Cash for clunkers engines get blown up on YouTube
It’s enough to make a grown car guy cry. The “dirty side” of the Cash for Clunkers program, videos showing the permanent disabling of engines in vehicles traded in under the government plan have started to flood YouTube. While spectacular to watch, many of the videos are getting an angry response.
Dozens of videos, many posted by dealerships or their employees, show in horrific detail the process in which engines of traded in “clunkers” are drained of oil, filled with sodium silicate solution (basically liquid glass), and run until the internals parts seize. Some engines go quickly, some put up a fight.
One video of a perfectly good looking Volvo getting the clunker treatment has been viewed over 100,000 times, drawing nearly 1,000 comments from confused, angry, and upset car folk worldwide. Take a look…
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waj2KrKYTZo
This video shows an almost new looking Jeep Grand Cherokee giving up one heck of a fight before finally sputtering out.
[Update: It seems the video has been removed]
These videos beg the question, when does the quest for new car sales cross the line? With so many people in need of a car, why is blowing up engines and scrapping perfectly fine vehicles a good idea? Couldn’t some of these cars find a home with a family who is truly in need? Leave us a comment with your thoughts.
In the meantime, here’s a few more purported clunker disabling videos to get you thinking.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LidmCvdUMeg
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DtsZE7o6_A
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN27mEn2_xA
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OhW9u9R49w
Perhaps the most cringe worthy. Just listen to the awful sound made as the engine seizes.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twwWjAq1fXM
About the Author
Zane Merva Zane is a 12-year veteran of the automotive industry. Obsessed with cars since he was a kid, he's long loved tinkering with a wide range of vehicles, from trucks to sports cars. His passion for writing about cars was kick-started by a S-10 ZR2 and a Chevrolet Corvette he both used to own.
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This is a terrible waste. The program is simply taking our tax money and giving it to people who want to buy a new car. For them it is FREE MONEY but it has been taken from all of us [including the new car buyer, probably, if he pays taxes.]
The destruction of the cars turned in [most of which are probably very satisfactory vehicles in good operating condition], is completely against common sense.
This is another example of the feel-good, but absolutely senseless, mindset of our elected representatives.
Thanks for putting this together. I’m one to personify cars, especially older ones, so I can’t even stand to watch these videos. I wrote an article about this from the junkyard perspective:
http://www.newgeography.com/content/00945-%E2%80%9Ccash-for-clunkers%E2%80%9D-doesn%E2%80%99t-utilize-junkyard-efficiency
This is so disgraceful and needs to stop! It is so wasteful to ruin a perfectly good vehicle! People, if you dont want your vehicle anymore and want a new one, just sell the old one! Dont distroy it!
This is sickening!
The taxpayers should be outraged.
There is no stipuation that a truly green vehicle replace the nerly new gas guzzler that was destroyed—what is the point?
Sadistic—we all suffer!
Only from Washington can this sort of wanton waste emanate. What a stellar idea, take something of value and destroy it using credit. I suppose those finding humor in ruining these vehicle have never had the experience of being without. A truly sad new low for America.
I guess I disagree with everybody else here. The cars that have been destroyed in the video, as all clunkers turned in as part of the program, are old gas-guzzlers that have terrible emissions (most SUVs as the video shows) that ought to be scrapped and replaced by newer, less-polluting subcompact cars. Vehicles that do 18 mpg or better don’t qualify, so the only vehicles destroyed are the ones that really should never have been built in the first place. These vehicles are going to be scrapped and their metal/plastic components recycled for use in products that make more sense in today’s world. The cash for clunkers program has been a success, as most trades have consisted of old SUVs for new subcompacts. The engines have to have the oil removed and then seized to make sure no oil is left in them so they can be recycled. I only wish they used a more environmentally friendly way of removing the oil from the engines instead of releasing all that toxic smoke up in the air.
This is one of the most stupid and sickening things I have ever seen. Yet another short sighted (or the result of a hidden agenda of some sort) stunt courtesy of the pathetic leadership (at least so far demonstrated) by our socalistic pals in Washington. It really angers me to know that my tax money is being used for this pathetic waste of resources.
How does this affect the used car industry? Sure, we will save the big 3 car makers for a while, but not everyone can afford a new car. When all that is left are new cars, the price will only go up. I cannot believe we are willing to sacrifice multiple industries to save one. The ripple effect of this will only hurt more mainstream Americans in the long run. Small business owners who rely on salvage yards to keep equipment up and running, auto part stores will have the only part in town and will jack up prices. The price of metal will plummet. This whole plan is an example of how the wealthy of the world continue to repress the lower and middle class Americans. A free market does not need the government to stay afloat. A free market works independent of the government. The auto makers who are going under will eventually go under no matter what we do. These two faced plans cloaked in black robes have nothing to do with the environment; it’s a ploy to save a few fatal companies that have been raping the public for years. A band aid for a heart attack will work about the same. The truth is any American that buys into this plan is ignorant and brain washed.
