Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site rayssd.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!rayssd!mpc From: mpc@rayssd.UUCP (Manny P. Costa) Newsgroups: net.auto Subject: Re: Of Octane and Mothballs and such... Message-ID: <1096@rayssd.UUCP> Date: Thu, 26-Sep-85 16:53:59 EDT Article-I.D.: rayssd.1096 Posted: Thu Sep 26 16:53:59 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 27-Sep-85 07:51:17 EDT References: <762@fisher.UUCP> Sender: mpc@rayssd.UUCP (Manny P. Costa @ Raytheon Co., Portsmouth RI) Distribution: net Organization: Raytheon Co., Portsmouth RI Lines: 38 === REFERENCED ARTICLE =================================== > About mothballs: ( No flames from chemists on minor points please...) > > Seems that gas is basically just a mixture of carbon chains (in essence at > least), the longer the average chain, the higher the effective octane > rating. Also seems that some mothballs (there seem to be two kinds, I do > no suggest getting the wrong one!) are 100% (in fact lab grade, although > not USP) naphthalene(sp?). Seems that naphthalene is a very long carbon > chain, and that it dissolves fairly quickly ( ~ten minutes or less) in > gas. I have had several chemically oriented Ivy League types consider > possible bad side effects, and they all admit that naphthalene should > burn completely at combustion chamber temps, and that it is very, very > stable stuff, sufficiently so that it will not react and form any nasty > compounds in my engine. > > This all boils down to saying that adding 3 real moth balls per gallon > to my tank will make my car run on leaded regular (89), which means that > it is bringing the octane up to ~92 or so. ========================================================== I'll be honest and admit right up front that I have never personally tried to do the following, but several "motor heads" that I knew in high school swore that this was true: If you really hate someone and want to ruin the engine of their car, pour a box of mothballs into his gas tank. They said it worked better than pouring sugar into the gas tank. Okay all you "motor heads"/chemists, is this true, or will you merely boost this guy's engine performance? Thanks, Manny Costa Raytheon Submarine Signal Division PO Box 360 Portsmouth, RI 02871