Thanks for all of the input. As noted, sugar does not dissolve in gas. This was obvious from our appraiser (unfortunately, the vehicle was much too far away for me to go check it out myself), who said sugar was caked all around the fuel pump, which was inside the tank. Sugar poured out of the tank.
David,
That's very interesting. I believe what you are writing, I wish we had done that in the physical damage training classes I had attended. I wonder if it is a case by case basis, depending on the vehicle and the fuel system. Though I wonder in your case why the sugar didn't leave a residue inside the motor. I wouldn't think sugar would burn as completely as gasoline. I'm wondering if the motor in my claim didn't encounter some kind of vapor lock or other lock up situation. The owner said he heard noises, and the vehicle hesitated, but he thought it was just in need of a tune up, so he kept driving (I know, I know...but that's another issue). Finally it "popped" and that was all she wrote.
There is no doubt this vehicle had sugar in it. There is no doubt that the engine blew up (you should see the hole in the side of the block). The question we are trying to answer is was the sugar put in the tank before the motor blew, or after?
Anybody have a Corvette I can borrow?
Steve