Some asshat poured sugar in my gas tank...

[vortex]

So about 2 weeks ago my girls van ('92 dodge caravan) was egged, ha ha funny whatever, then it started running like shit. after about a week of rough running the car just wouldn't run for shit. It would try to stall at anything over half throttle and then just wouldn't run.

So i figured a fuel filter would be a cheap thing to try. And it had not been changed in quite some time.

So i used the xj's winch to get the van on wheel ramps and swapped filters (inline). i took the box the new filter had come in and flipped open the top flat and drained some of the fuel into the cardboard. As the fuel evaporated what appeared to grains of sand was left behind. I thought, thats weird maybe it was from the beach last year.

I did the filter at her moms house (where the car died) and its about 5 miles to my place. on the drive home i thought about how sand would get in there and deemed it not possible. As i pulled into the drive way she informed me that the van would not go over 25 miles an hour, thus another lack of fuel.

I had tossed the box and filter in my tool bag and decided to revisit it. I wiped off what "Sand" was left on the box and and got my fingers wet (water+sugar=dissolved grains and sticky fingers) and worked the "sand" for a couple minutes. The "Sand" dissolved but left my fingers very sticky.

I have concluded that some asshat poured sugar in my girls gas tank. Since we are both full time students we need out vehicles and now we are down to my jeep.

So now I need help, Is there any way to "neutralize" the sugar" I guess more importantly will this cause any damage to the engine? whats the best way to clean this tank out.


Very pissed and very irritated at the fact that some douche bag thought this would be funny.


Thanks for your help in advance.

-PJ-

 

[BoringDave]

Sounds like she must have pissed someone off. As for the sugar in the gas. I think her motor is hosed. My brother did that to a teacher he hated and my dad had to buy the guy a new motor.

Dave

 

[SleeperXJ]

Now you have me wondering, wouldn't the fuel filter prevent the sugar from going into the engine? Seems like you could flush the fuel tank, replace any filters and give it a go. Maybe the fuel pump would be toast.

 

[ceb0217]

the sugar dissolves with the gas but solidifies when heat is added. it might kill pump(but doubtful) plug filter, kill injectors and scratch cylinders.

I would pull thr tank clean it out,and buy some filters and buy locking gas caps. then hope for the best.

 

[SleeperXJ]

Not according to this:
http://www.snopes.com/autos/grace/sugar.asp
What got me was PJ said the sugar was still crystalline and hadn't dissolved
until he got his fingers wet with water. I think the filter was clogged with said
sugar crystals and starved the engine. I know I'd have a hard time flushing a fuel tank
especially if it was full of fuel. Hopefully you don't have much to dispose of.

ceb, I think your right about the locking gas cap...

 

[vortex]

I know I'd have a hard time flushing a fuel tank
especially if it was full of fuel. Hopefully you don't have much to dispose of.

ceb, I think your right about the locking gas cap...

her van is on E which may be why it dies all the time

 

[ECKSJAY]

her van is on E which may be why it dies all the time

Does it love everyone and enjoy dance music?

 

[88manche]

My bro in law's all black, lifted 08 f150 got all 4 tires slashed and his tailgate stolen the other night. F-ed up people...

As for the gas/sugar, looks like your junkyardin for injectors, fuel pump, and flushing the lines and tank(brake clean and compressed air works).

 

[vortex]

Does it love everyone and enjoy dance music?

No it hates everyone and it only likes disco music...:woohoo:

My bro in law's all black, lifted 08 f150 got all 4 tires slashed and his tailgate stolen the other night. F-ed up people...

As for the gas/sugar, looks like your junkyardin for injectors, fuel pump, and flushing the lines and tank(brake clean and compressed air works).

What would be the reason for new injectors? Won't the filter catch it all? The filter i pulled off was full of sugar crystals.
:flame::flame::flame::flame::flame::flame::flame:

 

[ECKSJAY]

Unimpressed

 

[FiveNdime]

Thats a new form of Green Fuel
Vortex, it seems you have yourself convinced that its a fairly simple fix. In this case do what you think will fix it. You really have nothing to loose if the motor is toast but to spend some money on junk yard parts and some of your time. I would go ahead with cleaning the whole system out and running some good fuel cleaner through that thing and hope for the best. Get that locking gas cap too, if those idiots were smart they would have siphoned it out with the price of gas now days lol.

 

[BigDog]

Sorry someone got your girls van man that's messed up. I hope all works out good for you and for sure get a looking cap but I'm sure you have figured that part out by now. Good luck with everything an.

CJ

 

[ceb0217]

i took the box the new filter had come in and flipped open the top flat and drained some of the fuel into the cardboard. As the fuel evaporated what appeared to grains of sand was left behind. I thought, thats weird maybe it was from the beach last year.

.

I had tossed the box and filter in my tool bag and decided to revisit it. I wiped off what "Sand" was left on the box and and got my fingers wet (water+sugar=dissolved grains and sticky fingers) and worked the "sand" for a couple minutes. The "Sand" dissolved but left my fingers very sticky.
.


Thanks for your help in advance.

-PJ-

 

[vortex]

did you have anything to add to this^?

 

[Sniggs]

Didn't the MythBusters recently prove that sugar does nothing but clog the fuel filter?

 

[srimes]

The sock filter on the fuel pickup might be plugged too. The fuel pump might be bad from the stress of working against the plugged filter(s).

A clean tank, filters, and make sure the pump is good and it'll probably be fine.

 

[vortex]

Didn't the MythBusters recently prove that sugar does nothing but clog the fuel filter?

You sir are correct.

The sock filter on the fuel pickup might be plugged too. The fuel pump might be bad from the stress of working against the plugged filter(s).

A clean tank, filters, and make sure the pump is good and it'll probably be fine.

Strangley there is no "Sock".

Here is that i did.

Drop tank.
Drain fuel.
flush tank. (used water from the hose)
rinsed tank using gas.
flushed lines.
installed new filter.
reinstall pump and tank, connected fuel lines.
half tank to a 12 gal. fuel injector and fuel treatment.
added 1 bottle of "Heet" for any residual water

will run another cleaner through the tank after she burns this up. i think its time to look for a new rig for her.....I see a new cherokee in the works....:eeks1:

 

[Sniggs]

Throw a can of Seafoam in at next fillup.