Neighbor poured sugar into my tank, what to do?

[Zuckersabotage Forumsmitglied Alle Beiträge durchsuchen Profil ansehen Schließen Zuckersabotage]

A few days ago, I discovered a white substance in the tank of my mini excavator. It turned out to be sugar. I assume that sugar was poured into the tank. Due to the tensions with my neighbor, he is probably the culprit. I can't prove it.


What should I do now? I have not yet started the engine because sugar in the tank is said to destroy the engine. In an automotive forum, I read about various ways to fix the problem. Unfortunately, most of the suggestions are just nonsense or have nothing to do with the topic. Some people are even happy about it and write such idiotic stuff as: Sugar gives life!

Who can actually give me a useful piece of advice?

[Zwist Forumsmitglied Alle Beiträge durchsuchen Profil ansehen Schließen Zwist]

Two things are important: firstly, it is an old/simple engine

and secondly, how large the amount of sugar was.




Modern high-performance engines would be problematic. A specialist would have to take care of them.




With a mini-excavator and a small amount of sugar, I would risk just letting the engine run. You can also open the fuel feed to the engine and let some fuel run out, just to be on the safe side.

[ZuckerimTank Forumsmitglied Alle Beiträge durchsuchen Profil ansehen Schließen ZuckerimTank]

I'm no chemist, but petrol contains traces of water. The sugar would dissolve in it. Small amounts of sugar are probably also dissolved in petrol, because sugar is something of an emulsifier. You would then have sugar syrup that supposedly clogs the injection nozzles. But, isn't it the case that these nozzles get very hot. The liquid/dissolved sugar would then be injected into the combustion chamber and burned with the petrol. A small amount of sugar would probably not harm an older engine. Larger amounts would probably be a problem. With modern engines, on the other hand, caution is advised, as they are extremely sensitive to fuels and their ‘admixtures’.


Why is ‘sugar in the tank’ such a familiar saying? Possibly this saying is based on a similar term, lead acetate, which is said to promote sexuality. In reality, it is a sweet-tasting, nasty poison!

[Zuckersabotage Forumsmitglied Alle Beiträge durchsuchen Profil ansehen Schließen Zuckersabotage]

The petrol is delivered to the engine by gravity. I disconnected the hose and let some petrol out. Then I filled in new petrol and added engine cleaner. I was able to start the engine, but it kept dying off. But, the intervals got longer and longer.


After about 15 starts, the engine ran again without problems.

So sugar in the tank of an older or simple engine is not the absolute disaster. At least it wasn't for me.

[Garbo Forumsmitglied Alle Beiträge durchsuchen Profil ansehen Schließen Garbo]

Sugar burns and also dissolves a little in gasoline. I agree with the lead sugar theory.

[Zuckersabotage Forumsmitglied Alle Beiträge durchsuchen Profil ansehen Schließen Zuckersabotage]

I was asked why I was sure that my neighbour had put sugar in the tank.

I had never had this problem with the engine before. After draining the petrol and trying to start it several times, the engine started again. I don't think the engine repaired itself. In addition, some cables had been cut. That didn't happen by itself either.


In connection with other incidents, I'm sure it was the neighbour or one of his mates.

Too bad for him that I managed to fix the engine so easily.

[Burgstaller Forumsmitglied Alle Beiträge durchsuchen Profil ansehen Schließen Burgstaller]

You can never be sure unless you have recordings or the perpetrator admits it and explains the details. I also think it depends on the sugar grams. A robust engine will probably be able to handle a few grams.
Sugar cubes were found in the petrol tank of a friend of mine. An older car (built in 1998). But the petrol line, carburettor etc. had to be cleaned. The quantity was probably over 100 g.


Anyway, I'm pleased that the excavator is digging again!