The Effect of Mothballs in a Gas Tank
by Clare EdwardsA long-running urban legend holds that putting a few mothballs in the gas tank of your car every time you fill it up will improve the mileage and performance.
The Story
The "mothballs in your gas tank" legend has been going so long that it has several variants. Sometimes mothballs alone are recommended, sometimes mothballs and another additive, such as alcohol. A recent version starred a pill made from mothball ingredients, according to the Science Show website.
Expert Insight
Chemists and car experts alike roundly dismiss the mothball story. At best, according to NPR's Car Talk radio show, some mothballs (the kind made from naphthalene) could raise the octane of your fuel slightly but with no significant effect on performance.
Warning
Not only do naphthalene mothballs do nothing for performance, claim scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy, but too many of them could cause a buildup of carbon deposits in your engine. Other varieties could produce hydrochloric acid, which could permanently damage your car.
References
Writer Bio
Clare Edwards has been providing Internet content since 1998. She has written and translated for a variety of markets: everything from technical articles to short fiction and essays on alternative spirituality. She holds a certificate of higher education in electronics and audio arts from Middlesex University.
