression and advanced timing improve economy
You didn't stumble on some secret that Big Oil doesn't want you to know and has been suppressing from the common folk. You stumbled on a 25yr old urban legend that gained notoriety because the internet got popular. This is like the original car guy clickbait topic, honestly
What exactly is acetone gonna "clean" that gasoline isn't? Gasoline is already a solvent. Explain like I'm 5...
How is acetone going to improve economy? It's not more energy dense than gasoline (about 35% less, actually), it doesn't break down into oxygen under pressure- so you're not gonna make more power on it, it evaporates faster than gasoline, and it's expensive
So again, explain like I'm 5 what the alleged benefit is
Realistically you'd gain more from water injection, but if you're going that far- just squirt meth and call it a day
It's a waste of money. If acetone was a good fuel additive we would have been utilizing it for decades, and it would be common knowledge- just like it's common knowledge that higher compression and advanced timing improve economy
You didn't stumble on some secret that Big Oil doesn't want you to know and has been suppressing from the common folk. You stumbled on a 25yr old urban legend that gained notoriety because the internet got popular. This is like the original car guy clickbait topic, honestly
What exactly is acetone gonna "clean" that gasoline isn't? Gasoline is already a solvent. Explain like I'm 5...
How is acetone going to improve economy? It's not more energy dense than gasoline (about 35% less, actually), it doesn't break down into oxygen under pressure- so you're not gonna make more power on it, it evaporates faster than gasoline, and it's expensive
So again, explain like I'm 5 what the alleged benefit is
Realistically you'd gain more from water injection, but if you're going that far- just squirt meth and call it a day
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,864
Likes: 4,667
...Last edited by grinder11; Apr 6, 2026 at 10:54 AM.
Melting Slicks
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