If you stick a potato in a muffler, will it really destroy the car? Or is this an urban myth?

Question

Please supply evidence from any personal experience you may have?

Answer 1

Myth If potato is a tight enough fit pressure can blow out a rusted muffler. Most the time your neighbor won't know what happened car cranked a long time this start up? and the potato just shoots out. Good clean fun...the more rotten the potato the better

Answer 2

not an urban myth, but I wouldn't say it will destroy the car either. It can screw up many things though. Exhaust valves, fuel injectors, etc, but it will make your car die until you remove said "potatoe" Usually your car will start back up, but there may be more damage than thought.

Answer 3

MYTH. Engine will start running like poo-poo and eventually shut off if potato fit is a tight.

Answer 4

The car won't start. The internal combustion engine intakes air and fuel, compresses it, ignites it, and exhausts it. If it can't exhaust it, the engine wont run. It needs all four in the series to function.

Answer 5

It will severely decrease the performance of the car because the exhaust can't get out as fast as it needs to.
As for destroying the car....no.

Answer 6

There was an episode of Mythbusters the prooved to be a myth.

Answer 7

it will make it not start up,,and run,,as far as destroy it,,nah,,just a myth but it will make one shut off even if it does start,,i have never heard of it destroying an engine though,,and i own a repair shop,,i hope this helps.

Answer 8

yes..it will..one time though i put a potato in the muffler and it back fired and there was mashed taters all over the highway

Answer 9

Yeah, about that, don't try it.

Just kidding, mythbusters can help you out.

Answer 10

if someone one plugged your anus you'll eventually die,thatgoes for the car too.