Sugar in tank???!!!

[waskly]

I can only see sugar clogging the fuel sending sock and fuel filter and straining the fuel pump or burning it out. I don't think the pump could achieve 60psi especially when the sending unit sock is clogged (it would be like trying to suck on a frozen milk shake, lots of straining for very little flow).

The whole confusion with this myth and why Snopes and Myth Busters tried to reproduce it was the huge urban legend behind it (lots of people believe it can happen). Lets face it, on the surface it looks plausible.

Unfortunately the science used to debunk the myth clearly showed it just couldn't happen. A typical fuel filter is designed to filter particles 20 microns (.02mm) and larger. Sugar crystals are .5mm and would need to be 2500% SMALLER in order to pass through the filter media. Since sugar doesn't dissolve in fuel it would be extremely unlikely that it would make it by the fuel pump strainer/sock and fuel filter. As such I cannot see how these gigantic sugar crystals could be seen at the fuel pressure regulator.

i have phiscally seen sugar in a tank, it had about 20 lbs of sugar and it got past the filter, and all the injector had well it was a white substance i wont taste it but sugar like.

what you miss understand is that you need mass amount of sugar to even be close to the pickup. since a gas tank has baffles for anti slosh. you need tons of it.

when it starts to show up at the pump, the pump pulls from other sources besides the strainer even the new ones, a plastic hose fell off, its not an air tight pump, when you pull a pump out it has fuel in the unit, not in the pump,

this is where the sugar needs to get into to push through the filter, now the op's ex is a returnless fuel system, should have a 3 inlets on the fuel filter maybe 2 but 3 is common, and the running pressure is 60 psi, at prime its what? 120 i think for a split second before it drops to 60.... it will do damage, put a hole in that paper inside the filter, or even some cheap o after market filter it will hit the injectors.

it is rare, but i have seen sugar or white substance of crystals upto the injectors. is it dissolved sugar not passing the strainer in the injectors re crystallized or not, dunno, but it can go that far.

also mythbusters lol a tv show.....

 

[Gabe96Explorer]

wow, sand with thru your system and then the "fix" was to put injector cleaner in and now its running "fine"... tee heee heee... that's pretty funny. Me thinks your "repair person" might be "eyeing" your wallet or something else. I would go back to an earlier post... get that truck some where else before you have a major bill.

yeaaaaaa. i've suggested this twice now. dont let that shop #### you over.

 

[ranger7ltr]

Your vehicle isn't at a place next to Amy's in Austin is it?

They were the last place to touch one of my cars years ago and they came up with the sugar in the tank/sand in the tank mantra...

They didn't care for the outcome even though the insurance company I had agreed to pay...I had them box the engine up and put it into the trunk and I towed it home and fixed it myself...

 

[fbc]

Might as well throw in your favorite ICE TEA or LEMONADE mix into it as well.

Glad to hear that the sugar thing is just a hoax. But I heard hollandaise sauce is the worst.

 

[safn1949]

Battery acid is the worst I have seen,a guy had his Sunbird towed in and the tank had a ton of acid in it.Ate the chrome right off the fuel pump.

 

[lburnham84]

wow, sand with thru your system and then the "fix" was to put injector cleaner in and now its running "fine"... tee heee heee... that's pretty funny. Me thinks your "repair person" might be "eyeing" your wallet or something else. I would go back to an earlier post... get that truck some where else before you have a major bill.

They didn't just put cleaner in it and it fixed...they have replaced the fuel injectors, fuel pump regulator, fuel pump, fuel filter, and fuel lines. My truck better run better than it did when I got it...lol

 

[corkey]

i would have that guy towed repeatedly, and set up a camera to catch him in the act,,

 

[budwich]

They didn't just put cleaner in it and it fixed...they have replaced the fuel injectors, fuel pump regulator, fuel pump, fuel filter, and fuel lines. My truck better run better than it did when I got it...lol

ya...but... IF you had a "contaminant" in your tank, with all those "replaced parts", why didn't they also replace your tank. "Washing" a tank doesn't readily get "stuff" out and all the cleaner in the world isn't going to do much.... the "story" certain is interesting. Anyways, as long as you are happy, hopefully you can put this behind you and things will be fine from now on... fingers crossed. The idea of the "surveillance camera" sounds good.... but then again, sounds like you might be fighting a "war" that you can't win. good luck.

 

[Gabe96Explorer]

for serious though... get a locking gas cap.

 

[lburnham84]

Well now I have to wait 10-14 days for the test results?! The insurance company is starting to irritate me. My car has already been in the shop for 2 weeks, now I have to wait 2 more weeks?! Its obviously vandalized...just cover it already! ugh

 

[ThePhoenix]

are they providing a loaner/rental allowance? ask for an upgrade

when I totaled my 68 mustang, they gave me a crossfire as a loaner...and they took 6 weeks to pay...I didnt care at all

 

[ThePhoenix]

drive it like a rental.........

 

[my98nnj]

I've got money down that the insurance co. comes back with a "clean" test.

Once this mess is done with, don't ever go back to that shop with any vehicle you ever own.

 

[lburnham84]

Well I FINALLY got the truck back today! Insurance covered it. I saw the old fuel pump and I'm not even sure what was in the tank! It didn't look like sand or sugar. All I know is I am NOT taking any vehicle back there or recommending them ever. It still idol a little rough but not near as bad as before. I'm thinking I still need to replace the EGR valve. Would that cure a "rough idol" problem?

 

[lynchy wa]

I'm glad the insurance covered your truck and you've got her back. Good stuff
This link might help for the egr question?

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2577616

 

[lburnham84]

I'm glad the insurance covered your truck and you've got her back. Good stuff
This link might help for the egr question?

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2577616

Thanks for the link! I know what my project will be this weekend...changing the EGR valve and crossing my fingers it fixes the problem

 

[Gabe96Explorer]

Post some pictures of the crap on the pump?

 

[lburnham84]

Are you kidding me?! I haven't even had the car 24 hours and the check engine light is back on and flashing! Took it to Auto Zone and got 3 codes...cylinders 1, 2 and 3! The injectors were just replaced! Anyone got any ideas??? I really don't want to take it back to that shop but need to see if they warranty their work...should I call the insurance company? Someone PLEASE help me!! This is driving me CRAZY

 

[lburnham84]

Is it possible I could have ruined my cats? Or O2 sensors need replacing??

 

[max_overdrive]

i dont know what engine you have but my truck had a misfire on 3 and 5 and it was a bad coil, i think autoparts places can test coils.