1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,000 Remember kids, don't try anything you see on this show at home. 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:05,000 We're experts. 3 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:08,000 And this was like this when we got here. 4 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:37,000 On this episode of Myth Shinerz, the team gets loaded with a double shot of moonshine myth. 5 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:39,000 Okay, go ahead and fire it up. 6 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:43,000 First, could your hooch house be blown to bits? 7 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:47,000 This entire house is gonna leap five feet in the air. 8 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:53,000 By an exploding still, and could a tank of that old white lightning... 9 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:56,000 I think this thing is running on moonshine in a prayer. 10 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:59,000 ...have enough juice to run your car. 11 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:02,000 This is what moonshine is all about. 12 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:06,000 Find out as the myth busters hit the hard stuff. 13 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:14,000 Who are the myth busters? 14 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:17,000 Adam Savage... 15 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:18,000 I got the chicken. 16 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:19,000 and Jamie Heineman. 17 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:20,000 I'm ready. 18 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:27,000 Between them more than 30 years of special effects experience, together with Grant Imahara, 19 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:40,000 Carrie Byron, and Tori Belachy, they don't just tell the myths, they put them to the 20 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:47,800 test. 21 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:57,800 Up in the Appalachian Mountains, the moonshiners battle the elements, each other, and the 22 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:04,800 law, to continue the proud tradition of moonshine. 23 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:14,800 It's a tradition steeped in legend, and where there's legend, there's the myth busters. 24 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:19,800 So, first up, Adam and Jamie are starting with a bang. 25 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:21,800 Have you ever tried moonshine, Jamie? 26 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:23,800 Do you think I should answer that? 27 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:24,800 Probably, okay. 28 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:26,800 Well, then I probably have. 29 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:28,800 Have you ever made moonshine, though? 30 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:30,800 Do you think I should answer that? 31 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:32,800 Probably not. 32 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:34,800 Well, then I probably haven't. 33 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:38,800 But you are familiar with the idea that moonshining carries with it some dangers that it can 34 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:40,800 achieve mythical proportions. 35 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:43,800 You mean like it can burn more than your throat? 36 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:44,800 Exactly. 37 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:49,360 What we've got here is a story about a moonshiner making moonshine when something goes wrong 38 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:52,800 and blows his entire moonshining shack to smithereens. 39 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:54,800 That sounds great. 40 00:02:54,800 --> 00:03:00,800 According to this legend, a moonshiner is distilling his liquor when suddenly, no more 41 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:01,800 shack. 42 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:05,800 But could a still really blow your hut to high heaven? 43 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:08,800 How do you think the best way to tackle this story is? 44 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:12,800 Well, this story is about an exploding moonshiner shack, so we're going to have to build a shack. 45 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:13,800 Of course. 46 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:16,800 But if you're going to make moonshine, you're going to need a still. 47 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:17,800 Maybe that's where we start. 48 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:20,800 Just go downstairs, make a still, and start brewing our own alcohol. 49 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:22,800 You betcha. 50 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:26,800 Adam is testing his metal by building an authentic copper still. 51 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:30,800 It's important to really get into your... 52 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:34,800 And it's a riveting process. 53 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:36,800 What am I doing, you ask? 54 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:38,800 I'm having fun. 55 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:42,800 But every last joint and bolt must be carefully sealed. 56 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:44,800 Beautiful. 57 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:49,800 To ensure it's airtight and the moonshine vapor will have nowhere to go, but up. 58 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:54,800 I feel like a dream. 59 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:57,800 From there, it's the job of the condenser. 60 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:00,800 That's the last time I make everyone slinkies for Christmas. 61 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:04,800 To twist that vapor back into liquid hooch. 62 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:07,800 That was easier than I thought it would be. 63 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:13,800 While Adam's scratch building his still, I've got to hold up this stainless steel milk canister, 64 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:18,800 which has been modified just for the purposes of using it as a still. 65 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:20,800 There's the heating element. 66 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:22,800 It's the same thing they use in water here. 67 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:24,800 It's perfect for this. 68 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:26,800 And there we go. 69 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:28,800 Ready to start shining. 70 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:33,800 But before they shine on, they'll need the most important ingredient, the mash. 71 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:36,800 So this is the stuff we're going to get alcohol out of? 72 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:37,800 Absolutely. 73 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:39,800 What is it exactly? 