How to Use Sodium Silicate to Kill Clunker Cars

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By bythehorns
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This Model T Ford is a real clunker. Sodium silicate would disable it.

The recent Cash for Clunkers program lists clunker cars that can be traded in for government rebates. What happens to the clunkers afterward? It is kind of unfortunate, actually: the car's engines are disabled with sodium silicate. That's right: we're purposefully disabling cars (albeit "clunkers"). If you have the somewhat upsetting job of disabling a car with sodium silicate, here's how you can do so.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Sodium Silicate
A car that you want to disable, probably one listed in the CARS (Cash for Clunkers) program

Step 1

Buy sodium silicate. You'll actually want a solution of 40% sodium silicate and 60% water, according to the cars.gov website.
Step 2

There's actually a pretty good list put out by cars.gov. The main idea is that you'll want to drain the engine oil and replace it with your sodium silicate solution. Make sure you do this safely, using gloves and goggles when appropriate.
Step 3

Once you've done that, you'll run the engine until it starts to wear down. Cars.gov recommends running at around 2000 RPM. The engine will start to wear down and become inoperable.
Step 4

Wait an hour (or more) and try starting the engine again. If it fails to start, then you've successfully destroyed the engine. Otherwise, you repeat step 3 (running the engine).

Tips & Warnings

You can purchase sodium silicate online.
Use proper safety equipment, such as gloves and goggles.
These are working car engines that you are destroying. Just have some respect for the car.

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