My neighbor swore by putting a bar of soap in his gas tank to 'clean the engine'

Old Mr. Gable across the street told me he's been dropping a half bar of Ivory soap into his truck's gas tank every oil change for 25 years and swears it runs smoother. I actually tried it on my 2004 Civic after he dared me, and the check engine light came on 5 miles later after a tow truck bill of $180. Has anyone else heard this soap trick or did I just get pranked by a 70 year old?

2 comments

2 Comments

wilson.claire9d ago

...and that reminds me of my buddy Dave who put mothballs in his gas tank because he heard it would boost octane. His whole neighborhood smelled like a grandma's closet for a week. The check engine light never came on but his catalytic converter started making this weird chirping noise. He had to drain the whole tank and replace the fuel filter twice before the smell finally went away.

miawalker9d ago

Read somewhere that mothballs can mess with oxygen sensors not just catalytic converters @wilson.claire.