i heard somewhere that if you mix gas with mothballs, and then throw the mixture in the tank and use it, it'll perform betteR? what do you guys think>?

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70 Plymouth Valiant 4dr

This rumour dates back to the early 20th century. Don't do it; you won't get improved performance, just ruined engine parts.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

It's an early fuel system cleaner. A healthy engine won't need it, and it will not improve performance unless something's wrong. However, take a look at what's in STP's fuel system cleaner.. You'll notice that other than a small amount of trimethylbenzene, it's just mothballs disolved in kerosene. I'm not sure what that proves, though - it could mean the mothballs work, or it could mean that STP's fuel cleaner should be avoided.

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"Mad Scientist" Matt Cramer
'66 Dart - turbocharged 225
My blog - Mad Scientist Matt's Lair

I know naptha in gas usually kills the octane (knock resistance).

D/W

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If it ain't broke, fix it!

Exactly right, and that's how/why mothballs in the gas are damaging to the engine. Mothballs are napthalene.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Goody! Do I win a prize??!

D/W

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If it ain't broke, fix it!

The new 'rage' today is acetone, just a capful for a small tank is supposed to improve mileage. Does it work, you say? I wouldn't know.

Same BS. It doesn't help you in any way, and it runs the risk of serious (expensive) vehicle damage. Don't do it.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I heard that a shot of tequilla in the gas will cure all that ails an old car...

D/W

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If it ain't broke, fix it!

True. And a big mug of hot apple cider with rum cures the common cold. The cold doesn't go away, but you quit caring that you have it!

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I knew Dan wouldn't like it, the acetone that is

20 years ago a rich college roommate from South America assured me that it was standard practice there to add mothballs to the fuel; he claimed it was required for high compression/high performace there, but didn't know the chemistry.

If you want to experiment, be aware that mothballs are typically either naphthalene or para-dichlorobenzene. The former is actually found in some gas mixtures and a little is probably innoculous; the latter is probably not a good idea unless you really want (rather reactive) chlorine for some reason - perhaps to scavenge some sort of metal based free radical initiator?

Modern reformulated gasolines (RFG) have lots of interesting chemicals in them already, and the blends change with the season and the local. If you try it, please let us know how it works.

i read awhile back on this board about a member who crashed his car into a tree after the powersteering went out. he was going to try and seee how the long the six would run without oil and water. the next time somebody tries to kill a six, i thinnk we should make a list of test to run on it.

first would be mothball in gas, but that's just my opinion

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70 Plymouth Valiant 4dr

They have already tried this myth on Mythbusters. Results were inconclusive.

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82 D150-225/727
02 Dakota-3.9/5 speed
87 GMC C7000-8.2 Detroit Diesel/5+2

yeah! mythbusters! that's where i heard about it, but i forgot it was from the show.

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70 Plymouth Valiant 4dr