Mothballs in Fuel tank

UpChuck · Aug 8th, 2002, 02:27 AM

OK, one of my friends claims that putting mothballs in your gas tank is like using racing fuel. And I thought i was retarded. He says it is like a 10 octane increase or something like that. He has never done it (he drives a POS Ford that we like to call the "HELL-RANGER" ) that thing chatters like a bunch of squirrels.
Has anybody ever heard of this? I told him he was crazy, I just need someone else to back me up.

sentrastud · Aug 8th, 2002, 02:31 AM

the joke would be seriously on you if you tried it!!!

-Nick

Aug 8th, 2002, 02:43 AM

You could do it with some kinds, but there's no point

http://cartalk.cars.com/Columns/Arch...bruary/09.html

SentraDragon · Aug 14th, 2002, 01:39 PM

Yeeah of course mothballs in the tank. Add sugar too and it gives you an extra 25 hp

Just kidding, dont put anything in your tank except for fuel

PatScottAKA99XE · Aug 16th, 2002, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SentraDragon
Yeeah of course mothballs in the tank. Add sugar too and it gives you an extra 25 hp

Just kidding, dont put anything in your tank except for fuel

Funny you mention sugar. A couple of months ago at work I had to clean an entire fuel system and replace a fuel pump due to a pissed off ex-girlfriend with a bag of sugar. Hehe, it was a Civic too. I hated to fix it, but thats what I get paid for.

UpChuck · Aug 21st, 2002, 01:04 AM

It sounded pretty retarded to me. Thats funny about the ex GF and the sugar in the civic.

OPIUM · Aug 21st, 2002, 03:10 AM

My gas tank is filled with hopes and dreams

SentraRacer97 · Aug 21st, 2002, 03:40 AM

My gas tank is the cause of my "brokeness" and my lack of cash every day.

bahearn · Aug 21st, 2002, 11:55 AM

The major constituent of mothballs is naphthalene, a bicyclic aromatic hydrocarbon. It has a pump octane of about 95.

Back in the '30s when a high-grade gasoline had an octane of 70, mothballs were a great way to allow the founding fathers of hot-rodders to up their compression ratio from the common 6:1.

Considering you can buy 91 octane anywhere and 95 in some places, mothballs are not the hot ticket for fuel improvement. Aromatics are not clean burning and leave soot in the combustion chamber. Not to mention mothballs are not pure naphthalene; who knows what kind of crap will not dissolve and thus stay in your gas tank.

UpChuck · Aug 22nd, 2002, 01:19 AM

So maybe he is not totally retarded. Just living 70 years in the past.

OPIUM · Aug 22nd, 2002, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bahearn
who knows what kind of crap will not dissolve and thus stay in your gas tank.

Rocks and Baby Turtles that look like rocks WILL NOT dissolve in your gas tank.

Niss200SXGTR · Aug 22nd, 2002, 12:53 PM

lol!. the only thing put in my gas tank is the good ol' fashion 87 octane gasoline.. with NOS booster.. lol

SuperblkStalion · Aug 25th, 2002, 08:16 PM

so the end result is some stuff will dissolve and riun your gas lines?

jr

nitestridar · Aug 25th, 2002, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Niss200SXGTR
lol!. the only thing put in my gas tank is the good ol' fashion 87 octane gasoline.. with NOS booster.. lol

yea thats stuff is good but it has got a little expensive....
i thinnk i pay about $12,00 for it over here

bahearn · Aug 26th, 2002, 11:44 AM

Quote:

so the end result is some stuff will dissolve and riun(sic) your gas lines?

Some stuff won't dissolve and leave sludge to foul the fuel filter in the tank. Maybe. Find out yourself. Get a mothball, drop into a bucket of gasoline and see if it dissolves completely. Then, waste your money on a tank of 91-octane and leave the mothballs in the closet.