Is it true that the Cubans used rum to run their cars during the Cold War?

Answer 1

a 56 chevy would be easy to convert to running on rum.
all they would have to do is distill it to about 93% or higher alchol content. I know plenty of farmers who did it with cars, trucks, and tractors during the 80s gas spike.

if you are asking if they were running their cars on 40 proof or 80% alcohol, i highly doubt they would get far.
consider this when you have 80% alchol by volume, the other 20% are usually about 1%(if that) of other alchohols, and close to 20% water.
this means if you have a 20 gallon tank, and fill it up with 80% rum, you are putting 4 gallons of water into your fuel system.
not that i'm very mechanically inclined, but i would say that would have a bad effect on an engine pretty darn quick.
considering the fact that combustion reaction creates more H2O i think it would build up in the engine a destroy it fast.

now if they distilled it again to closer to 95% or at least 93% you are getting real close to the percentage used by people who make their own ethanol fuel.

and considering how far cuba is away from the soviet union, and the fact America wouldn't supply them with fuel at the time, i'm guessing they probably did do this.

Answer 2

I think Cubans wouldn't waste good bottle of Havana Rum on a car. I believe they would rather drink it with a friend to forget about the provety they live in.

And Technically, cubans didn't have the technology to do so and the cars that are there are 90% american made. You try converting a 56 Chevy to run on Rum or should I say try to get a 56 Chevy to run (lol).

Now I do know that the Cubans are very smart and innovative, because they do cut the gas (re-mix) from the gas stations to make a lower grade gas that will burn in cars, thus providing them more gas to operate the car.

But a smart cuban would never let a good bottle of Havana Rum go to waste in a car. They know the importance of friends and laughter.

Bottoms up.

Answer 3

I'm not sure about cubans, but back in the prohibition era of america,bootleggers really did run their cars on "moonshine",moving their vehicles and hidding their illegal cargo in the car's tank (from the police),all at the same time.

Answer 4

I don't know, but it is a good question. I suspect it came from South America, regular petrol. Only the USA refused to deal with them. I can't see USA sending any oil there now either.
--CJ "That Cheeky Lad!"

Answer 5

It cannot be. There is simply not enough energy there and far too much water.

If it were distilled then that would give ethanol and that is almost certainly what would have been used.

Answer 6

well today, there are cars that can run on alcahol, so I guess that could have made sense.