12th Jun 2015, 17:09
Water molecules are not volatile like hydrocarbons, and thus don't have an ignitable vapor and can't release energy in that engine. So, the car wouldn't move, but in no way would it be damaged. The products of combustion are water and carbon dioxide. Thus, every time you combust hexane/octane in your engine, you release water! How could that damage the engine? If anything, some extra water will "clean it out". And, for the shrewd service station manager, he could sell 10 gallons of gas which may actually be 9 gas/1 water, and his running costs decrease, which is good for his business. The driver will only get 9 miles worth of range from driving on that tank because the 1 gallon of water wouldn't contribute anything to the car's movement.
11th Jun 2015, 20:35
Imagine buying a car like this. Cutting corners is a disaster. I've bought cars with women's pantyhose instead of an oil filter on a car. Horrible bondo. Cans of fix a flat inside tires. Used a scraper to clean oil pans; on and on to shave a buck. This is one to add to the list.