NAPTHTHALENE MOTHBALLS AS FUEL ADDITIVE

[BillyShope]

I'm just an ignorant ME who only got as far as organic, so I need some help from one of you Chem E's. Back in the forties, I heard that the addition of mothballs to gasoline would improve performance. Never tried it, but now I'm hearing that, yes, with the old naphthalene mothballs, it was true, but, now, it won't work. Okay, so what's in naphthalene that releases energy when oxidized. (See, I do remember a little of my chemistry.)

Oh, and please: No jokes about prying their little legs apart.

 

[crysta1c1ear]

C10H8 + 12 O2 = 10 CO2 + 4 H2O?

 

[ctmtwilliams]

I worked on the cleanup of a facility who manufacutred mothballs. The product (which they had made since the early 40's)was made from dichlorobenzene not naphthalene.

 

[swall]

This is really a stretch, but here goes. Leaded gasolines were formulated with scavenging compounds to help get rid of the lead residue from combustion. These scavenging agents were typically bromine (chemically a halogen, as is chlorine)compounds. It could be hypothesized that by adding a chlorinated benzene compound(mothballs), the lead scavenging would be enhanced and spark plugs would last longer, as well having less lead build up on valves.Performance wouldn't be improved but durability might be.

 

[evelrod]

Well , chem was VERY tough for me in high school and college so I won't bore you with my lack of knowledge about the reactive qualities of "mothballs" and leaded motor fuel. However, I am old enough to have lived in a time when we all tried every strange additive in search of better quarter mile times---mine was "mothballs" in my much modified flathead 49 Merc. in the early 50's. Did not do all (anything?) that "the guys" said it would. I hope that some of these "legends" will dissappear one of these days but, I could be wrong. I did everything from CD-2 and STP to Slick 50 but,---none of them are anywhere near what they are cracked up to be IMO.
It's easy to get wrapped up in all the hype. I had Slick 50 supplied me by Petrolane as late as the early 80's and I tried it "one more time" even though I knew better. No race engine I used it on was the better for it. I certainly hope that I am now beyond the age where I can be influenced by this type of hype but, "I could be wrong"!

Rod

 

[patprimmer]

Bromide lead scavengers are carefully balanced against the amount of lead in the fuel, so as to remove almost all of the lead. An excess of lead scavengers will also remove other metals, and is therefore highly undesirable.

A little bit of lead is preferable to erosion of the valve seat and bores and piston tops

Regards
pat pprimmer@acay.com.au
eng-tips, by professional engineers for professional engineers
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

 

[chrisman2]

a really good detailed article on gas or should i say fuel.. i think i remember napthalene getting mentioned and explaind..

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/autos/gasoline-faq/part1/preamble.html

automotive imagineer--making the stuff is the hard part- thinking of the stuff to make is the fun part..watching it work is the best part..chrisman2