# Gasoline and plastic?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasoline-and-plastic/73832
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [July 26, 2001, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasoline-and-plastic/73832 "2001-07-26T07:11:17Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Hippy144](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy144)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2001, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasoline-and-plastic/73832/1 "2001-07-26T07:11:17Z")
Okay, I have been told, and read, many times that to kill a car the easyest way is to drop something plastic in the tank. The plastic dissolves making a thick gel that clogs the engine. What I don’t understand is, if this works, how do the plastic canisters of gas (for lawnmowers and such) hold it without melting?
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### Author:  [@mmmiiikkkeee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmmiiikkkeee)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2001, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasoline-and-plastic/73832/2 "2001-07-26T08:59:03Z")
Easy… different types of plastic. Gas or jerry cans are made from High Density Polyethylene (HDPE). According to the net, HDPE is a rugged material which is easy to mould, has a high resistance to impact and is not affected by most chemicals: Working Temperature Range: -35ºC to +65ºC.
[Here’s](http://www.americanplasticscouncil.org/benefits/about_plastics/resin_codes/resin.html) a page showing some diffent plastic types… I’m not a plastic engineer so I can’t say which type dissolves with gasoline… probly some of the lower grades or other types. Lots of pages on plastics on the web.
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### Author:  [@GSV\_Consolation\_of\_Dreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GSV_Consolation_of_Dreams)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2001, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasoline-and-plastic/73832/3 "2001-07-26T08:59:04Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Hippy144 \*
> \*\*Okay, I have been told, and read, many times that to kill a car the easyest way is to drop something plastic in the tank. The plastic dissolves making a thick gel that clogs the engine. What I don’t understand is, if this works, how do the plastic canisters of gas (for lawnmowers and such) hold it without melting? \*\*
WAG here:
They use a kind of plastic that doesn’t dissolve easily in gas. Or they line the containers with teflon/something to stop it dissolving.
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2001, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasoline-and-plastic/73832/4 "2001-07-26T11:10:07Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by atarian \*
> \*\*WAG here:
> They use a kind of plastic that doesn’t dissolve easily in gas. Or they line the containers with teflon/something to stop it dissolving. \*\*
This information will, I’mm sure, prove useful for my ongoing chocolate teapot project. 😉
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### Author:  [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2001, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasoline-and-plastic/73832/5 "2001-07-26T12:05:25Z")
Once while trying to start a charcoal bbq w/ just a boat and a match I poured gas into a plastic disposible cup. poured some on hte coals and when I got back to the cup the remaining gas disolved it’s way through the bottom of the cup.
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### Author:  [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)
#### Post date: [July 26, 2001, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gasoline-and-plastic/73832/6 "2001-07-26T13:13:34Z")
When I was a kid (and didn’t know better) I poured gasoline into a styrofoam cup. The cup disintegrated right before my eyes.