View Full Version : Old school octane boost?


d_backer1
08-20-2005, 05:42 PM
My uncle is an old school hot rodder, built and run some nice rides. Any way he tells me that a cheap way to boost octane is to use, belive it or not Moth Balls. I was wondering :wtf: He says you put them in your fuel cell and add gas. He never had problems with his fuel filter or injectors. Anyone else hear this and if so what possible problems could arise. Any info would be appreciated :cssNET:

Voodoosoup
08-20-2005, 06:45 PM
see this....
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/autos/gasoline-faq/part3/preamble.html

6.20 Can mothballs increase octane?

The legend of mothballs as an octane enhancer arose well before WWII when
naphthalene was used as the active ingredient. Today, the majority of
mothballs use para-dichlorobenzene in place of naphthalene, so choose
carefully if you wish to experiment :-). There have been some concerns about
the toxicity of para-dichlorobenzene, and naphthalene mothballs have again
become popular. In the 1920s, typical gasoline octane ratings were 40-60
[11], and during the 1930s and 40s, the ratings increased by approximately 20
units as alkyl leads and improved refining processes became widespread [12].

Naphthalene has a blending motor octane number of 90 [52], so the addition of
a significant amount of mothballs could increase the octane, and they were
soluble in gasoline. The amount usually required to appreciably increase the
octane also had some adverse effects. The most obvious was due to the high
melting point ( 80C ), when the fuel evaporated the naphthalene would
precipitate out, blocking jets and filters. With modern gasolines,
naphthalene is more likely to reduce the octane rating, and the amount
required for low octane fuels will also create operational and emissions
problems.

d_backer1
08-20-2005, 07:36 PM
Thanks for the help. I never planned on putting anything that I had never seen results of in my SS, and I don't plan on starting now. I'm sure this would void the warranty :( wich would really suck :lol: Thanks again this sight is the most awesome and informative sight I've been on :cssNET: Used to be on j-body.org was ok when I had a cavi. Keep up the good work :bow: