Sugar,Sugar

[Mr. Jones]

Has anyone out there had any experience with sugar in their gas? If so what are the symptoms and effect to the engine?

[bmcgc]

It should show up in the fuel filter. Remove the filter and poor the gas in a jar, if there is sugar you should see it.

[Toyz]

It WILL certainly clog the "sock" on the tank pickup. If it gets to an in-tank pump, it is likely to ruin it, just like any abrasive substance can. It can be an expensive procedure in either case, since the tank will require removal and cleaning. In the case of late model Silverados, there IS no filter, so one could only hope the sock caught all crystals.
On the unlikely probability it did make it to the injection system, the injector screens would most likely let most of the sugar through. There again, an abrasive is not something one wants in an engine, although urban legend has greatly exaggerated the effects IMO.
BTW, Casey , I'm not sure how the crystals would "sink" to the bottom of the tank, unless, of course, the tank was run dry
Paul

[Paul Merrell]

My brother had someone put sugar in the tank and he drove his truck home 50 miles. The next day he tried to start the truck did not won't to start . When we did get it to start it had jacked the rocker arm studs out. We ended up pulling the engine and had to clean all the pistons and rings. Put it back together and never had a problem again.

[Toyz]

Must have been running that nasty ol' ethanol !
Paul

[DV65CustomCab]

Your friendly Slick 60s insurance adjuster is here to tell you the sugar thing is as presented on mythbusters. Just pretend it's sand; acts exactly the same. It will sit in the bottom of the tank mostly, clock the sock if there's enough of it, but generally is filtered out sufficiently by most fuel filters to not be a problem. When we have a verified claim, we simply have the fuel tank pulled, drained and cleaned out. I've had to buy the occasional in-tank pump (GM, no surprise) but that's it.

[Mr. Jones]

Thanks for info.Pulled and cleaned the carb yesterday,the bowl was clean.Will clean plugs and install later today.Hope I can get this truck back to work.66F-350w/300.