• sooper_dooper_roofer [none/use name]
    ·
    2 years ago

    Unless that tank is slap full I give it 5 to 1 odds that thing ain’t making it too far before it is “compromised to a permanent end”.

    You mean they'll have to empty the gas tank? Or will the water irreversibly ruin the engine?

    • invo_rt [he/him]
      ·
      edit-2
      2 years ago

      Water will ruin the engine. It doesn't combust like gas so when it is injected into the engine cylinder the piston will attempt to compress it which it won't do. The pressure will either damage the crankshaft, piston, rod, block, or lift the head off the motor. Either way, it's bad. That's one of the reasons it's a terrible idea to drive through flood water. The intake can suck up water and have the same result. Usually, it's called hydro-locking the engine. Just search that term if you want to see the damage.

        • invo_rt [he/him]
          ·
          2 years ago

          I wish I could! My trip to work is pretty low speed but there's a long stretch of 2 lane where everyone goes 55 MPH. It's too dangerous to bike in the morning.

    • mao9000 [any]
      ·
      edit-2
      2 years ago

      Too much water in your gas will completely destroy your engine. It's called hydrolocking and if you've ever seen those Jeeps with the snorkels up above the roof, it's the same idea - keep air going into the air intake and then into the engine, rather than water. See liquids don't really compress but in an engine it's okay because gasoline combusts with a spark - so it kinda disappears right? Gets converted to a gaseous state, aka exhaust.

      Water (or any other combination of liquid which isn't flammable enough) does not combust with a spark. There's nowhere for the liquid to go, pressure builds, metal goes flying into all kinds of places it shouldn't be. It is, as far as I know, always cheaper to find a replacement engine than to fix the damage from hydrolocking. It's REALLY bad.

      The worst case for sugar in the tank - which honestly isn't even that likely - is that it totally clogs up the fuel filter and cuts the flow to the engine. This can be diagnosed in about 10 minutes by any mechanic with the customer saying "it sputtered out and died", and they'll see that there is no fuel getting to the engine and ping pang poom, they're gonna drop the tank, look at the filter and see a big wet pile of sugar in there.