California Man Targeted by Sugar-in-Gas Prank Despite Locking Fuel Cap; Experts Say Engine Unharmed

A Los Angeles man, Alberto Martinez, recently shared a troubling experience on TikTok: shortly after spending $2,500 to repair his car, he discovered someone had stuffed a large amount of brown granules—suspected to be sugar—into his fuel tank filler neck. He suspects deliberate sabotage and even worries, “Is someone trying to harm me?” However, according to Mohammad Fatouraie, an engineer at Bosch cited by *Popular Mechanics*, the idea that “sugar can destroy an engine” is actually an urban legend. Modern vehicle fuel systems are equipped with multiple filtration mechanisms that effectively block granular substances like sugar. Moreover, sugar is denser than gasoline and typically settles at the bottom of the fuel tank without entering the engine. In such cases, simply cleaning the tank and replacing the fuel filter is sufficient—major repairs aren’t necessary. Despite this, many online users still believe the myth, and some have suggested installing a lockable fuel cap as a precautionary measure.