Way of improving diesel efficiency - petrol too?

[pingu]

http://technology.newscientist.com/article/dn14833-fuel-thinner-turns-diesel-cars-into-greener-machines.html?DCMP=ILC-hmts&nsref=news4_head_dn14833

...eckons that this can improve diesel efficiency.

I seem to remember someone advocating adding acetone to petrol to improve fuel efficiency and I was very skeptical but maybe it does work after all - maybe in a similar way?

[632 Regal]

i dont believe it, anytime fuel costs are high gadgets come out of the woodwork. 19% mileage gains are HUGE!

[Dave M]

Oh boy, the same theory of decreasing surface tension / inceasing surface area is being recycled in the great search for $$. Lots of information on the subject of acetone out there. I 'had' to try it on a 7,000km trip and found NO improvement.

Just a few mintes of surfing found these:

1 (http://www.snopes.com/autos/techno/acetone.asp)

2 (http://forums.macosxhints.com/archive/index.php/t-45638.html)

3 (http://www.physicsforums.com/archive/index.php/t-195647.html)

4 (http://neubranderinc.com/blog/category/technology/acetone/)

5 (http://www.hammeruncut.com/does-acetone-increase-fuel-mileage/)

6 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=van5VmJ1yno)



From Mythbusters:

Great Gas Conspiracy
Myth: Automakers and fuel suppliers are in collusion to keep us dependent on expensive gasoline and inefficient cars. There are many devices that one can use to cut your fuel consumption.

They got a carbureted car and a fuel-injected car to test several types of devices. The cars were placed on a dynamometer, which allows the car to drive without moving anywhere.

Test devices and additives:

Fuel line magnets: working on the "principles of hydrodynamics," they are supposed to align the molecules for more efficient consumption.
Acetone additive: supposed to make gasoline burn more efficiently
300mpg 'super' carburetor
Hydrogen fuel cell generator: flammable hydrogen gas produced by electrolysis. Adam labeled it "Gasbuster: Stickin' it to the Man"
They tested each car on the dynamometer at 35mph and 55mph with each 'device.'

Carburetor car:

Baseline: 17mpg at 35mph and 25mpg at 55mph
Magnets: exactly the same as baseline busted
Acetone: 16.7mpg at 35mph and 24mpg at 55mph busted
Super carb: much worse than baseline, 12mpg at 35mph and 17.7mpg at 55mph busted
Fuel-injected car

Baseline: 19mpg at 35mph and 27mpg at 55mph
Magnets: 18mpg at 35mph and 26mpg at 55mph busted
Acetone: 18mpg at 35mph and 26mpg at 55mph busted

Dave

[whiskychaser]

I am very sceptical. But the inventor seems to have decent credentials for once :

http://www.temple.edu/newsroom/2008_2009/09/stories/taofueldevice.htm

[Tiger]

Even I am interested... I got a MB diesel too.

[mikell]

Don't forget the Turbonator!!