Does putting sugar in the gas tank wreck a cars engine?
Dear Straight Dope: Does putting sugar in someone’s gas tank ruin their engine? Some also say sand in the gas tank will work, but it seems as though it would simply block the fuel filter. — Alan Whinery, Honolulu, Hawaii Having a spat with your sweetie, Al? Any sort of gritty substance put into a fuel tank is going to have an adverse effect on the car’s performance. Salt and sugar are probably the most effective, since they do not dissolve in the gas. Sand is less effective because it is heavier and will sink to the bottom of the tank. Of course, it depends on how much sand you are funneling in, you delinquent. Let’s use sugar as an example. There are three basic ways that sugar in the gas tank is going to foul up someone’s car. First, as you say, it will clog the fuel filter. Second, what gets through the fuel filter will clog the fuel pump. Finally, what makes it through the fuel filter and the fuel pump will completely foul whatever fuel delivery system your car uses. A carburetor t