74 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:41,800 It's a good old fashioned corn mash. 75 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:46,800 This is predominantly about 65% corn and malted wheat, malted barley. 76 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:49,800 Well, that's even, but it works. 77 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:53,800 Mix those together and end up with about 10% alcohol that we can then distill out to a higher proof. 78 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:57,800 Normally when we say don't try this at home, there's a safety issue involved. 79 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:01,800 In this case, you shouldn't try this at home, but for a different reason. 80 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:04,800 It's illegal to distill on your own. 81 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:07,800 So we went ahead and did it right. We got a permit. 82 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:09,800 That's what you need to be able to do this. 83 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:12,800 Wow, it's actually working. 84 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:14,800 Yeah, looks like we got something. 85 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:18,800 It tastes dangerous. 86 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:19,800 That's high proof. 87 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:20,800 Yeah, that is high proof. 88 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:24,800 We should grab a hydrometer, give it a test, see what we're coming out at. 89 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:26,800 I thought it was going to be a drip, drip, drip. 90 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:28,800 That's a faucet. 91 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:30,800 Looks like we got about 156 proof. 92 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:35,800 We now have a couple of working alcohol distillation machines. 93 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:40,800 Now it's time for us to go out into the field and see how these working stills can fail. 94 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:57,800 Next, Carrie, Tori and Grand are fueling up for a moonshine run. 95 00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:01,800 I'm really excited about this whole moonshiner's crossover episode. What are we testing? 96 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:03,800 Well, we've got a myth that's really common. 97 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:07,800 I mean, it's been on Back to the Future, Lawless, Dukes of Hazard. 98 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:11,800 And that is, you can run a car on nothing but moonshine without any modifications, 99 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:13,800 and it'll be totally fine. 100 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:17,800 Well, this gives a whole new meaning to driving under the influence, which is illegal. 101 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:20,800 But I guess they're moonshiner, so it'll care. 102 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:21,800 Contact. 103 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:25,800 There's a reason the moonshiders call their stuff white lightning. 104 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:27,800 That's some fine sipping liquor. 105 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:29,800 Man, you can really get a car on that. 106 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:34,800 But could you really run your ride on that old mountain dew? 107 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:37,800 Alright, so I get the concept. Can an unmodified car run on moonshine? 108 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:39,800 But it's a little vague, right? 109 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:44,800 True. I mean, they don't say what kind of car, what kind of moonshine, or even the definition of run. 110 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:46,800 Alright, well, why don't we start off simple. 111 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:48,800 Let's get three different cars from three different decades. 112 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:52,800 We'll get a carbureted one, a fuel-injected one, and a brand new car. 113 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:57,800 We'll fill it up with the most typical type of moonshine, and see if the cars even drive. 114 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:01,800 Okay, so it's not just one for the road, it's three. 115 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:09,800 All the cars are the same make and model, but grants flashing back to the 90s, and Tories grooving in the 70s. 116 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:11,800 You guys ready to party? 117 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:13,800 Woof! 118 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:16,800 So this is our course for today's experiment. 119 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:20,800 It's designed to put our cars to the test in various ways. 120 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:29,800 Including starting from a stop, acceleration, precision maneuvering, and three-point turns. 121 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:37,800 Now we're going to put moonshine in, and assuming they start, we'll put each vehicle through three laps and score them. 122 00:07:37,800 --> 00:07:43,800 And based on that, we'll find out which era vehicle, if any, performs the best on moonshine. 123 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:46,800 What I have here is traditional moonshine. 124 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:48,800 Now this is what we're going to be using to fuel our cars. 125 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:54,800 Now this particular moonshine is about 192 proof, which means it's about 96% ethanol. 126 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:56,800 That goes down smooth! 127 00:07:56,800 --> 00:08:00,800 Now ethanol is the fuel that race cars use, so there is a chance that this could work. 128 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:03,800 However, our cars are far from race cars. 129 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:05,800 They're not tuned up for this kind of fuel. 130 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:07,800 So is this going to be an effective fuel? 131 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:09,800 We're about to find out. 132 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:16,800 First to cruise on the booze, it's Tories 70s car. 133 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:20,800 I'm driving a 73 vehicle, which by the way has a carburetor. 134 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:25,800 Now a carburetor's job is to mix the fuel and the air together so that the engine runs smoothly. 135 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:32,800 Now if there's not enough fuel and too much air, the vehicle is going to be running lean, which means it might not run at all. 136 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:38,800 Here we go. This is moonshine in a carbureted car in three, two, one. 137 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:45,800 Oh my god! Here we go! 138 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:48,800 Yeah! 139 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:49,800 All right. 