If you have a car and plan to put acetone in the tank, you probably want to pass the emissions test. Some people claim that acetone works by cutting emissions in half. However, you may wonder whether such a claim is justified. So you may ask:
If you put acetone in a gas tank, what really happens?It is not true that acetone halves emissions. What really happens is that acetone can damage your engine by causing corrosion. Additionally, putting some in your gas tank can lead to poor engine performance. It can also affect the rubbers in your vehicle over time.
Acetone is a substance used as a paint thinner and nail polish remover. So it can cause corrosion in your engine if you put some on. While it can remove rust from your engine, it can also affect the internal structure in the long run. So it's not a good idea to go ahead with your plan to put some acetone in your gas tank.
In this article we show you all possible effects of acetone in your gas tank and your engine. This way you will be aware of all the risks and drawbacks and know how to deal with them if it ever happens to you.
Without further ado, let's get into it!
Table of contents
What happens when you put acetone in your gas tank?
Putting acetone in your gas tank puts the overall health and performance of the engine at risk. The thing about acetone is that it has a high tendency to corrode and it can cause too much flame burn.
Another thing to note is that acetone doesn't do much to affect an engine's performance. It is therefore not a good idea to do something in your aquarium with all the associated disadvantages.
Aside from its minimal impact, acetone is also highly corrosive. So if you put some in your gas tank often, your engine will deteriorate and wear out.
Acetone should not damage the rubber by melting it. In the long run, however, it can cause degradation.
For all of these reasons, it's best not to use acetone at all and put it in your gas tank. It will not improve your engine's performance and may even affect your engine's health.
Can I use acetone to clean the gas tank?
The short answer is yes. You can use acetone to clean your gas tank. However, it is not a good idea to do this.
Since acetone is more of a paint thinner and nail polish remover, it has a very corrosive property. So it can also deal with the rust formation in your petrol tank. So if you put a gallon of acetone in your tank it may be enough to shake off the rust.
However, you should be aware that while it can help you deal with rust, it can cause other problems to your engine.
For example, if the acetone mixes with the fuel, it can lead to corrosion and fuel combustion.
Since acetone burns more than fuel, it seems to increase efficiency. However, that is not the case.
The acetone would cause inefficient combustion. What's more, it can even corrode any rubber in your engine that it touches. So while it's not true that acetone melts rubber, it can still break down.
Will acetone clean fuel injectors?
Acetone cleans fuel injectors and even valves, and that's because of its solvent properties. However, it is only necessary if the engine is running on low quality oil or fuel. It also works for an engine that has not been properly tuned for a while.
If you have an engine that runs on good quality petroleum products, you will not necessarily reap its benefits.
The point is that while acetone would clean your fuel injector due to its solvent properties, it can attack the internal structure of your engine by causing corrosion.
For this reason, it is best not to use acetone and simply take your engine to an auto specialist for better cleaning.
How much acetone do I put in my gas?
If you plan on putting acetone in your gas tank or mixing it with your fuel, you should first understand the risks. However, if you still want to go ahead, you can mix about 2 to 5 ounces of acetone for every 10 gallons of fuel.
It's a safe ratio to follow to protect your engine from damage. The amount of acetone should be enough to clean both your fuel injector and your valves.
Still, we recommend that you stop using acetone as it can wear out your engine in the long run.
Can Acetone Damage Your Engine?
As mentioned earlier, acetone can damage your engine by causing corrosion and making your engine perform poorly.
While putting in acetone might seem promising for any user, it's not a good idea because of its corrosive properties.
Car manufacturers disapprove of it and warn users against using acetone as it can cause wear and tear on the internal structure and also cause the deterioration of the rubber in your engine.
If you think it will help your engine, it won't give you much performance improvement. Furthermore, it can even cause your engine to wear out in the long run.
Acetone in the gas tank to pass on emissions - How does it work?
