{"id":466,"date":"2021-12-12T22:56:22","date_gmt":"2021-12-12T22:56:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/?p=466"},"modified":"2021-12-12T22:56:24","modified_gmt":"2021-12-12T22:56:24","slug":"what-happens-if-you-put-sugar-in-a-gas-tank","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/issues\/what-happens-if-you-put-sugar-in-a-gas-tank\/","title":{"rendered":"What Happens if you Put Sugar in a Gas Tank?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Mary Poppins always said that a spoon full of sugar makes the medicine go down, but this sadly isn\u2019t the case with your car\u2019s gas tank. Sugar in your gas tank might not destroy your car, but it can lead to costly cleaning for your car\u2019s engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article, you\u2019ll read about the signs that there is sugar in your gas tank. You\u2019ll also learn about what you need to do when the sugar damages your car\u2019s engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Gas-Tank-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-467\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Gas-Tank-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Gas-Tank-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Gas-Tank-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Gas-Tank-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Gas-Tank.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_71 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\"><p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Contents<\/p>\n<\/div><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/issues\/what-happens-if-you-put-sugar-in-a-gas-tank\/#Different_ways_sugar_can_end_up_in_your_gas_tank\" title=\"Different ways sugar can end up in your gas tank\">Different ways sugar can end up in your gas tank<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/issues\/what-happens-if-you-put-sugar-in-a-gas-tank\/#Symptoms_of_sugar_in_gas_tank\" title=\"Symptoms of sugar in gas tank\">Symptoms of sugar in gas tank<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/issues\/what-happens-if-you-put-sugar-in-a-gas-tank\/#Here_is_what_will_happen_if_you_put_sugar_in_a_gas_tank\" title=\"Here is what will happen if you put sugar in a gas tank\">Here is what will happen if you put sugar in a gas tank<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/issues\/what-happens-if-you-put-sugar-in-a-gas-tank\/#How_much_sugar_in_a_gas_tank_will_ruin_it\" title=\"How much sugar in a gas tank will ruin it?\">How much sugar in a gas tank will ruin it?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/issues\/what-happens-if-you-put-sugar-in-a-gas-tank\/#Will_sugar_in_a_gas_tank_ruin_an_engine\" title=\"Will sugar in a gas tank ruin an engine?\">Will sugar in a gas tank ruin an engine?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/issues\/what-happens-if-you-put-sugar-in-a-gas-tank\/#Can_sugar_in_gas_tank_be_fixed\" title=\"Can sugar in gas tank be fixed?\">Can sugar in gas tank be fixed?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/issues\/what-happens-if-you-put-sugar-in-a-gas-tank\/#What_to_do_if_there_is_sugar_in_your_gas_tank\" title=\"What to do if there is sugar in your gas tank\">What to do if there is sugar in your gas tank<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/issues\/what-happens-if-you-put-sugar-in-a-gas-tank\/#FAQ\" title=\"FAQ\">FAQ<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Different_ways_sugar_can_end_up_in_your_gas_tank\"><\/span><a><\/a><strong>Different ways sugar can end up in your gas tank<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Thankfully, there aren\u2019t many ways that sugar naturally ends up in your gas tank. Sugar isn\u2019t involved in the car manufacturing process. The closest that sugar could get to your car was maybe the milk chocolate that a random factory worker ate during their break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The most infamous way that sugar can get into your gas tank is part of a prank. Someone deliberately pouring sugar into your gas tank is the easiest way for it to happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Symptoms_of_sugar_in_gas_tank\"><\/span><a><\/a><strong>Symptoms of sugar in gas tank<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are different symptoms to look out for if you suspect there might be sugar in your gas tank. Some of these symptoms might be more obvious than others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1) <strong>Engine stalls<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In some cases, the fuel transmission lines can become completely clogged. This can lead to your car\u2019s engine stalling when you try to drive faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your car might also struggle when it idles. In some situations, the car might also lurch forwards and backwards. The car will also stall right after being restarted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2) Car refuses to start<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In most cases, sugar in gas tanks will lead to the car refusing to start. Excessive clogs from sugar in gas tanks can block the engine\u2019s access to fuel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A lot of the time, you\u2019ll see that the engine won\u2019t start at all. At other times, the engine might turn over when turning the ignition. But that\u2019s all that will happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you keep trying to start the engine, you could wear out the battery. This will lead to a clicking sound when the engine is trying to start. It\u2019s also possible that there could be damage to the components under the hood, engine, and alternator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3) There are power surges during acceleration<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The clogging from sugar in gas tank\u2019s leads to less fuel being used by the car\u2019s engine. This will lead to power surges when enough fuel can be used for combustion. Then when the acceleration will be slowed because of the sugar clogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4) Failing fuel pump<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes the sugar in your gas tank might caramelise on your fuel pump system. This can happen when the fuel filter is after the fuel pump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When there is enough sugar buildup over a long time, the fuel pump can stop working. This can lead to your car refusing to start. In some situations, you might hear your pump make a whining and squealing sound. There might also be some unusual sounds when the sugar starts forming a coat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5) Your car doesn\u2019t perform as well as it used to<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, you might not notice the obvious symptoms of sugar in your gas tank. But you might notice that there might be something slightly off with your car. This is a less obvious symptom that there is sugar in your gas tank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because of the fuel flow in your car, the sugar grains can make their way to the engine. The sugar could be affected by the heat in the cylinders, pistons, and valves in the engine. This can caramelisation will lead to a sugar coating on the engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Here_is_what_will_happen_if_you_put_sugar_in_a_gas_tank\"><\/span><a><\/a><strong>Here is what will happen if you put sugar in a gas tank<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When sugar is poured into a car\u2019s gas tank, it won\u2019t cause as much damage as water in the gas tank. The sugar won\u2019t dissolve and settle at the bottom of the gas tank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The fuel flow in the car will affect the way sugar behaves in your car\u2019s engine. If enough sugar goes into a gas engine, it could lead to a clog that decreases the effectiveness of fuel filters. But remember, it will take multiple pounds of sugar for this to happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Sugar in petrol tank<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There is the myth that pouring sugar will have a negative reaction to the petrol in your car\u2019s tank. Instead, what will happen is the sugar will settle at the bottom of the petrol tank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The most damage that can happen is the sugar forming a sticky coating. Plenty of sugar can also damage the fuel filters in your car\u2019s system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Sugar in a diesel fuel tank<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sugar in a diesel fuel tank will have similar to pouring sugar in a gas and petrol tank. The sugar won\u2019t dissolve and settle at the bottom of the tank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_much_sugar_in_a_gas_tank_will_ruin_it\"><\/span><a><\/a><strong>How much sugar in a gas tank will ruin it?