I more sanity here on a site with the word “Insane” in it’s title.
First off “CARS” focuses on two big issues Carbon emissions and importing crude. The intent is to take these guzzlers out off the road for good. People need to stop blaming Obama for the “Car-nage”. This CARS bill started in 2008 and came to life in 2009. The people that threw in these cars did not get a mandatory notices that they had to trash their car/truck. They could have donated or sold the vehicle to a person in need. If it was worth 500-1000 less than the rebate amount then it was too far past it’s prime. If it was worth more than the rebate then shame on the Trader and the Dealer.
The Engine and Frame have to go, it can not run on the highway as a car/truck.
Parts from the tranny and rear axel can be parted out but not sold/salvaged whole. Someone with a big SUV might find a cheap differential out there now from “Pull-A-Parts” or similar salvage yards. Most other parts can be pulled and sold including those nice ties. Some salvage yards may be scrapping good parts but shame on them. In most cases the Videos don’t show the salvage operations like pulling manifolds, electronics, fuel systems, AC etc. In most cases only what is in the crankcase is fouled. The rest if not damaged collaterally can salvaged.
Patrick Le Blanc, Let me tell you this right off. I have one a Jeep like the white one in the last video. 4.7 V8 and all. It gets 21 on the highway and 18 around town. And it is 4 wheel drive since I live in Maine, northern Maine, and need this on some days just to get around. So, gas guzzling SUV’s is a fine buzz word, but it doesn’t ring true in the light of reality. To destroy a fine running vehicle in the name of saving the economy is an oxymoron. How is this supposed to generate any lasting positive effect on the economy is beyond me. How many low income or college students would kill for a car like these? But, it is much better to ruin them. It will be cold day when I trade in my Jeep for an eco box. You could offer me 10 grand and if I knew that this were going to happen, I would show you the door. To say nothing of the fact that I don’t want a cracker box to drive. (Want, remember that? Remember freedom of choice?) So, I will just go out and tell my V8 Jeep and my V8 Lincoln Mark VIII how lucky they are that I own them. Not everyone considers a new car the end all beat all of life. I for one have no desire to drive a cookie cutter disposa-car. Think of how easy it will be for me to find my car/jeep in the parking lot after everyone is driving a plastic can. Good luck to all who got themselves what they really needed in life. A new car!! Peace
Wow-How efficient! What a great way to spend our hard earned tax dollars. Can’t wait to see what they do with all of us when they ram the health care system down our throats. This administration talks about how they care for the poor but yet won’t give them these “clunkers” to help them get around or maybe even get to work. And for the “green” crowd I guess your pretty proud with expediting the carbon print through this program. Sorry for rambling but what a senseless waste. I’m so glad I got to help pay for this form of welfare.
Before this argument gets too outta hand. There are flaws in all of your arguments. maybe before you respond you should read the actual bill instead of whining about this. people who are against it are most likely middle to low income families who cant afford a new car thus not being able to take advantage of this cash for clunkers deal. furthermore people want what they cant have and just because you cant afford it does not mean that it doesnt make sense for other people who can. grow up. realize that if you were making more money then you probably would have cashed in and be sittin in a new car right now you douche. with that said the point of this is to reduce emissions. end of story. they have done this. no matter what they chose to do to reduce emissions it was going to cost US taxpayers money. not to mention did anyone take into account how much money went into the economy when those people bought there new $50,000 cars? also. the cash for clunker program should have be exclusive for only ford, gmc, and chevy (the big 3) and make it illegal for any other car manufacturer that does not originate out of the united states to do this. thus makeing sure that only domestic vehicles are available
@douchebag
“Before this argument gets too outta hand. There are flaws in all of your arguments.”
HAH! What a shit head way to start off your opinionated spew fest.
“furthermore people want what they cant have and just because you cant afford it does not mean that it doesnt make sense for other people who can. grow up. realize that if you were making more money then you probably would have cashed in and be sittin in a new car right now you douche.”
I can afford a new car and I DON’T want one. My Grand Cherokee is a fantastic vehicle. It’s got decent gas mileage as stated above, and won’t get stuck in a mud puddle or hung up on a 4″ bump like you hipster-mobile does.
Enjoy.