I've always wondered what actually happens to your car if someone where to pour sugar or salt etc into the gas tank. Aren't there cars that run on alcohol, etc? Why would these substances hurt a car, if they do? What actually happens? Don't they just disolve? (Or is this just an old wive's tale?)
2007-04-23 00:46:38 · 14 answers · asked by Alea S 7 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
According to Snopes, it doesn't ruin the engine and can be cleaned out pretty cheap: http://www.snopes.com/autos/grace/sugar.asp
2007-04-23 00:51:16 · answer #1 · answered by Alabama 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you you it was done to you (you see sugar near your gas cap, or filler inlet) don't even start the car! This kind of vandalism can be corrected at this point. One the sugar actually has the chance to get into the engine it starts getting really expensive to the point where you may be looking at a replacement engine because it will be cheaper. The spot on fuel injectors where the fuel is actually "dispensed" into the engine is smaller than the diameter of a stick pin. Therefore you can see why even a grain of sugar would plug the injectors. To that mixture add combustion temperatures to cook the sugar, and there you go...Big damage! If you were even remotely thinking about doing this to someones car...stop thinking about it right now, it's not even a little bit funny.
2016-04-01 03:18:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Even though there is gasoline in the tank there is also water sugar does mix with the water in the gas this sticky substance gets into the fuel pump causing the check valve problems, next the fuel filter becomes sticky and plugged sugar then travels to the fuel injectors clogging the spray nozzels after that the fuel pressure regulator gets clogged. This vandalism costs thousands to replace all of the dammaged fuel injection parts and clean out the fuel tank. Salt on the other hand causes corrosion rust on vital injector parts harder to detect and longer time necessary to cause failures. Locking gas door is a good idea. Locking gas caps leak air and causes CHECK ENGINE LIGHT
2007-04-23 00:55:45 · answer #3 · answered by John Paul 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
sugar nor salt, dissolves in gas, the only thing it can do, If enough is poured in, it will settle at the bottom, and could stop up the fuel pump filter and eventually burn up the pump..put gas in a glass jar., and do a test yourself, shake it up and see what happens...the salt and sugar would be more effective if put in the carburator, or TBI unit, or in the oil filler opening in the valve cover, and if it gets to the bottom end. through the old, then it won't take long to lock the engine up.
2007-04-23 00:57:40 · answer #4 · answered by gotspeed7883 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
OK FYI, there are multiple reasons why nothing happens after this is done, the main being the fuel filter. yes it will cause drivability problems but WILL NOT cause engine failure. this is the purpose of not only the fuel filter but the filter on the end of your fuel pump. it Will eventually cause your fuel pump to fail, the time it takes for it to fail depends on the amount they put in and the age of the pump as a newer pump will take longer to burn out. to put it bluntly there is no reason to risk getting caught dumping something in someones gas tank to get revengee...... if you want to get reveng quickly and quietly with less risk of being caught??? BRAKE FLUID does wonders to paint, as in strips to bare metal rather quickly. it is cheap and for more fun use a super soaker loaded with brake fluid to "paint" or unpaint as the case may be wonderful designs on the car. hope this helps
2007-04-23 02:04:22 · answer #5 · answered by potboi2001 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Sugar, salt will not dissolve in gasoline, so no harm to the engine unless you do not have a fuel filter. You may need to change the fuel filter several times until the sugar/ salt is gone fir the gas tank.
2007-04-23 01:43:04 · answer #6 · answered by Really ? 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
if you put stuff like, sugar etc, in your gas tank it isent goona be sweet honey. get ready to push it for life. hope you got the strength to just start pushing it around. beats saving on gas pricees etc. and we hope you dont have too push it downe a 7 lane expressway. try dumping cocaine in it you may have beterr luck, etc--
2007-04-23 00:51:05 · answer #7 · answered by chris m 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's been done on mythbusters. It WON'T seize up the engine. I don't remember what damage if any was the result.
2007-04-23 01:15:44 · answer #8 · answered by DialM4Speed 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Mythbusters tested this. It didn't do anything, but I still wouldn't recommend doing this.
2007-04-23 02:55:40 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Tell ya what? if you really want to know what happens. do it to your own car and tell me if it will keep running good? It ill not be good for you car or motor or injections systems or carburetor. it doesn't just dissolve. those are both crystal substances that do not melt like you think, they crystallize
2007-04-23 00:57:12 · answer #10 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