2007-03-01 08:39:04 · 8 answers · asked by foxynurse 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Interesting answers so far. If you've ever taken a chemistry class, you might have heard the phrase "likes dissolve likes"? This means that polar liquids, like water, dissolve polar solids, like sugar. Non-polar liquids, like gasoline, dissolve non-polar solids. All of this means that sugar does not dissolve in gasoline, and it will cause the same problems associated with any other granular solid in the tank, ie fuel filter issues. If your gasoline has much alcohol in it (the pump says "May contain up to 15% ethanol") then a little sugar may dissolve, because alcohols dissolve both polar and non-polar materials a little bit. Check out my source for more details on the sugar-in-the-gas-tank-myth
2007-03-01 09:29:14 · answer #1 · answered by Nostra da Moose 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its a myth. Sugar is hydroscopic - that it, it absorbs water. Gasoline has no effect on it. You would need enough sugar to fill the gas tank high enough for it to get into the fuel pump.
2007-03-01 11:36:17 · answer #2 · answered by Me 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pretty quickly. if it dissolves in the gas and gets past the filter, it will get into the ciylinders, where the heat will turn it to caramel and lock up the engine. Depending on the fuel system design, this could take anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes.
2007-03-01 08:48:09 · answer #3 · answered by Niklaus Pfirsig 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Almost immediately. As soon as the sugar goes into the tank it becomes a gel which causes its own problems. As soon as it gets into the combustion chamber and gets superheated it forms a hard gritty sand with the hardness of glass and destroys the piston rings and valves.It is a horrible prank.
2007-03-01 08:47:46 · answer #4 · answered by yes_its_me 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Right on Moose. It's been proven. Sugar won't dissolve in gas. Heck sugar won't dissolve in cold water. Try it sometime. Water has to be hot for sugar to dissolve. All it will do is clog the filter.
2007-03-01 10:27:09 · answer #5 · answered by D28Guy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that depends on the amount of sugar used. if a large amount is used it would only take about 30 min. or less to start messing with the system. it has to break down, be picked up by the pick-up tube then transmitted to the engine's injection/carb system. if a little amount is used it could take awhile, but the damage is still the same.
2007-03-01 08:45:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess Moose has never heard of something called additives. Sugar surely does dissolve in gasoline and will immediately start coating and clogging all sorts of things that you really want to stay clean.
2007-03-01 09:55:19 · answer #7 · answered by Nomadd 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Very soon in the next outing. If sugar was put in overnight it might not even start in the morning. You know, if you do something stupid like that, sooner or later something rotten is going to happen to you..I know - I'm old and I've done it all.
2007-03-01 08:54:14 · answer #8 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