Actually naphthalene (mothballs) is nothing more than a hydrocarbon, like gasoline, so using some in your engine shouldn't hurt anything.

Naphthalene was used 'back in the day' to help both improve gas mileage and to increase the octane rating of some low octane fuel. But I remember reading long ago that the maximum "blend ratio" of naphthalene was something like '90', meaning that no matter how much you used you would never get a treated octane rating of anything higher than 90 octane.

Another problem I heard from some 'real old timers' is that if you used too many "mothballs" it could lead to carbon deposits. I think they said a safe ratio of naphthalene was around 1 mothball for every 3 gallons of fuel (or something like that).

You also have to be careful because not all 'mothballs' are made of naphthalene, and many contain paradichlorobenzene which could harm your engine.. BTW, I have no idea if I spelled that word correctly, but like the old saying goes;

""It's a damn poor mind that can only think of one way to spell a word."

--Andrew Jackson

Bottom line is that with todays higher octane fuel it would probably be cheaper to just purchase 90+ octane fuel than mess around with adding naphthalene (even if it does work).

 

I have used mothballs you were supposed to get the same reaction as naptha it would slow the burn down
higher compreation it helped old timers in my area would do it
i never noticed much
i would not use now with 02 sensors

 

Here's what the U.S. Department of Energy has to say about it:
http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasc.../chem00485.htm

 

I would say that like so many of these things, so many people have tried so many different things to be able to save some money, and somehow I would think that if they worked we would not be hear discussing where someone else ever heard of them.

I these things really worked we'd all already be doing them.

at leasts that's my .02

 

I've got 4 moths stuck on the screen door right now and I don't see ***** on any of 'em..
No boobies either..

I'm gonna hold off on attempting this.

 

and that is that.... does not look like it's worth the time or possible trouble.

 

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Hehe! If you got a moth ball in each hand...hold on...thats one big freakin moth!

 

The hardest part is getting there little legs apart......

In reality I agree with what has been posted. It did little to nothing. You want some octane boost? Mix in some toluene. Its cheap, and a proven octane enhancer. Just go to a good paint shop or hardware store. Do not spill it. It eats paint!