Mythbuster morons?
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: St. Peter
Mythbuster morons?
"Will adding mothballs to the fuel tank increase the horsepower?
Plausible
The engine still started, but it soon started spluttering. When Jamie pressed the accelerator, the engine sounded more powerful."
I was doing some research and came across the above statement in wikopedia under the TV show Mythbusters. I thought this show had some sort of science to it. But i couldnt believe this one. They are determining that it is plausible the engine is more powerful after adding mothballs to the gas because it sounds more powerful?
There were other ones too. Like "If a piece of metal is put in the carb of an engine will it ruin the engine" I think they declared that one busted because they put a penny in the carb and it just rattled around and didnt do damage.
Plausible
The engine still started, but it soon started spluttering. When Jamie pressed the accelerator, the engine sounded more powerful."
I was doing some research and came across the above statement in wikopedia under the TV show Mythbusters. I thought this show had some sort of science to it. But i couldnt believe this one. They are determining that it is plausible the engine is more powerful after adding mothballs to the gas because it sounds more powerful?
There were other ones too. Like "If a piece of metal is put in the carb of an engine will it ruin the engine" I think they declared that one busted because they put a penny in the carb and it just rattled around and didnt do damage.
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Joined: Oct 2006
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If anyone asks my brother-in-law about a piece of metal going down a carb and wonders if it will cause any damage, he will tell you $21,000 dollars of damage. You see he had a party on the 4th of July and was showing off his cars. He was working on a '66 Jag XKE vintage racer and had the air box off to do some carb work. Lots of friends came through to look at his car collection and lots of their kids too. Well to make this short, someone decided to help in the repair by placing washers in the air box. Mostlikely one of the little guests. Needless to say he found the washers will going around the track. The washers made it all the way into the engine, twice!! You see after the first time he never checked to see how a washer made it into his engine and repeated the experience again. He then checked everything and found more washers in the air box.
So I guess it just depends what size the piece of metal is. I did not see that program, but I can only imagine what they used. Something like a man hole cover would fit them, but it is entertaining.
So I guess it just depends what size the piece of metal is. I did not see that program, but I can only imagine what they used. Something like a man hole cover would fit them, but it is entertaining.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2003
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From: Sunny tourist infested FL
I only watch it for the redhead, Karrie, I think her name is....
Of course, I'm not too interested in her name.
Of course, I'm not too interested in her name.
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Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: So Cal
I have read that in the old days, like pre and post WWII, they used to put mothballs in the gas to cause the fuel mix to detonate and rattle the carbon in the cylinders loose. Once the carbon was gone the engine would run better. That was in the days of engines with something like 6 to 1 compression. In a modern engine, I bet you could create some damage.
I have a motorcycle that I was working on a few years back. My then toddlers thought it was cool and stuffed the loose nuts and bolts into the cylinders for me since I had conveniently removed the carbs. I still have the kids and bike, but it was mighty close. This was probably my karma for "helping" out a fellow mechanic when I was about 4 years old. There was a cool old late 50s caddy in the parking lot of our complex. You know the caddy with the fuel spout inside the tail light... I helped fill up his tank with "gas" from our garden hose. What goes around....dang.
Jim Henderson
I have a motorcycle that I was working on a few years back. My then toddlers thought it was cool and stuffed the loose nuts and bolts into the cylinders for me since I had conveniently removed the carbs. I still have the kids and bike, but it was mighty close. This was probably my karma for "helping" out a fellow mechanic when I was about 4 years old. There was a cool old late 50s caddy in the parking lot of our complex. You know the caddy with the fuel spout inside the tail light... I helped fill up his tank with "gas" from our garden hose. What goes around....dang.
Jim Henderson
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Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Calgary, Canada
Originally Posted by wildcard30
I only watch it for the redhead, Karrie, I think her name is....
Of course, I'm not too interested in her name.
Of course, I'm not too interested in her name.
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