Yes. It is possible that the engine was damaged by the
bad gasoline. The Ducati motorcycle engine is a high-performance,
high-compression engine. As such, it is very sensitive to
the octane rating of the fuel. If the octane rating is too low,
detonation (or pinging) can occur. Detonation happens when the burning
fuel-air mixture in the cylinder compresses and heats the
unburnt gases to the point that they spontaneously combust.
Mild cases of detonation are heard as pinging in car engines.
Severe cases of detonation can shatter the piston crown, or
erode the piston, head, or valves. An impacted valve could stick
and damage the cam, lifters, or timing belt. Detonation
before the piston reaches top dead center, at low RPMs
could cause the engine to backfire violently, reversing the
crankshaft motion faster than than the cam could keep up.
That would also tear up the cam timing belt.
"Heavy polymer" could include many different compounds.
One slightly heavier molecule than gasoline is kerosene.
A small amount of jet fuel added to aviation gasoline
can destroy an aircraft engine. There have been many
reported incidents in which aviation gasoline was
contaminated with jet fuel, and subsequently damaged
the piston engines. Other contaminants that encourage
detonation could also damage the engine.
http://www.faa.gov/certification/aircraft/av-info/AD/saibs/NE0003R1.htm
http://asrs.arc.nasa.gov/directline_issues/dl1_tiger.htm |
