Achcha, this post will qualify for the "For Informational Purposes Only" category😊
What happens (exactly) when you put sugar in a gas tank?
The age old art of car sabotage is almost as old as cars themselves. This particular form of sabotage is quite cruel and while it is considered a "prank", it is really meant to put a vehicle out of action for a good amount of time.
The thoery is that sugar dissolved into gasoline will make it past the fuel filter and into the combustion chamber. The heat from the burning gasoline is supposed to carmelize the sugar, making a very sticky film inside the cylinders bore where it hardens because of the cooling effect of the engines coolant. As this film builds up one or both of two engine destroying things happens: the piston rings dig into the film and snap due to the extra resistance, or two the engine seizes, freezing the pistons in place. Both will require a complete overhaul of the engine, removing the vehicle from action.
In times of war, this tactic was used by resistance fighters of many nations duing many conflicts. The idea was that a vehicle needing a rebuild could not be used in combat or to opress the locals, and to overtax the enemies ability to repair vital fighting vehicles. As a college stunt it is particularly cruel and is probably done without knowing the likely outcomes.
In practice, modern engines can be quite resistant to sugar. Fuel filters are designed to keep contaminants out and extra oil ports inside the engine can reduce the buildup of carmelized sugar, but the overall effect cannot be totally prevented and the engine will eventually fail.
What Happens When You Put Sugar in a Gas Tank?
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Putting Sugar Into a Gas Tank
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Just about everyone has heard of the notion that putting sugar in a gas tank will destroy a car engine. But is it really true? While putting sugar in a car's gas tank won't always destroy an engine, it can cause some major damage and, in most instances, cause the victimized car to stall and require major repairs.
What Happens to the Sugar
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Sugar is a scourge to car engines because it doesn't dissolve in gasoline. This means sugar poured into a gas tank will get sucked into the fuel lines and begin clogging up a vital part or parts of your engine's fuel system. It can disable the fuel filter, the fuel pump and the fuel injectors, depending on how much sugar is loaded into a gas tank and where it accumulates. Wherever it ends up, the sticky ball of sugar will block the fuel flow and cause your engine to stall and not start again. And once a mechanic takes the engine apart, repairs can be expensive, especially if the sugar reaches your carburetor or fuel injectors. You'll also need your fuel tank emptied and cleaned and your fuel lines flushed out or replaced. So while sugar won't exactly destroy an engine, it can destroy parts of your engine that are expensive. Not surprisingly, the sugar-in-the-gas-tank tactic was developed in the early 20th century as a guerrilla war tactic to disable enemy vehicles.
Some Exceptions to the Rule
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There are cases where sugar can completely ruin an engine. If enough sugar gets by the filter, pumps and fuel injectors, it can get into the engine itself, and build up in the valves and piston rings. Once there, it will eventually harden into a mess that will require a complete engine overhaul or a new engine. But the chances of that happening to new car models is slim because most cars today have sophisticated fuel filter systems designed to catch contaminants and prevent them from reaching the engine. The bottom line is that putting sugar in a gas tank really can cause some damage. The only variable is how much damage it causes.
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