My impression of the sugar-in-the-gas thing was that it would eventually
make it's way into the oil, turning it into gunk and blowing the motor- at
least that's what I was told when I was a kid.
They ever test the 'ol golf-ball-in-the-gas-tank bit?

Cya,
Robert

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Bange" <jbange@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, March 24, 2006 6:54 PM
Subject: Re: ReRe: Fryeday Question & MythBusters!! Naphlene

On 3/24/06, Bruce Nadig <motorbruce@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> I watch MythBusters, and I do take issue with #3 - Sugar In The Gas Tank.
>
> The test that they did was very brief. This would hardly be a realistic
> situation. Once the sugar is there it will dissolve in the gas. It may
> take
> a little bit of time and agitation (driving, which includes going over
> bumps
> and around turns), but sugar will be a disaster.
>

Actually, sugar doesn't dissolve in gasoline at all, agitated or not. A
forensic scientist at Berkeley tested it in 1994. Even spinning it in a
centrifuge only managed to dissolve the equivalent of less than 5 grams for
a 60 liter tank, and that due to non-gasoline impurities. Granulated sugar
in the gas tank will do no more than clog the filter.

--
John Bange
'90 Vanagon - "Geldsauger"