What to mix with petrol to guarantee engine death?

What to mix with petrol to guarantee engine death?

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GBGaffer

Original Poster:

546 posts

269 months

Wednesday 26th May 2010
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An acquaintance of mine is being plagued by a spate of thefts of outboard fuel tanks from his boatyard. Presumably the perpetrators are running their cars on the stolen fuel.

He is planning a 'sting' by leaving a boat on a trailer with a tank with some 'doctored' fuel in it. He asked me if I knew what to add to petrol, that would be relatively undetectable, but would guarantee an early demise to the scrote's car.

My initial reply was - sugar, but on reflection (and some quiet googling) I am now not sure. The chap has access to the normal range of industrial products such as solvents and paints to be found in boatyards, and is not looking to do any personal harm - just a swift kick to the wallet as a result of a costly breakdown!

Any bright ideas?

jas xjr

11,309 posts

238 months

Wednesday 26th May 2010
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diesel?

jhfozzy

1,345 posts

189 months

Wednesday 26th May 2010
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Sugar definately works from personal experience.

Watched a mate pour a bag (could have been a couple of bags, my mind is hazy) of sugar into a teachers fuel tank at school who had told him off in class.

According to the "come on - own up" speech in assembly, the car got halfway home and conked out.

It wasn't permanent, tank drain and filter change, no damage to the engine, but it definately worked and would make them think twice.

Silent1

19,761 posts

234 months

Wednesday 26th May 2010
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Bleach, it'll completely ruin it.

GBGaffer

Original Poster:

546 posts

269 months

Wednesday 26th May 2010
quotequote all
Silent1 said:
Bleach, it'll completely ruin it.
Reallybiggrin What does it do?

stevieturbo

17,229 posts

246 months

Wednesday 26th May 2010
quotequote all
Are they stealing the tanks or syphoning the fuel out ?

If syphoning the fuel....you could try methanol. Only for the reason it is poisonous and if they get a little in their mouths...they could die lol

But mixing a large percentage of diesel will also have a bad effect. The diesel tends not to burn, and get washed down into the sump.
This will overfill the sump, as well as massively dilute the oil. Meaning the oil wont be doing its job of lubricating the engine.

Not sure what percentage you would need though.

I'd imagine 30-40% should be a good try ? and the petrol should still run the engine ok.

Fire99

9,844 posts

228 months

Wednesday 26th May 2010
quotequote all
GBGaffer said:
Silent1 said:
Bleach, it'll completely ruin it.
Reallybiggrin What does it do?
Yeah i'm curious too.. What does it do??

Silent1

19,761 posts

234 months

Wednesday 26th May 2010
quotequote all
GBGaffer said:
Silent1 said:
Bleach, it'll completely ruin it.
Reallybiggrin What does it do?
Leaks past the cylinder rings and stops the oil being a very good lubricant and as it turns into a gas it destroys the valves.

Edited by Silent1 on Wednesday 26th May 20:29

Defcon5

6,159 posts

190 months

Wednesday 26th May 2010
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Will sugar get past the fuel filter?

TheEnd

15,370 posts

187 months

Wednesday 26th May 2010
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Defcon5 said:
Will sugar get past the fuel filter?
nope, that's what it does, just clogs the filters, it doesn't actually destroy the engine.

I wonder if there is some solvent that will affect/damage the rubbers/plastics. The fueling components are pretty resilient, but i wonder how far they go.

SteveTusc

143 posts

194 months

Wednesday 26th May 2010
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Silent1 said:
Bleach, it'll completely ruin it.
Yep, was on myth busters. Caused the oil to stop lubricating and the engine died rather quickly.

Poledriver

28,614 posts

193 months

Wednesday 26th May 2010
quotequote all
DOT 5 (silicon) brake fluid. It will attack seals (which is why so many people buggered up their old car's brake systems. It will also smoke beautifully and lose power. Acetone could be interesting too!

ETA

Iron filings, volcanic dust, water.

Or see if you can get some very low octane (less than 90) petrol, or some specialists still sell leaded petrol, that'll kill their Cats!!

Edited by Poledriver on Wednesday 26th May 21:59

Silent1

19,761 posts

234 months

Wednesday 26th May 2010
quotequote all
Also thinking about it, it will ruin any rubber/plastic components it comes into contact with, so if they notice and dilute it down after 1000 miles or so the fueling system will fail.

Jonny671

29,387 posts

188 months

Wednesday 26th May 2010
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Bleach sounds good!

Please, please keep this thread updated with if he finds out what happens biggrin

stevieturbo

17,229 posts

246 months

Wednesday 26th May 2010
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Methanol will actually eat rubber etc... And despite it being a higher octane etc.

Given its an alcohol based fuel, it would generally require twice as much for any given power output. So using it straight would cause very lean running and possible damage.

hell....even straight E85 might too !!

Pushrod-Power

233 posts

184 months

Wednesday 26th May 2010
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If its diesel then neat washing up liquid/fairy liquid causes havoc and cloggs the lot eek

Incorrigible

13,668 posts

260 months

Wednesday 26th May 2010
quotequote all
stevieturbo said:
Methanol will actually eat rubber etc... And despite it being a higher octane etc.

Given its an alcohol based fuel, it would generally require twice as much for any given power output. So using it straight would cause very lean running and possible damage.

hell....even straight E85 might too !!
Probably another demonstration that all my Meth knowledge came from a bloke down the pub, but I was told that meth into petrol turned into a nasty jelly residue knackering everything

BTW, Graham, I've lost (if I ever had) your new IOW address, numbers etc. Been meaning to get in touch for some time now !!

Come and see us next time you're on the North island www.classiccarworkshop.co.uk

Poledriver

28,614 posts

193 months

Wednesday 26th May 2010
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A thin version of this could make a mess!

stevieturbo

17,229 posts

246 months

Wednesday 26th May 2010
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Or just rig the tank to explode if stolen.

GT Kodiak

2,907 posts

178 months

Thursday 27th May 2010
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stevieturbo said:
Or just rig the tank to explode if stolen.
... Potentially lethal, no? hehe