sugar in fuel tank

grumpyvette

grumpyvette

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Staff member

FROM A RECENT E-MAIL...
"GRUMPY? I noticed when I went to fill my gas tank at the local station that my gas cap was missing and some B%$^%^&&** had poured sugar into my gas tank!! NOW WHAT!"

If your one of the guys that feel that because sugar won,t instantly dissolve in gas,your home free, your ignoring the fact that most current fuel contains about 10% ethanol and ethanol is hygroscopic, (it absorbs moisture) so yes the sugar will eventually get to the engine, now sugar in the fuel tank may not be a absolute catastrophe, in most cases, but it is a potential problem you need to fix as soon as possible, Id get the tank removed and or at least carefully flushed and drained several times and fuel lines carefully cleaned and the fuel lines flushed and fuel filter replaced.

read thru the links below, but remember current fuel with its 10%-15% ethanol content in most areas, is far different that pure petroleum based gas.

RELATED LINKED INFO
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-effi ... s-tank.htm

http://www.snopes.com/autos/grace/sugar.asp


BTW IF YOU WANT TO AVOID ETHANOL LACED FUEL
http://pure-gas.org/
 
Interesting Reading Grumpy .

What's your take on Moth Balls in the Gas Tank dropped in ?
Like an older carburated vehicle with no roll over ball checkvalve in the fuel filler neck.
 
I found the answer to my Question Grumpy from your Link.
5 gallons of Mothballs to cause havoc.
Lol.

I like your own C4 Corvette Nitro mix concoction .
I found in past by accident.
Will try someday
Binder mystery agent from two different specific gravity BTU Fuels answered.

Mineral Spirits.

Vertex Mags ready to go here ready to Light off mixture.

BR
 
Being a chemistry major I can tell you that prior to the addition Ethanol to the fuel supplies all sugar would do is sit at the bottom of the tank and slowly make it through the system (temperature dependent for time) and burn in combustion. The concentration, (weight divided by volume) of the sugar can be detrimental at levels exceeding 3%. One way water is introduced into the fuel supply, holding tanks that are not full will sweat from ambient humidity entering through equalizer vents and condense on the inner tank liner. This water, even in small quantities will attract the sugar and dissolve little by little. Today's addition of Ethanol acts as a solvent for the sugar and will disperse through the fuel volume almost harmlessly up to nearly 3% sugar. Sugar burns very well and hot. Carbon and water separation will be the primary byproducts of sugar combustion so corrosion will certainly develop fast. My recommendation is: Fill up the tank with premium fuel and use a commercial fuel system additive at 2X the recommended application rate. keep the tank full and refilling no less then 3/4 full. Calculating mpg, or 6 refills at 1/4 tank each, the fuel system should be cleared enough.
 
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