Does sugar really improve the effectiveness of gasoline?

Question

A friend of mine told me it does, though he has been known to make mistakes from time to time. But with soaring gas prices plaguing the nation, I'll take any advice.

Answer 1

Since sugar is NOT SOLUBLE in gasoline, it won't actually do anything but clog up your fuel filter, possibly damage your fuel pump, and might clog your injectors if it gets that far.

Here is the research that supports this:
(I quote Snopes.com)
"Sugar doesn't dissolve in gasoline, as a researcher at Berkeley confirmed in 1994. Forensics professor John Thornton labeled sucrose with radioactive carbon atoms and mixed it with gasoline, then spun the concoction in a centrifuge. After the undissolved particles were removed, the liquid's radiation level was measured to determine how much sucrose had become part of the gasoline. The answer was extremely little: the equivalent of less than a teaspoonful per 15-gallon tank of gas.

Because sugar doesn't dissolve in automotive fuel, it doesn't carmelize, and so it does not turn into the debilitating gunk..."

I have had my gas tank sugared, and the only problem it caused me was that the truck wouldn't start. I had to clean the sugar out of my carburetor (it was an old truck) and drain my gas tank. Two hours of messing around and I was back on the road. Sugar is not even very effective for damaging cars, much less improving mileage.

If you want to improve your gas mileage:
1. inflate your tires properly (this can add 10-20% to your mileage)
2. Accelerate slowly- don't be a leadfoot
3. Stay under the speed limit and drive under 55 mph where possible. If you have a standard transmission try to drive in the highest gear possible at the lowest RPM that your engine operates at effectively.
4. Ride a bicycle for local trips.

And I suspect your friend is trying to have a laugh at your expense.

Answer 2

sugar is not soluble in gasoline(i.e. non-polar solvents).
Damaging a motor by adding sugar into the gas tank is an urban myth.
Consult www.snopes.com.
Also, the gang at the Mythbusters" television show, (you can find them on the Discovery channel and several others). tested the myth and found no damage was done by sugar.
Yes I was as surprised as much as anyone else. I believed it for years.
Dan the Answers-Man.
Bst answer points always graceously accepted.

Answer 3

It is a lie, sugar dosent mess up your engine, it improves the effectiveness of gas, add a pound every gas filling.

Answer 4

As other people are noting, no it is a very bad thing. Sometimes people will do that to their enemies. But here is a question for you - you are 13 years old, why are you concerned about gas prices?

Answer 5

I think your friend is playing a mean trick on you. Everybody knows sugar in the gas tank is a dirty prank that ruins engines.

Answer 6

Ditto, it'll caramelise in your engine and ruin it. The french resistance put sugar into german army vehicles gas tanks during the war to immobilise them. Don't do it.

Answer 7

Sugar in the gas tank will destroy the engine, it may not stop it all together, but it glazes the carburator, the piston sleeve, and basically gums it all up

Answer 8

in fact it's the other way around, as a bad prank people will put sugar in gas tanks..of course it will not start.

Answer 9

no! dont even think of putting sugar in your gas tank! or migth end up spending a lot more in engine fixins

Answer 10

DO NOT PUT sugar i n your gas. it will damage your engine