5 Symptoms of Sugar in Your Gas Tank (And How to Fix It)
The theory is that if you put enough sugar in your gas tank (don’t do this!), the liquid will become too thick to be used. The fuel will change state and your vehicle will stop functioning.
But does adding sugar to your gas tank actually make your vehicle undriveable, or is it just a silly myth? Whatever the answer, the symptoms of sugar in your gas tank aren’t as clear-cut as you might think.
What role does sugar actually play in your gas tank? Sugar does not dissolve in gasoline like water does. Instead, it settles to the bottom of the gas tank. The granules then travel through the fuel lines as the gasoline flows.
If there is enough sugar in the gas tank, this filter can become clogged, reducing the efficiency of the system. In theory, however, this would require several pounds of weight. If you suspect your fuel has sugar in it, you should look out for the following symptoms:
Top 5 signs that you have sugar in your gas tank
1) Peak power when accelerating
If your car’s gas tank has sugar in it, the grains will clog the fuel intake line. This clog will prevent normal fuel consumption from being achieved. You will see a spike in power when there is enough fuel to burn, and reduced acceleration as the clog reduces the flow of gasoline.
2) Engine stalling
If your fuel lines are completely clogged, your car may stall when you try to accelerate. The car may also have issues idling and stall there. The vehicle may jerk when moving forward or backward and stall immediately after restarting.
3) Car Won’t Start
Most symptoms caused by sugar in the gas tank will result in this. If there is a severe blockage, access to fuel will be completely cut off. You will notice that the engine will not try to start at all. It may start when you turn the ignition on, but nothing happens after that.
Further attempts to start the engine in this state may drain the battery and cause a clicking noise when starting. The starter motor may wear out prematurely, and it may also cause damage to the alternator, engine, or other components under the hood.
4) Poor Vehicle Performance
If you don’t see any of the above issues with symptoms of sugar in the gas tank, you may experience this issue while the vehicle is running. The fuel flow causes sugar grains to enter the engine over time. The heat that the sugar is exposed to around the valves, pistons, and cylinders can create a caramel effect, coating the engine components. If this is the case, you may notice a decrease in engine performance when accelerating.
5) Fuel Pump Failure
If the fuel filter is located behind the fuel pump, sugar can caramelize on the fuel pump mechanism. Over time, fuel buildup can cause the fuel pump to stop functioning and your car to not start. If a thick coating forms, you may hear the pump whining, squealing, or other unusual noises. How to fix the problem of sugar in the gas tank
If you want to know how to remove sugar from a gas tank and restore operation, you will need to manually clean the gas tank and all affected components. You or a mechanic will need to remove the fuel tank from the vehicle and disconnect it from the fuel pump and lines.
Before you begin this task, try to remove as much fuel as possible. This will make the tank lighter and reduce the risk of exposure to fumes.
Place the fuel tank on a level floor. Vacuum out any remaining fuel in the container. Then wash the inside of the tank with a pressure hose. Drain the water and use a vacuum (such as a Shop-Vac) to remove any sugar, rust, or dirt from the tank.
The final step in removing sugar from a gas tank is to thoroughly wipe down the inside. Then, leave it to dry for at least an hour to allow any remaining moisture to evaporate. Despite rumors and stories claiming the opposite, symptoms from sugar in the gas tank do not include engine explosions.
If you know how to fix the “sugar in the gas tank” problem and restore functionality, you’ll find that the downtime caused by this mechanical problem is minimal.
