Mothballs / Napthalene / WD40

[SVOboy]

2-3 mpg isn't exactly insignificant. And even if they came from the same place, we'd be using a little bit more of those things and a lot less gas. Plus, it's not just about being cheap with some of us, I realize this is the US (hog all the money you can for yourself land), but some things are worth money even if you don't get it back.

[diamondlarry]

find it hilarious that people are adding expensive chemicals to "improve fuel economy". That $2.49, 16 oz. can of WD 40 costs the same as a gallon of gasoline to gain perhaps 1% more miles to your tankfull. It would ge better to spend the same $2.49 on a gallon of gas, and get 10% more miles per tankfull!

Since you only use a few ounces/10 gallons and gain a few mpg it IS cost effective.

[Sludgy]

In in terms of overall energy usage, additives like actone and WD40 do not add "efficiency" to a properly tuned engine. They simply burn and add some BTUs, just as would an equivalent weight of gasoline.

2-3 MPG IS significant, as you point out. I'd love to get that much more in my F350 diesel.

I could get more miles per gallon of diesel with a propane injection system. But the amount of BTUs I used (counting both the propane and the diesel) would be the same. Diesel provides about 139,000 BTU/gallon. Propane provides 91,000 BTU/gallon. Adding propane decreases the amount of diesel I would burn, and improve the diesel "MPG", but the total energy would be the same. (And the cost would be much more, since propane costs more than diesel.)

In order to really determine whether a true improvement in energy usage has occurred with any additive, you have to add the heat of combustion of that additive to the heat contained in a the gallon of gas. For acetone:

The heat of combustion of acetone is 427.92kcal/gram-mole, or 9.3 kcal/g.
The heat of combustion of napthalene is 1231.8 kcal/g-mole, or 9.62 kcal/g.
The heat of combustion of 2,2,4 trimethylpentane ("octane" gasoline)is 1303.9/gram-mole, or 11.5 kcal/g.

So, adding a few ounces of acetone or napthalene per gallon simply adds fuel energy just like adding some octane gasoline. The trouble is, acetone and napthalene are more exepensive than octane.

[diamondlarry]

So, adding a few ounces of acetone or napthalene per gallon simply adds fuel energy just like adding some octane gasoline. The trouble is, acetone and napthalene are more exepensive than octane.

This is why it is important to keep track of the costs involved when using additives. I have seen people report that adding $.30-.50 worth of additives is saving them several dollars worth of fuel. So if using $.50 saves a gallon or two of gas it is worth it. I see what you are saying about just adding energy to the gas but additives can save money.

[lovemysan]

Originally Posted by theclencher

how did the ethos do?

I was wondering the same. Apparently not as well as getting a prius.

[JanGeo]

A friend of mine did the math on a Prius and figured that getting a hybrid for the extra money was not worth it - cheeper to just buy gas for a non-hybrid car and you can get a lot of gas for the extra $$ that the Prius will cost you.

3 oz of acetone cost me 32 cents and if I get 1 mpg more per 10 gallons then it saves me 1/4 of a gallon or 2.50/4 - 3.00/4 or about 62-70 cents. I think I get more than a mile per gallon with the acetone.

[Jim Dunlop]

The acetone/MMO mix isn't expensive given the amounts I use. Acetone is $7 for 32 oz. and the MMO is $3. I think the chief benefit is keeping the injectors clean long term.

For the record, Naphtha and Naphthalene are two different substances. Part of the confusion comes into play because Naphtha is not one chemical compound but a boiling point range in the refining process. Naphthalene is a solid.

I used to work in a QA lab at an aerosol company and tested incoming samples of both Naphtha and WD-40 base concentrate. I wouldn't put WD-40 in my gas tank. The base oil appears to have paraffins (wax) in it.

[ZugyNA]

Originally Posted by Jim Dunlop

The acetone/MMO mix isn't expensive given the amounts I use. Acetone is $7 for 32 oz. and the MMO is $3. I think the chief benefit is keeping the injectors clean long term.

You can buy a gallon of 100% acetone for around $12-13....128 oz.

[Jim Dunlop]

WHERE?!?!?

[kickflipjr]

home depot