here is a thread I came across today

http://www.hondaaccordforum.com/foru...ad.php?t=23285

 

I'm scared.... should I laugh, or should I cower in fear?

 

Naphthalene used to be used in mothballs in the early 1900's. Those mothballs would increase octane in the fuel, but mothballs today don't contain naphthalene IFAIK.

google mothballs octane for more info...

 

Keeps the moths away from your car though...

 

so how exactly do you know this? Hot rodding in your old Pinto I assume?

 

He used to use 'em in his Model-T.

 

a 97 Accord with flowmaster('s)

 

 

I like old automotive wives tales... some of them are true... or based on some level of truth... like the mothballs.

Most people know that coke can be used to remove rust... but did you know that you can use aluminum foil (the shiney side) to remove rust from a chrome bumper ?? Cars don't have chrome bumpers anymore, but I'll remember that one...

I've seen people use comet and kerosene to clean tree sap off a car that had been sitting for years... a tad bit abrasive ( ) on the paint, but it got the tree sap off... This was for old single stage paint... not base/clear coat stuff used today.

 

I do it often

I also refuse to believe in 5cyl engines.

 

Back on topic... If you can find some vintage mothballs from before WWII, they'll probably increase the octane in your gas...

 

So does octane boost...

 

There was actually a short article someone wrote in January 2009 Car and Driver magazine about a "recipe" he's been using involving mothballs, WD-40, and I think fuel treatment, in his CR-V for years and has been getting 5 more mpg and I think he claimed 5-10% HP increase. Mentioned dissolving the mothballs in a mixture of the WD40 and Fuel treatment and then using a strainer to pour the mixture into the car a couple days later.

 

Moth balls now usually have 100% p-dichlorobenzene but you can still buy old fashioned moth balls that are made of naphthalene.



If you wanna stick it in your gas tank go right ahead and tell us how it goes

 

You learn something new everyday.

 

Well there is no real reason that stuff like this wont work, the only problem is WD40 is like $25 a gallon, so if you take 25 gallons of gas at $2.00 and add a gallon of WD40, your gas mileage is going to have to go up by a whole lot more than 5mpg or you are losing money.

Not only that but the tolerances in your car are built for a specific expansion rate and flame wave, messing with that is generally bad.

 

Didnt mythbusters test this?