Mothballs for octane boost
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 915
Likes: 2
From: Lima, OH -- 69 L71 427/435hp
Mothballs for octane boost
I learned something new today, you can put mothballs in your gas tank for an octane boost.
Anyone know more details about this?
Like how much octane does it add per moth ball?
Anyone know more details about this?
Like how much octane does it add per moth ball?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,527
Likes: 1
From: St. Petersburg, Fl///Columbus, Ohio
DON'T GIVE IT ANOTHER THOUGHT!!! you could melt your engine into an unrepairable paperweight!!!
Anything is possible with proper jetting but mothballs????
Last edited by jcswm; Jun 8, 2007 at 09:00 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,881
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From: staten island ny
Many years ago my Dad had an argument with a neighbor over parking. Pop was real **** about parking in front of the house with his Caddy and one weekend a neighbor left his ratty old Pinto in front of the house for a weekend. The "Impeachment with Honor" (Nixon) bumper sticker even made Dad more crazy. My Dad went beserk and at night started pouring mothballs in the tank. I kept telling him that if the Pinto wouldnt start because of the mothballs it would be stuck in front of the house forever but he didnt care. Anyway come Monday morning Dad and the neighbor go at it in front of the house. Mom woke me up to seperate them and the neighbor started up that Pinto and left. I swear that Pinto never ran better. My father was even more pissed than before.
ESU
ESU
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 2
From: North NJ
Many years ago my Dad had an argument with a neighbor over parking. Pop was real **** about parking in front of the house with his Caddy and one weekend a neighbor left his ratty old Pinto in front of the house for a weekend. The "Impeachment with Honor" (Nixon) bumper sticker even made Dad more crazy. My Dad went beserk and at night started pouring mothballs in the tank. I kept telling him that if the Pinto wouldnt start because of the mothballs it would be stuck in front of the house forever but he didnt care. Anyway come Monday morning Dad and the neighbor go at it in front of the house. Mom woke me up to seperate them and the neighbor started up that Pinto and left. I swear that Pinto never ran better. My father was even more pissed than before.
ESU
ESU
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Carbondale Pa.
Peace,,,Moosie 
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Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 206
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From: Bardstown Ky
moth ***** to enhance octane is a very, very old-school practice from back in leaded-gas days.
there are two different types: ones made with napthalene, and ones made with paradichlorobenzene.
racing gas is primarily formulated with naptha and benzene, thus, that's how it works.
I wouldn't recommend trying it in an engine of today's technology, especially when there are additives and octane boosters readily available over-the-counter, properly formulated, and not a "witch's brew".
.. and to add one:
"have you ever smelled moth ***** ?"
"no, but I bet they like it !"
there are two different types: ones made with napthalene, and ones made with paradichlorobenzene.
racing gas is primarily formulated with naptha and benzene, thus, that's how it works.
I wouldn't recommend trying it in an engine of today's technology, especially when there are additives and octane boosters readily available over-the-counter, properly formulated, and not a "witch's brew".
.. and to add one:
"have you ever smelled moth ***** ?"
"no, but I bet they like it !"
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 924
Likes: 2
From: Kearneysville West Virginia
Old time trick that works. I used it 40 years ago when I was running a flat head Hudson Hornet. The ***** must be made of napthalene. I don't remember how many ***** to the gallon, but seems to me I use to dump in half a box per tank full. I would do a little research first before I started using this trick. Modern cars may not like it too much. Bottom line is, it is an aromatic hydrocarbon and will boost octane.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 915
Likes: 2
From: Lima, OH -- 69 L71 427/435hp
Let me clarify my OP:
I did not plan on trying this, I was just curious for more details behind this, as I never heard about it...I heard it from some old timers and thought it was interesting.
Thanks, that's pretty much what I was looking for. 
I did not plan on trying this, I was just curious for more details behind this, as I never heard about it...I heard it from some old timers and thought it was interesting.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 207
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From: raleigh N.C.
my grandfather said they used it when he was stationed in Alaska
to make gas engines function with low grade kerosene or diesel fuel,
otherwise the stuff would barely run. I'm sure it does something
to make gas engines function with low grade kerosene or diesel fuel,
otherwise the stuff would barely run. I'm sure it does something
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2000
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Kansas City Area Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11,'13
If there were some magical performance-enhancing mothball, don't you think Exxon and Mobil would be selling it to us as an expensive gasoline additive i.e. "Mobil 1 Super Duper... Now with Mothballs!" There are several different types of mothballs on the market, none of which do ANYTHING to improve the performance of gasoline. They WILL burn, so you will get some power out of them. But since mothballs are more expensive than gasoline, this is not a very economical.
Naphthalene (C10H8) is a hydrocarbon, similar to gasoline. Since it's just carbon and hydrogen (like gasoline) naphthalene probably wouldn't do any harm to the engine.
BUT…another type of mothball which COULD potentially hurt things is made of dichlorobenzene. Since it throws chlorine into the mix, it can produce HCl as a byproduct when burned. HCl is hydrochloric acid, the stuff that burns through almost anything it touches. Pumping HCl through your engine and exhaust system is probably not very good for its longevity. Plus the fumes from the exhaust could be toxic
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 293
Likes: 1
From: Pace Florida
Damn thats a funny story. I can just see that old pinto.....
The wars used to start in front of my house after you shoveled the snow out of your parking space and someone else took it while you ran to the grocery store!
The wars used to start in front of my house after you shoveled the snow out of your parking space and someone else took it while you ran to the grocery store!
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,593
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From: Southern Indiana
Just last summer I ran 2oz of naptha in 10 gl of gas and I noticed an increase in gas milage by a couple of MPG.
When I stopped I saw a decline in MPG.
This was in a 86 Chevy 4X4 with a 79 carbarated 350 engine.
It straitens out the molicules in gas and it burns slower so it takes less gas per mile to burn.
I put in exactly 10 gallons of gas and only drove to work which is minutes from home, and got 3 days more driving on the gas than without the naptha.
I tried this 3Xs and the second and third times was the same and better than the first, and when I stopped usuing naptha, I lost the 3 extra days.
When I stopped I saw a decline in MPG.
This was in a 86 Chevy 4X4 with a 79 carbarated 350 engine.
It straitens out the molicules in gas and it burns slower so it takes less gas per mile to burn.
I put in exactly 10 gallons of gas and only drove to work which is minutes from home, and got 3 days more driving on the gas than without the naptha.
I tried this 3Xs and the second and third times was the same and better than the first, and when I stopped usuing naptha, I lost the 3 extra days.