I must have visited several hundred web sites looking into this subject . . . and damn near every site points to the sites -PESWiki.com and/or lubedev.com - as the source for it's information. Apparently Louis LaPointe decided about 50 years ago to make it his crusade to promote acetone - it's his graph and mix ratio that everyone uses.
There is no official study done by any group with any creditials - just ole Louis LaPointe. The only site that I found with anything worthwhile on the subject of testing is this one:
Acetone in Semi
And they again quote the aging Louis LaPointe.
To save some of you some time reading - here are some of those nagging questions answered:
What is the mix ratio?
1 to 3 oz per 10 gals, but nobody knows for sure.
Does it work?
Nobody knows.
Will it hurt my motor?
Nobody knows.
Will it eat the rubber and/or plastic parts in my fuel system?
Nobody knows. Keep in mind though that the mix is 1 to 3 oz per 10 gals. So it is highly diluted.
If it's highly diluted - how could it work?
Most all "additives" are highly diluted. How much commercial "diesel" additive are you using now? Most likely about the same as 1 to 3 oz per 10 gals.
Why do some report small gains using acetone?
Acetone is used as a metal cleaner - it most likely cleans your injectors/carb which in turn gives better mileage.
For more reading on the subject - grab a couple six packs, carton of smokes and Google - Acetone In Fuel
Ron