DIY Homemade Fuel Additive

A fuel additive is recommended for increasing the mileage of an automobile and improving its environmental performance. Fuel additives have the ability to bind to the ingredients of common fuels and increase their performance. This means that the fuel is processed more comprehensively, resulting in more mileage, lesser fumes and decreased residues in the engine’s internal chambers. Commercial fuel additives like octane boosters are available at gas stations and automobile supplies stores. However, these can be quite expensive. An alternative lies in creating your own fuel additive. This can be easily done by procuring some supplies and using the following information.

Step 1—Getting Started: Basic Precautions & Procuring Supplies

Chemicals involved in preparing the fuel additive are very potent and can easily burn the skin. Prepare yourself with a pair of rubber gloves. You can also wear a safety mask. Keep soap and water at a handy distance to wash-off skin harmed due to accidental spillage. Ensure that you purchase the supplies from a reputed hardware or automobile spare parts store.

You need to buy a high-quality, synthetic 2-cycle oil. This oil is easily available since it is also used in common items like the lawnmower. This oil is helpful for increasing the lubrication of engine. You need to purchase xylene and acetone. These are easily available at the paint section of hardware stores since they are an integral part of most paint-thinning formulations. Xylene is commonly used in commercial, gasoline fuel additives for increasing the stability of fuel additive. Acetone is helpful for better cleansing of engine and increases breakdown of the fuel at the cellular level.

Step 2—Mixing Fuel Additive Ingredients

You need to mix the acetone, xylene and cycle oil in a ratio of 2:1:1. It is best to use a clean plastic bucket for the mixing. Use a funnel for pouring the ingredients. To make the measuring process easier, use a dry, plastic, drink bottle that has the volume printed on it. You can get started with 500 ml bottles. To attain the required ratio, fill the bottle once with xylene pour it into the bucket. Similarly, fill the bottle once with cycle oil and pour it into the bucket. Now, fill the bottle twice with acetone and add it to the bucket. Mix the ingredients using a plastic spatula or mixing paddle. The resulting mixture is your fuel additive.

Step 3—Adding Fuel Additive

As a basic and safe approximation, you should use 3 ounces of the booster mix for every 10 gallons of gas. Using lesser amount of fuel additive will only dilute the fuel without boosting the car’s performance. You have to pour the homemade fuel additive into the fuel tank. It is recommended to add the fuel additive when the fuel is almost exhausted, i.e. on a nearly empty fuel tank. Use a funnel and plastic bottle for pouring the fuel additive. Now, re-fuel the car. Instead of immediately driving the car, let it idle for a few minutes, i.e. keep the engine running without driving the car.

Step 4—Fuel Additive Usage Care

The period immediately following the first-ever use of a fuel additive in the car puts forth a small expense. This is in the form of a fuel filter change. The filter gets repeatedly covered with sludge during the initial period during the initialrun, as the fuel additive coats the fuel tank, gradually removing the impurities. However, fuel filters aren't very expensive and are easily available.