Mothballs in a Gas Tank: What REALLY Happens?! (Explained)

If you’ve been reading about octane boosters, you probably came across mothballs and why some people use such things as an alternative for octane boosters. If you’re wondering why it’s so, it’s because the naphthalene offers a temporary power and octane boost. Still, you may wonder if it’s safe. Thus, you may ask:

If you put mothballs in a gas tank, what really happens? If you put mothballs in a gas tank, you can have a temporary power and octane boost to your car. Still, your engine can have corrosion due to such a thing if you put it regularly. In short, mothballs may offer a good promise, but they will take a toll on your car in the long run.

Mothballs are truly promising since it’s way cheaper than your typical octane booster for your car. However, while it does provide an alternative, it’s not something you can consider safe. If you prolong its use and do it regularly, it can take a toll on your car.

In this article, we’ll walk you through all the risks and effects of mothballs in a gas tank. This way, you can understand how it affects your engine and what you can do about it.

Without further ado, let’s get into it!

Table of Contents

What happens if you put mothballs into a gas tank?

The mothballs that we have today offer a temporary octane and power boost to any car. Thus, they might consider this an excellent option for someone looking for an alternative to an expensive octane booster.

However, it would be best if you kept in mind that the affordability of such can be deceiving. The use of mothballs as an alternative to octane boosters can take a toll on your engine.

For instance, these things are aromatics distilled from coal or petroleum. If you add such to gasoline, the mothballs can cause the flame in the combustion chamber to spread.

As a result, it will give a slower burning process, creating a weaker and altered performance to your car.

In short, a mothball might give your car some temporary power. However, it won’t be a good one.

While it may offer a boost in octane and a providence in the engine for more power, it has some adverse effects.

For instance, mothballs are quite corrosive things. So if you put mothballs regularly, you can have the upper-cylinder area prone to corrosion. In short, the area where the combustion occurs would lead to corrosion, resulting in damage in the long run.

In general, you can consider these long and short-term effects.

Short term effects

Since it is made of naphthalene, the mothballs can offer an octane boost and temporary power to your car.

For instance, these things are aromatics distilled from coal or petroleum. If you add such to gasoline, the mothballs can cause the flame in the combustion chamber to spread.

As a result, it will give a slower burning process, creating a weaker and altered performance to your car.

In short, a mothball might give your car some temporary power. However, it won’t be a good one. A mothball might be cheaper, but the performance it can offer is only temporary, and it won’t do your car any good in the long run.

Long term effects

As mentioned earlier, mothballs are highly corrosive due to naphthalene. Since it will usually enter the combustion chambers, it’s the spot prone to corrosion.

If you put mothballs regularly, you can have the upper-cylinder area prone to corrosion. In short, the area where the combustion takes place would wear down, resulting in damage in the long run.

In general, your best bet would be to get more octane to your engine. Then, you can mix regular leaded gas with a premium unleaded.

Or, you can also alternate the gas you use for your tank. This way, you can make sure your engine stays safe and that you won’t have to use mothballs.

Can mothballs in a gas tank damage an engine?

Yes, mothballs in a gas tank can damage an engine. If you put mothballs in the gas tank, the entire system will be prone to corrosion due to the naphthalene found in mothballs.

Because of the naphthalene, mothballs are highly corrosive. In addition, because it generally enters the combustion chambers, this is the area most prone to corrosion.

If you use mothballs frequently, the upper-cylinder region might corrode. In other words, the region where the combustion occurs would wear down, causing long-term harm.

How many mothballs in a gas tank will ruin it?

Most people use a single mothball for every four or five gallons of fuel. However, it’s not a matter of how many. It’s a matter of how long and how frequently you use mothballs as an alternative for octane boosters.

Due to the extreme naphthalene in mothballs, these things are highly corrosive. Since it generally enters the combustion chambers, this is the area where corrosion is most likely to occur.

If you use mothballs regularly, you risk corrosion on the top cylinder region. In other words, the region where combustion occurs would wear down, causing long-term harm.

Can you tell if someone put mothballs in your gas tank?

Yes, you can tell if someone put mothballs in your gas tank. If someone does such a thing, the mothballs will get mixed with the gasoline. As the engine starts and the fuel starts burning, the mothballs can cause inefficient combustion.

This flawed combustion process creates a lot of black or dark smoke on your car. Thus, if you run your engine and start producing black smoke, you may want to switch it off and have it checked.

Another thing that can happen is that the mothball would block the engine if left unburnt. This thing would create residues that can clog up your engine. As a result, it will stall your engine, eventually damaging it.

If you think someone put mothballs in your gas tank, it would be best to shut it down and have it checked soon to avoid issues.

How to get the mothballs out of a gas tank?

A few pieces of mothballs in a gas tank shouldn’t be enough to cause problems. However, if you start having problems with such, it would be best to take it out.

Still, most gas filler necks usually have a filter that catches up with such items. Of course, to be sure, you may want to drain the gas tank and remove the mothballs.

The first step is to turn off the engine and drain the gas tank. Later on, you’ll have to replace the gasoline filter after removing the mothballs.

It’s excellent if your gas tank has a gas cap or an entry from the trunk’s top. You’re allowed to peep inside if that’s the case. Some vehicles have it hidden behind the rear seat.

Summary

So, if you put mothballs in a gas tank, what really happens? If you put mothballs in a gas tank, you can have a temporary power and octane boost to your car. Still, your engine can have corrosion due to such a thing if you put it regularly. In short, mothballs may offer a good promise, but they will take a toll on your car in the long run.

As a general rule of thumb, avoid using mothballs and putting such in your gas tank as much as possible. This way, you can avoid any issues in your car and other damage to the engine due to such.

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