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The estimate is that at least a teaspoon of sugar for every 15 gallons (ca. 57 l) of gas can ruin your engine. <\/strong>If you don\u2019t notice sugar in your gas tank in time, the sugar will be able to make its way through the car\u2019s engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The sugar in the car\u2019s engine will then dissolve and caramelise. This will lead to the sugar forming a semi-solid and sticky coating that could harm parts of your car\u2019s engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Will_sugar_in_a_gas_tank_ruin_an_engine\"><\/span><a><\/a><strong>Will sugar in a gas tank ruin an engine?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sugar in a car\u2019s gas tank is never a good thing, and it can lead to problems in your car. But it won\u2019t completely destroy your car\u2019s engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It won\u2019t cause as much damage as having water poured in your gas tank. While sugar is in the gas tank, it won\u2019t dissolve. It will instead settle at the bottom of the tank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_sugar_in_gas_tank_be_fixed\"><\/span><a><\/a><strong>Can sugar in gas tank be fixed?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The simple answer is yes, you can fix your fuel tank after sugar was poured inside. You might be able to clean your car\u2019s fuel tank by yourself if there is a lot of sugar in your tank. But you will be able to hire a mechanic to help you clean out all the sugar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Gas-Tank-2-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-468\" width=\"648\" height=\"486\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Gas-Tank-2-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Gas-Tank-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Gas-Tank-2-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Gas-Tank-2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Gas-Tank-2-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Gas-Tank-2.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 648px) 100vw, 648px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_do_if_there_is_sugar_in_your_gas_tank\"><\/span><a><\/a><strong>What to do if there is sugar in your gas tank<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When you realise that there is sugar in your gas tank, your first question might be, \u201cWhat do I do if there is sugar in my gas tank?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your first choice might be to clean out the gas tank and affected engine components manually. The fuel tank will need to be taken out from the car. You will also need to disconnect the tank from the lines and pump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You and your mechanic will need to remove as much fuel as possible before doing this. This help reduce the risk of being exposed to fume. It will also make the tank lighter.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To do this, you\u2019ll need to put the fuel tank on a surface level. You can then siphon the leftover fuel from the tank. Then you\u2019ll need to use a pressurised hose to clean the tank. After that, you can use a vacuum to get rid of any sugar, debris, or rust that\u2019s left in the tank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The last step involves cleaning out the sugar from the gas tank and wiping down the interior. After cleaning out, you should let it dry out for a minimum of one hour. This is to allow extra moisture to evaporate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span><a><\/a>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a><strong>Is putting sugar in a gas tank a felony?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The short answer is that yes, pouring sugar in someone\u2019s gas tank is considered a crime. It is considered a serious crime if you endanger the life of the car\u2019s owner or the driver. This is what makes putting sugar in someone\u2019s gas tank a dangerous prank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Car engines are particularly sensitive. This means that having sugar in your engine could lead to serious problems. If you don\u2019t want to risk getting a criminal record and hurting someone, then you might want to consider using another prank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a><strong>How much it cost to get sugar out of gas tank?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The process to get sugar out of your car\u2019s gas tank can be a long and complex process. This will depend on how much sugar was poured into your gas tank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You will need to get your car to a professional mechanic. You\u2019ll need to take your car to a mechanic. If your car refuses to start, you might need to have your car towed to the nearest mechanic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The process of cleaning out all the sugar from your gas tank can cost between $200 to $300 for this service. This might be a lot of money to someone who was the victim of this prank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a><strong>Someone put sugar in my gas tank, will insurance cover?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This will depend on your insurance policy. In some cases, insurance companies might cover this. This can happen if your car\u2019s break down is because of the sugar poured in your car\u2019s fuel tank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes insurance companies might consider sugar in a gas tank as vandalism. The vandalism can be filed under comprehensive insurance. You might still be required to pay your deductible while the insurance pays what\u2019s left of the bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll need to check with your own insurance provider if they will cover the damage caused by sugar in your gas tank.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mary Poppins always said that a spoon full of sugar makes the medicine go down, but this sadly isn\u2019t the case with your car\u2019s gas&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":467,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-466","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-issues","wpcat-23-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/466"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=466"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/466\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":807,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/466\/revisions\/807"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/467"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=466"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=466"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mycarmakesnoise.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=466"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}