Which Mothballs In Fuel Brand Wins?
This head-to-head test of 2 mothballs in fuel options has the measured results for each. See how they ranked and watch the full test video.
Mothballs (original formula, naphthalene)
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The measured results
Every number below is read straight from the test. Products are listed in the order they finished.
All measurements (7 more)+
Engine run test (16 oz gasoline plus dissolved mothballs)
- 1Mothballs (original formula, naphthalene)
the engine stalled and would not restart; looking inside the carburetor showed a lot of white mothball material clogging it
- 2B12 Chemtoolnot tested
Performance claim (urban legend that mothballs boost octane)
- 1Mothballs (original formula, naphthalene)
did not improve performance, in fact caused a significant issue with the way the engine ran
- 2B12 Chemtoolnot tested
Carbon buildup inspection
- 1Mothballs (original formula, naphthalene)
quite interesting carbon buildup deposits observed on the intake valve area and just above the piston; exhaust valve looked very clean by comparison
- 2B12 Chemtoolnot tested
Compression test
- 1Mothballs (original formula, naphthalene)
chapters list a before-mothballs baseline reading of 109 PSI, but no after-mothballs PSI figure is ever spoken in the transcript
- 2B12 Chemtoolnot tested
Carburetor cleanup (sprayed into fuel tank, about 80 percent acetone ratio through the engine)
- 2B12 Chemtool
did a terrific job dissolving the mothball buildup inside the carburetor
- 1Mothballs (original formula, naphthalene)not tested
Combustion chamber cleanup
- 2B12 Chemtool
softened up the buildup inside the combustion chamber, making it very soft and easy to wipe off, though some buildup still remained
- 1Mothballs (original formula, naphthalene)not tested
Engine recovery
- 2B12 Chemtool
got the engine running normally again after the mothball fuel was drained and fresh fuel added
- 1Mothballs (original formula, naphthalene)not tested
How it was tested
- engine run test with mothballs dissolved in gasoline
- carburetor and combustion chamber visual inspection for buildup and damage
- compression test (before mothballs baseline of 109 PSI per chapter title, no after figure ever spoken)
- B12 Chemtool remedial cleaning test after mothball damage
“this mothball did not improve performance. In fact, it seems to have caused a significant issue with the way this engine runs.”
Data notes and caveats
Myth-test debunking the urban legend that mothballs in fuel boost octane or performance; mothballs instead clogged the carburetor and stalled the engine, with no head-to-head competing brand ranking. B12 Chemtool appears only as a secondary remedial cleaning product used afterward, not as a tested subject of the original myth. The chapter titled 109 PSI (Before Mothballs) implies a compression test was performed, but no after-mothballs PSI value is ever spoken or otherwise captured in the transcript; logged to data/onscreen-only.txt.
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