Canadians question maple syrup car claim

The owner of a junkyard in the American state of Florida has sparked an online debate after replacing the engine oil of a Nissan with what he claimed was “maple syrup”.

A video that has garnered over 2.2 million views shows the man experimenting with an oil change that uses a dark-coloured sweetener bought from his local store.

However, keen-eyed Canadians were quick to spot the difference between the artificially-flavoured corn syrup used by the man – whose TikTok channel has over 300,000 followers – and 100% pure maple syrup that is considered a national treasure north of the border.

Issues with the novel test didn’t stop there. Car news platform Motor1 reported that a major problem would be crystals forming after the engine cools:

“Several commenters identifying as chemists, chefs and mechanics pointed out that the test missed the part where it would matter most. As long as the engine is running, the syrup stays hot and liquid; the trouble starts when it cools.”

Troy Watts, star of the channel, followed up the maple syrup experiment by using washing up liquid in the engine of the same Nissan.

While it may be unable to double up as engine oil, maple syrup is known for being a very versatile sweetener, lending its unique flavour to much more than the staple of pancakes. It can be used in cooking to glaze and marinade, in a maple vinaigrette in green salads, or to replace cane sugar in everyday hot drinks such as coffee and tea.