Sugar/coke in gas tank will damage engine. Fact or Myth?

search4aztlan · Dec 7, 2004

My car was in for repair because when i cranked it up one morning it sounded like it was misfiring. The mechanic tells me that the rocker arm got knocked out of alignment and caused a valve to stay open, which ended up getting damaged by the piston. NEway, the heads were also damaged and sent out for repair. The people working on the heads clamied to have found some sticky substance that could've been sugar. First of all is this possible? If so, can it cause what the mechanics described. If this isn't clear, i'll try to get more details from the mechanic.

'98 gt w/ 66,000 miles

JonJon · Dec 7, 2004

Not sugar. It can't get through the fuel filter. Atleast, according to a few previous sugar in tank threads.

CManT1914 · Dec 7, 2004

JonJon said:
Not sugar. It can't get through the fuel filter. Atleast, according to a few previous sugar in tank threads.

sugar can't get through the fuel system. Coke on the other hand, maybe, but I don't think it would jack up your rocker arm.

jstreet0204 · Dec 7, 2004

Maybe but not likely. First with the flapper in the gas filler neck it would be a pain to pour it in there. If you did get it in the tank, I would think it would foul up the pump first, then the clog the filter before it ever got to the engine. If it did get to the engine, and didn't clog the injectors, I still don't really see how it could possibly be enough left to make enough of a deposit to stick a valve open.

Gearbanger 101 · Dec 7, 2004

yup....Sugar gums up filters, jets and injectors. But it don't blow engines. You'd have to have a huge amount in the tank for it even to have made it a difference. It's not like dropping a couple of cubes in the tank like you seen in the movies. Maybe the sticky sweet substance they found was antifreeze? That would suck!

Erskine · Dec 7, 2004

my autos teacher told us that sugar just does somethin to the gas which would be nothin harmful. he said if u did do that it would make the car smoke a little but no damage at all.not sure about the coke

mrpositraction · Dec 7, 2004

This would be a good one for MYTHBUSTERS, someone should write them.

edit: I have taken it upon myself and I have writtem Myth Buster w/ this question. They have a lot of stupid question that are asked on there website.

Mac257 · Dec 7, 2004

Mythbusters did this, the suger anyway, and it had no effect. On the other hand, they proved bleach in the gas and/or oil is bad.

merc123 · Dec 7, 2004

I remember that episode. They actually had some everyday substance that everyone eats/drinks that was a fuel and the car actually ran on it.

Best mod to my car: $14 locking gas cap.

billyfe390 · Dec 7, 2004

Besides the fact that it wouldnt get very far in the system sugar doesnt dissolve in gasoline.

mrpositraction · Dec 7, 2004

Mac257 said:
Mythbusters did this, the suger anyway, and it had no effect. On the other hand, they proved bleach in the gas and/or oil is bad.

Well forget that then, I tried reading all of there "already asked question", but there is hundreds of them. I guess I wasted my time.

Donw35 · Dec 7, 2004

Check it..

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

CManT1914 · Dec 7, 2004

merc123 said:
Best mod to my car: $14 locking gas cap.

Where'd you get it for that price?

merc123 · Dec 7, 2004

O'reilly Auto Parts

Defleshed · Dec 7, 2004

merc123 said:
Best mod to my car: $14 locking gas cap.

I TOLD YOU I WANTED TO BUY THAT!

merc123 · Dec 7, 2004

Defleshed said:
I TOLD YOU I WANTED TO BUY THAT!

I told you how much. You never responded.

HIGDON · Dec 7, 2004

Dead lifter probably caused the arm to jack up. Did it break the rocker?? It's hard to see where the rocker would be able to take and hold open the valve long enough for it to hit the piston without being taken out itself, let alone come off the valve stem. I had a bad lifter once and as soon as the lobe hit the rocker it just popped right off the valve. Have you actually seen the damaged parts? I've only had a rocker "slide" off the valve in my 89' and it had Crane golds, and then it was a spring that broke. Good luck finding out what's up.

mcmmotorsports · Dec 8, 2004

CManT1914 said:
Coke on the other hand, maybe, but I don't think it would jack up your rocker arm.

Maybe if it was Diet Cherry Coke.

Darkhorse845 · Dec 8, 2004

mcmmotorsports said:
Maybe if it was Diet Cherry Coke.

Sugar/coke in gas tank will damage engine. Fact or Myth?

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