sugar in fuel

[Bspauld]

I found sugar in my sub compact diesel tractor, it doesn't dissolve in diesel but sure was hard to get cleaned, it happened 2 times,
I think the threat is gone now, But I have 2 gas tractors setting out , soon to be put away, How can I tell if sugar is in the
tanks. Thanks for anyone that has an answer

 

[DGinVT]

You might check with your fuel suppliers. I have a paste that I use on my fuel dip stick that will change color if water is present and you might see if such is available for sugar testing. A home heating oil supplier might be able to help you.

 

[Richard G.]

I think I would pull or push them to storage. Then take off the tanks and have them boiled out.
Sugar will ruin an engine very quickly. I would also replace filters and flush lines and carbs.
What type of tractors are they?
Richard in NW SC

 

[ohiojim]

don't think sugar will desolve in gas either, i had it a couple times, just plugged up filters,....now get it in yer oil and you got big problems

 

[Harold Melius]

Sugar does not appear to dissolve in gas but that is deceptive. The bulk of the sugar remains solid but some of the sugars contents do dissolve and it leaves a hard crusty residue when it burns. You can put some in a container and (Carefully) let it burn until it goes out and there will be a visible residue left behind. You may be able to drain the tank and then look down in it with a flashlight. If they put in a large amount you may be able to see the undissolved sugar in the bottom

 

[JimS]

They did this on Myth Busters. It didn't do anything.

There are a number of videos and sites on this topic. Change filters and flush tank is the general fix.

I might add, stay calm and don't hurt anyone.

 

[Steve@Advance]

If sugar was put in the tank, most likely there would be evidence of some spillage around the neck. People that do stuff like that are generally in a hurry, in the dark, and extremely stupid to begin with, so not very good at covering their tracks.

But what is going to prove interesting is the effect of the ethanol, possibly supporting water, that would cause some of the sugar to dissolve and make it into the engine. And what will it really do to the engine? I don't think there is any way all of it would dissolve though, especially if a lot were put in, it should still be intact on the bottom of the tank, right where it went in if it hasn't been moved.

I've never seen actual damage done to an engine, but all the experiences I had with it was before ethanol was in the gas. Usual fix was to wash out the tank with water, flush the lines, drain the carb, dry everything out, and replace the filters.

 

[mite-help]

I'd also look over engine oil fill real close.

 

[Bob]

Oh, oh!

I'd be MORE worried about what's gonna happen NEXT than about the sugar!

Have you figured out who you have irritated, or do you think this was just random vandalism?

 

[Harold Melius]

I would beg to differ with myth busters. I had a car sugared one time and turned in an insurance claim when the engine seized after about 50 miles. The insurance adjuster came out and looked at it and denied the claim because he said that sugar would not dissolve in gasoline. He had a pint mason jar and he put about a cup or so of sugar in it and filled it with gas. He then shook it and when he put it down it appeared that all the sugar settled to the bottom of the jar. My step father was there and after a couple of min. he poured some of the gas into the lid of the jar and set it on fire. There was a solid deposit about the size of a number 8 shot left in the lid when the fuel burned off. The adjuster then paid the claim.

 

[w1ebb]

A pint of gas isn't enough to dissolve a cup of sugar, it will dissolve some of it but not all. That's a 2:1 ratio. The insurance adjuster was trying to pull a fast one on you. Good thing Step Dad was faster than him, and smarter too!

Scott

 

[Bspauld]

I was in a relationship with a lady that had a X, I never met him, but was told by a few that he would do something like that. Sugar wont dissolve in diesel, it stays crystallized and the granules get bigger, but it sure plugged my filter. I have seen gas dissolve sugar, I will check it close and maybe drain it, I was wondering if I drained some and let it dry out some if the sugar would show itself?

 

[JimS]

But, TV wouldn't lie to me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGZPTnTiz9E

I have heard of others doing it or having it done to them to no avail.

I think the true answer will never be known until you selflessly put sugar in your fuel tank and test the theory. You could be a hero to all of us who visit this site. Maybe they would even have a special page for you. Just to show we are all with you, I am sending the first dollar toward the purchase of a bag of sugar. I know, being a man of science and technology, you will cheerfully donate the engine.

I would do it but I am currently testing the theory that laughter is the best medicine by watching Three Stooges episodes non-stop in an attempt to cure my tuberculosis so please hurry in case my experiment fails.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

I can't tell you how to determine if you have sugar in gas. But what happened to you is the best reason why you should have all your tractors, mowers, car and truck stored in either a garage or a barn and locked down. If it happened once, bet the farm it will happen again.

 

[dzc3]

Push them some place that you can reach with a garden hose. Open the bottom of the tank let all the gas drain out. Then fill and flush with water. Sugar will dissolve in water and after several repeats you should be good. Use an air line to dry out the tank. You should be good to go. If you are still concerned you did not get it all out pour in some clean gas, drain a little of that onto a piece of clean metal and light it. No residue no sugar.

 

[JimB2]

I never saw the Myth Busters episode, but I know what happened to my cousin's 63 Ford Galaxie 352 V8. Someone took a dislike to him and put sugar in his gas tank one night, he drove it about 10 miles and shut it off and when it cooled down, the engine was seized solid. We attempted to tear it down and clean it up but it was an impossible job. Ended up swapping it with an engine from a wreck.

JimB

 

[mj]

(quoted from post at 10:10:42 11/09/15) If sugar was put in the tank, most likely there would be evidence of some spillage around the neck. People that do stuff like that are generally in a hurry, in the dark, and extremely stupid to begin with, so not very good at covering their tracks.

But what is going to prove interesting is the effect of the ethanol, possibly supporting water, that would cause some of the sugar to dissolve and make it into the engine. And what will it really do to the engine? I don't think there is any way all of it would dissolve though, especially if a lot were put in, it should still be intact on the bottom of the tank, right where it went in if it hasn't been moved.

I've never seen actual damage done to an engine, but all the experiences I had with it was before ethanol was in the gas. Usual fix was to wash out the tank with water, flush the lines, drain the carb, dry everything out, and replace the filters.

Yeh and ethanol will mess things up too - I've had old ethanol-gas to cause piston rings to seize (no compression) when it's set too long. CD2 oil detergent poured into the spark plug hole will save a teardown just make sure to drain the tank and bowl and rinse the pink goo out before you start it again. Ethanol is bad news and proven to be environmentally unfriendly when added to motor fuel BUT the lobbyists for the groups that are making money on it will keep it in there - probably forever! :twisted:

 

[dhermesc]

Just so you know - any old sour fuel will do that to your engine.