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From: larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Re: Of Octane and Mothballs and such...
Message-ID: <496@kitty.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 14-Oct-85 00:13:45 EDT
Article-I.D.: kitty.496
Posted: Mon Oct 14 00:13:45 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 17-Oct-85 01:39:56 EDT
References: <762@fisher.UUCP> <1096@rayssd.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, NY
Lines: 52

> > 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?

	Enough, already!  Napthalene is neither a long-chain hydrocarbon (it
is an aromatic hydrocarbon consisting of two benzene rings), nor is it useful
as a motor fuel additive.  The combustion properties of napthalene are quite
different from that of gasoline, and if anything, napthalene will not undergo
complete combustion and will likely leave carbon deposits resulting in engine
damage.
	I have a theory as to how this napthalene rumor got started:  There is
a chemical called ``decahydronapthalene'' which is also called ``napthalane''
(note different spelling!).  This material exists as a liquid and has chemical
properties which are quite DIFFERENT from that of napthalene.  This material
IS USED as a motor fuel additive; I believe it's primary function is that of a
lubricant.
	I would suggest that no one seriously consider adding mothballs to
their gasoline...

===  Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, New York        ===
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