Some people claim that adding acetone to the gas tank is ideal for users to pass the emissions test for their car or any other vehicle.
Some claims state that 1.5 to 3 ounces of acetone for every 10 gallons of fuel can have the following benefits:
- Reduce your engine's emissions by half
- Improve the performance of your engine
- Improve your gas mileage
However, it is not a valid claim and there is no supporting evidence to prove it. Additionally, while acetone can work well in cleaning your engine by removing rust, it can also cause corrosion in the long run.
Furthermore, it can also cause the rubber materials of your car to degrade with regular use. So while the acetone won't melt your rubbers, it can still affect them in the long run.
For this reason, you may want to consider other things and tips for passing emissions testing for your engine.
Resume
What happens when you put acetone in a gas tank? It is not true that acetone halves emissions. What really happens is that acetone can damage your engine by causing corrosion. Additionally, putting some in your gas tank can lead to poor engine performance. It can also affect the rubbers in your vehicle over time.
Acetone is a substance used as a paint thinner and nail polish remover. So it can cause corrosion in your engine if you put some on. While it can remove rust from your engine, it can also affect the internal structure in the long run. So it's not a good idea to go ahead with your plan to put some acetone in your gas tank.
As always, take as a rule of thumb not to use acetone in your gas tank for any purpose. This way you can prevent any problem and maintain the health of your engine for long periods of time.
Related:
- Sea foam in a gas tank
- Mothballs in a gas tank
- Kerosene in a gas tank
- Cement in a gas tank
- Alcohol in a petrol tank
Sources
Image Credits - Canva
FAQs
Acetone in a Gas Tank: What REALLY Happens?! (explained)? ›
The higher the flame speed is, the lower the tendency of knock occurs and, in turn, better performance obtained. One hypothesis of acetone as a fuel, as explained above, is that its droplet slows down the evaporation but speeds up the combustion of gasoline vapor to allow for a more complete combustion.
What happens when you put acetone in a gas tank? ›“Don't put acetone in your gas tank.” While the acetone is in your fuel system, he says, “it'll be eagerly dissolving all of your rubber components … like gaskets and O-rings.”
Is acetone good for cleaning fuel injectors? ›This can be a problem if it is not done correctly. For example, soaking fuel injectors in a potent cleaner like acetone poses risksOpens a new window. Using an ultrasonic jewelry cleaning tank is suspect as well. If you do remove your fuel injectors, keep in mind that the o-rings and seals should not dry out.
Does acetone clean diesel injectors? ›The Importance of Cleaning Diesel Injectors
Those who have some mechanical skill can pull the injectors themselves, dissasemble them, and clean the parts in an acetone bath and wire brushes. You have to be careful using this approach, as it's easy to damage the parts of tips.
POWERFUL: Acetone is a strong cleaning solvent; one which cuts through grease, waxes, resins and other residuals that can clog machinery or molds. Acetone breaks down these residuals, making clean-up of machinery and molds quick and simple.
What does acetone do to an engine? ›But adding too much acetone to gasoline will speed up the flame burning too much, and adding too little will not influence, or speed up a little, the fuel burning.
What damage does acetone do? ›Breathing moderate to high amounts of acetone for a short amount of time can irritate your nose, throat, lungs and eyes. It can also cause headaches, dizziness, confusion, a faster pulse, nausea, vomiting, effects on the blood, passing out and possible coma, and a shorter menstrual cycle in women.
What is the best product to use to clean fuel injectors? ›Gumout High Mileage Fuel Injector Cleaner is designed to unclog the fuel injectors, intake valves and ports in vehicles with 75,000 or more miles. It's recommended to use every 3,000 miles and won't void the warranty. It's safe for turbocharged and supercharged vehicles and is also oxygen sensor safe.
Will acetone clean a catalytic converter? ›With 175,000 miles, I don't begrudge this wonderful car a repair once in a while, though so far it hasn't needed too many. lacquer thinner is mostly acetone, and it will NOT clean your converter because it will never reach your converter. It will burn completely in the engine.
