RE: sugar in gas - counterpoint

["J. Michael Daugherty" <jmdaugh@domain.elided>]

Tom,
     Just thought I should post the short version to the list.  Although
almost everyone has been telling you the sugar is going to kill your Scout,
I'd have to disagree.  See:
>>>Inman, K. , Hardin, G., Sensabaugh, GF, and Thornton, JI. Concerning the
>>>solubility of sugar in gasoline. Journal of Forensic Sciences 38: p.757
>>>1993
    Sugar is insolubility in gasoline or nearly so.  Inman et. al. mentions
some solubility testing in the laboratory; they extrapolated that perhaps
150ug could be disolved in 15 gallons [beyond that the remaining sugar would
rest on the bottom of the tank].
    What would happen if some got sucked up by the fuel line?  With the
standard fuel system the worse I would expect it could do is plug up your
fuel filter.  I know those V8s are thirsty, but there would have to be some
pretty good fuel flow to pull much through the fuel line.  The standard
mechanical fuel pump is a diaphram pump right? Sugar granules shouldn't plug
that up.  OK, I realize that rust and other junk gets pulled through there
but it makes it through the pump doesn't it?  Sugar granules might cause
some problems if they made it all the way into the carburator but the filter
should stop them first.
     Based on what I've learned as an adult I don't believe sugar in the gas
is actually going to cause problems, but all of the urban-legend-type third
hand stories I heard as a kid would probably make me loose sleep.  What
would I do?  Probably the same as you, drop the tank and see if there is
anything in the bottom.  If there wasn't, I use the gas.  Some day I need to
find a test vehicle and make a video or infomercial!
     Good Luck and let us know what you find in there,
         J. Mike

For detailed extraction and test method by John Lentini, see p. 303 of the
Journal of Forensic Sciences No. 39, 1994.

jmdaugh@domain.elided