mothballs - octane booster?

neb · 03-05-2005, 08:40 AM

did anyone else watch mythbusters last night where they were mixing different things into the fuel to see what it would do to an engine.

well one of they myths is that mothballs act as an octane booster. and when they put it in, it actually seemed to rev alot better... so anyone game to try it? hehe

bindi · 03-05-2005, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neb

did anyone else watch mythbusters last night where they were mixing different things into the fuel to see what it would do to an engine.

well one of they myths is that mothballs act as an octane booster. and when they put it in, it actually seemed to rev alot better... so anyone game to try it? hehe

I was out in the kitchen washing up after dinner and listening to Mythbusters... gee I think that show is fabulously entertaining!

No I'm not willing to try the mothballs lol

neb · 03-05-2005, 08:50 AM

Also another thing I found really interesting they jabbed a hole in the radiator. Then they cracked an egg and put it into the radiator (in with the coolant) and it actually stopped the leak!

Work Horse · 03-05-2005, 08:53 AM

He He I Love that show.
As for the moth balls LOL If they put real octane boost in that old V8 it would do very little.
I think the extra rpm had more to do with using rope on the carb linkage as opposed to the bit of wood they used first.

Work Horse · 03-05-2005, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neb

Also another thing I found really interesting they jabbed a hole in the radiator. Then they cracked an egg and put it into the radiator (in with the coolant) and it actually stopped the leak!

I think the level of water in the rad fell below the hole, so that is why it stopped not the egg.

Great tv though

deesun · 03-05-2005, 09:44 AM

Some of their experiments are very spectacular but the more I watched the more holes I found. Good TV though.

pauljh74 · 03-05-2005, 11:21 AM

They seemed to enjoyed watching the engine finally die when they replaced the oil with bleach

Kryton · 03-05-2005, 11:33 AM

yeah i seen that. for any of those tests they should have used seperate engines for each one. could have been the bleach even that cleaned it out enough to make the mothballs seem like it worked.
it is interesting though and if someone had an old spare engine that they could test the mothballs on properly to know for sure, or even what the end damage would be to it.
im sure a little bit wouldnt hurt in the long run but would probably be only better to clean the engine than to boost it.

heres a link to an interview with Jamie.
http://www.rcdriver.com/articles/hyneman_1.shtml

The MaDDeSTMaN · 03-05-2005, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neb

Also another thing I found really interesting they jabbed a hole in the radiator. Then they cracked an egg and put it into the radiator (in with the coolant) and it actually stopped the leak!

I remember seeing that done on TV on an Aussie show many years ago now, I can't remember which show - it could have been 'The leyland brothers', but I'm not sure - I do remember it was supposed to work and enable you to be able to drive to somewhere to get it fixed properly.

Still, I wouldn't want to try it myself.

PULLY6 · 03-05-2005, 11:55 AM

watched that show last night, funny as!

i thought it was heaps interesting that the sugar in the tank doesnt do anything - obviously a widely believed fact :P

03-05-2005, 12:26 PM

why does this topic not surprise me lol. Mythbusters. I was thinking last night i bet this ends up on ford forums.

But Naptha is a apart of fuel but too much will coke your engine. lol nasty carbon deposits. :p

so now everyone is going to go and buy a ton of moth balls lol

MITCHAY · 03-05-2005, 01:28 PM

I wouldnt recommend it lol. They didnt do any tests to check the octane level so you dont really know. Awesome show though. I love it when they blow up shit.

Kryton · 03-05-2005, 01:47 PM

i would have also liked them to strip the engine after they killed it, just to see what sort of damage was done by all the things they put in it. oh and the chew marks from the Penny as well.

blueoval · 03-05-2005, 01:51 PM

yeah I watched that show on digital thru foxtel last night also. Poor old engine, but strong to take such ridiculous punishment.

The scuba dude getting sucked up by a helicopter water pump was amusing too. That boat motor was incredible. But the theory was busted.

But yeah, like everyone said, very entertaining to watch.

**DJM83** · 03-05-2005, 01:53 PM

luvs that show the shit they stuck in that engine all though some worked i.e egg id also luv to see wat it oooked like inside aswell

Sterpz · 03-05-2005, 03:36 PM

I was watching myth busters last night and one of the things they did was to put moth balls into the petrol tank of a car which actualy made motor rev harder.

What side effects would this have on a car if you did this to it?

niko · 03-05-2005, 03:42 PM

would keep the moths out for sure

ahhaha

TRBOETR · 03-05-2005, 03:44 PM

There's already another thread about this...

niko · 03-05-2005, 03:52 PM

your right!

**Polyal** · 03-05-2005, 04:14 PM

If anyone has a paddock bomb, get down to safeway and get some Moth Balls! Report back asap..lol

I see the show now and then, its good for a laugh. What a job that would be! Although they are pretty cluey guys.

rodderz · 03-05-2005, 04:21 PM

I for one wouldnt try last weeks myth, which was that if you pee on an electric fence you'de cop a "pop"...lol

**Polyal** · 03-05-2005, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodderz

I for one wouldnt try last weeks myth, which was that if you pee on an electric fence you'de cop a "pop"...lol

haha they needed to test that? Of course it does! Ask my brother...hahaha ah thats a funny story.

neb · 03-05-2005, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davway

yeah i seen that. for any of those tests they should have used seperate engines for each one. could have been the bleach even that cleaned it out enough to make the mothballs seem like it worked.
it is interesting though and if someone had an old spare engine that they could test the mothballs on properly to know for sure, or even what the end damage would be to it.
im sure a little bit wouldnt hurt in the long run but would probably be only better to clean the engine than to boost it.

heres a link to an interview with Jamie.
http://www.rcdriver.com/articles/hyneman_1.shtml

thats a pretty good interview! thanks for that.. Jamie is a legend

rodderz · 03-05-2005, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sterpz

I was watching myth busters last night and one of the things they did was to put moth balls into the petrol tank of a car which actualy made motor rev harder.

What side effects would this have on a car if you did this to it?

I've merged your thread with the current one

_2:

martO · 03-05-2005, 08:57 PM

Is it just me or did anyone else notice the blue EB.

I swear to god there was blue EB falcon in the scene with traffic somewhere in the US. I might download the episode to re-check ...

Yaw · 03-05-2005, 09:31 PM

Guys,
What channel and time is this show on..its sounds great.
Another myth I have heard of for stopping leaking radiators is white pepper, dunno if it actually works.

But on the subject of moth balls, have you ever asked someone if they have smelt mothballs before? when they answer yes, ask how they do it, do they spread thier little legs apart and smell the underside of the moth?

martO · 03-05-2005, 10:03 PM

its on sbs on monday night 7.30. I dunno the cable times

and as for the moth ball joke ... ROFL that made me laugh haha !

Gammaboy · 03-05-2005, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martO

Is it just me or did anyone else notice the blue EB.

I swear to god there was blue EB falcon in the scene with traffic somewhere in the US. I might download the episode to re-check ...

Probably a Ford Contour, quite similar styling.

347Stroker · 05-05-2005, 09:07 PM

I do remember many years back hearing that moth balls in diesels made a difference....

The egg in the radiator does work too....have tested the theory, and soap on a leak in your fuel tank works well too, just rub it on the leak....goooone.

460cixy · 05-05-2005, 11:12 PM

egg and peper work great had a big hole in the rad or our cruiser from a fan blade comeing off on the way home from cape york. 2 days of puting in eggs and peper . drove all the way to gympye and drove around there for a month or so and never needed water