How does a mechanic clean fuel injectors? ›This involves attaching a special cleaning device to the fuel injectors and then running the engine. Mechanical cleaners are usually more expensive than chemical cleaners, but they're also more effective. The most effective way to clean fuel injectors is with an ultrasonic cleaner.
What happens when you mix diesel and acetone? ›
A tiny bit of acetone in diesel fuel can stop the black smoke when the rack is all the way at full throttle. You will notice that the exhaust soot will be greatly reduced. Acetone can reduce hydrocarbon emissions up to 60-percent.
Can you mix acetone with diesel? ›This means that acetone can be considered an effective additive for lowering the sooting tendency. Further study by Burshaid and Hamdan (2013) on soot formation for diesel fuel in a heated shock tube confirmed that acetone successfully reduced the sooting propensity of diesel fuel.
Where should you not use acetone? ›Acetone is highly flammable, so it should never be used near a flame or heat source. It can irritate the lungs and mucus membranes, so it should always be used with good ventilation, and it can dry or crack your skin, so wear gloves while handling it.
What are the long term effects of acetone? ›Health Risks
Breathing in large amounts of acetone can cause health problems like: Nose, throat, eye, and lung irritation. Sore throat. Cough.
When the Styrofoam dissolves in acetone, the air in the foam is released. That's when the cup seems to disappear. Dissolving polystyrene foam product in acetone is a jaw-dropping demonstration of the solubility of this plastic in an organic solvent.
What will hydrogen peroxide do to an engine? ›Besides outright blowing up the entire vehicle, hydrogen peroxide is also corrosive. It can corrode parts of your engine, leading to other malfunctions. That is why we're sure you are curious to try this, but it is best if you don't.
Can you use acetone to clean engine? ›The easiest way to degrease parts is to soak or clean them in a strong degreasing agent that will break down and wash away build up without causing damage to your tools or mechanical parts. Acetone is a great degreasing agent that is strong, easily handled with minimal safety gear, and cost effective.
Can you use acetone to clean engine block? ›Related Products. Acetone will work “pretty well” for cleaning oily engine parts. Using something like mineral spirits (paint thinner) works a little better and has some advantages over acetone. Mineral spirits are “same-same” for cleaning hydrocarbon gunk - oil and grease - from metal parts.
What are 2 hazards of acetone? ›Breathing or swallowing high amounts of acetone over a short period of time can cause headaches, confusion, nausea, racing pulse, changes in the size and amount of blood cells, unconsciousness (passing out), or coma. Breathing a moderate to high amount of acetone can also cause nose, throat, lung, and eye irritation.
What does acetone react dangerously with? ›Conditions to Avoid: Open flames, sparks, static discharge, heat and other ignition sources. Prolonged exposure to sunlight. Incompatible Materials: Reacts violently with: oxidizing agents (e.g. peroxides), organic acids (e.g. acetic acid), strong reducing agents (e.g. hydrides).
Is acetone an explosive? ›
ICSC 0087 - ACETONE. Highly flammable. Vapour/air mixtures are explosive. Heating will cause rise in pressure with risk of bursting.
Is seafoam the best fuel injector cleaner? ›1. Best Fuel Injector Cleaner for Smoother Idling—Sea Foam IC5 Fuel Injector Cleaner. Sea Foam's fuel injection cleaner filters through to clean out the whole system and boost fuel efficiency, but it also gives a little lubrication to upper cylinders.
What is the best fuel additive for old gasoline? ›Star Tron's Enzyme Fuel Treatment is the top pick because it is specially formulated to eliminate and prevent ethanol fuel problems. The enzyme technology helps break down water and sludge and prevent phase separation. It works well as a fuel additive for regular use and will stabilize gasoline for up to two years.
Is seafoam good for your car? ›Sea Foam helps to clear the vehicle's fuel injectors and carburetor passageways of this harmful residue. It also cleans the car's intake valves and lubricates the engine's upper cylinders. Overall, it can extend the life of your car's fuel system and help the vehicle run more smoothly.
What's the best thing for a clogged catalytic converter? ›- CataClean Fuel Cleaner 16.7oz. ...
- Rislone Cat Complete Fuel, Exhaust and Emissions System Cleaner 16.9oz. ...
- CRC Guaranteed To Pass Fuel System Cleaner 12oz. ...
- Chevron Techron Fuel System Cleaner 12oz. ...
- Gumout Regane Complete Fuel System Cleaner 12oz. ...
- STP Ultra 5-IN-1 Fuel System Cleaner 12oz.
The process developed by the U.S. Bureau of Mines takes advantage of the unique properties of cyanide to selectively dissolve platinum-group metals from automobile catalytic converters and recover a metal concentrate. Cyanide is a traditional industrial chemical used in the recovery of gold and silver.
Is gasoline and acetone flammable? ›Flammable: A liquid with a flash point under 100°F is considered flammable. Examples: gasoline, acetone, toluene, diethyl ether, alcohols. Hazard: May produce ignitable vapors at normal ambient temperatures.
Can you use acetone as octane booster? ›Yes, you can add acetone to your gas to increase octane.
What is more flammable gasoline or acetone? ›Flash point examples
These goods can ignite at any temperature. PETROL: Petrol has a flash point of -43°C, a great deal of care must be taken when storing. ACETONE: Acetone has a very low flash point at -20°C. Above this temperature, it can take just 2.5% of acetone in the air to cause an explosion.
– Acetylene, vinyl-acetylene, allene, & acetaldehyde identified as the reformate constituents that most strongly accelerate gasoline auto-ignition.
What causes acetone to catch fire? ›
Acetone, commonly known as nail polish remover, is also highly flammable. Combustible liquids, like nail polish remover, don't actually catch fire themselves. Rather, the vapors they give off are flammable. Nail polish remover should not be used near open flames, outlets or any other place where sparks can occur.
At what temperature does acetone spontaneously combust? ›It auto-ignites at 465 °C (869 °F). Auto-ignition temperature is depends upon experimental conditions, such as exposure time, and thus can be quoted as high as 535 °C. The flame temperature of pure acetone is 1980 °C.
Is there a real octane booster? ›Lucas Octane Booster is a genuine performance enhancer! It has been tested and proven to deliver at least three times more BOOST than most other brands. It is suitable for use in fuel injected, carbureted, throttle body and rotary engines. It's safe for turbos, oxygen sensors, and catalytic converters.
Is isopropyl alcohol a good fuel additive? ›Isopropanol is said to be no more corrosive to rubber and other polymer parts of the fuel system than ethanol. It is less aggressive than methanol. Because it's also a better cleaner than ethanol or methanol, it removes many deposits in a fuel system.
What is the octane of acetone? ›Acetone 110 octane value and wet methanol 113 octane value.
Can acetone cause an explosion? ›Acetone may explode when mixed with NITROSYL PERCHLORATE; and CHLOROFORM or BROMOFORM in the presence of a BASE. Acetone reacts with OXIDIZING AGENTS (such as PERCHLORATES, PEROXIDES, PERMANGANATES, CHLORATES, NITRATES, CHLORINE, BROMINE and FLUORINE); ACETIC ACID; and NITRIC ACID to form explosive peroxides.
What is the most flammable gas ever? ›Chlorine trifluoride is the most flammable gas
By all scientific accounts, chlorine trifluoride has been proven to be the most flammable of all the chemical gases. It's deceptively colourless, extremely reactive, and capable of burning through concrete and gravel.
What can you do? Drive the car at high speeds for a few miles. Try to get to 2500-3000 RPMs. This way, the exhaust system heat will burn off the catalytic converter deposits and unclog the converter.