140 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:55,800 I think this thing is running on moonshine in a prayer. 141 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:57,800 I think it's just running on a prayer at this moment. 142 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:02,800 Is that stalled? I think it's stalled. 143 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:04,800 Oh! 144 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:05,800 It's stalled. 145 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:07,800 Oh! It's stalled again. 146 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:12,800 I'm not getting away from any cop if I'm driving that car on the moonshine. 147 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:15,800 So after less than one complete lap... 148 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:21,800 Man! Moonshine in a carbureted car? Not the best gas. 149 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:26,800 It's clear the carburetor can't handle the 4% water in the hooch. 150 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:31,800 Three, two, one. 151 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:36,800 That was a good start. 152 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:41,800 But could a different way of dispersing fuel give the 90s car the edge? 153 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:51,800 Now these 90s era cars are fuel injected, which means that the fuel is pumped through a tiny nozzle at high pressure, and that atomizes the gas immediately. 154 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:53,800 All right, here comes acceleration test. 155 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:01,800 No worries. That's one lap down. 156 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:03,800 I'm going to run moonshine than I would. 157 00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:05,800 Two to go! 158 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:06,800 Whoa! 159 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:09,800 Almost feeling like it might die. 160 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:11,800 Trouble with the idle? 161 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:12,800 This is not good. 162 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:13,800 Come on. 163 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:15,800 Oh, whoa! 164 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:19,800 Oh, I hear a bit of stuttering in the engine. 165 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:22,800 They seem to be losing a little bit of acceleration. 166 00:10:22,800 --> 00:10:28,800 Yep, it seems the moonshine isn't compatible with the fuel injected 90s car. 167 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:34,800 At first it was going really, really well, but as the test went on it started to hesitate from a stop. 168 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:37,800 It was jerking while it was idling. We had a loss of power. 169 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:47,800 So although the 70s car and the 90s car struggled with the white whiskey, will the modern car have a taste for moonshine? 170 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:49,800 That clears your sinuses. 171 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:52,800 All right, so I'm driving the 2013 car. 172 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:55,800 I'm sort of glass half full and half empty on this one. 173 00:10:55,800 --> 00:11:03,800 I mean, it's a new car, so it's not flex fuel, but it does have a sophisticated computer that might be able to recognize an alternative fuel. 174 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:08,800 But moonshine being ethanol burns a lot hotter than gasoline. 175 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:10,800 It might just burn out the engine altogether. 176 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:15,800 In three, two, one. 177 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:20,800 It's not starting. 178 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:21,800 Come on, give me a second. 179 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:22,800 Yes! 180 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:23,800 Okay, it's started. 181 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:24,800 Here we go, jump in. 182 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:25,800 Good luck. 183 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:31,800 Although it was slow to start, the 2013 is off and most definitely running. 184 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:35,800 It feels a little off, but not in a bad way. 185 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:40,800 So far I don't hear any clunking, like, you know, when you have the wrong kind of feel in there. 186 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:43,800 This car's taking it all in stride. 187 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:49,800 I can't believe this is not actually bad. I'm shocked. 188 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:58,800 So after completing three almost perfect laps, it's clear the unmodified modern car and its computer can handle the hard stuff. 189 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:01,800 So this one's confirmed you can run a car on moonshine. 190 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:03,800 That is so bizarre. 191 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:05,800 Later. 192 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:06,800 You're going down, sucker. 193 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:11,800 But first, are we inadvertently testing a watch button ever boils? 194 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:14,800 You know, I was going to say the same thing. 195 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:28,800 Because they spend their lives on the wrong side of the law, moonshiders are always on the lookout for trouble. 196 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:36,800 And when it comes to trouble, a boiler full of flammable vapor is top of the list. 197 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:41,800 But could it still really explode and take a shack down with it? 198 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:44,800 Feeling like making some alcohol? 199 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:46,800 And blowing some stuff up. 200 00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:47,800 Yeah, let's fire up the boiler. 201 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:51,800 Well, first, they've got to build their still house. 202 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:53,800 That's a floor. Let's screw it down. 203 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:54,800 Yeah. 204 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:58,800 It's a quick and dirty shack that's got three walls in no time. 205 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:00,800 There it is. 206 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:05,800 And a clear fourth wall to ensure they get their boom with a view. 207 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:06,800 Everything's really clear. 208 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:08,800 So now to bring in the still. 209 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:14,800 If this is a story about an exploding still, what is it exactly that is supposed to make the still explode? 210 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:22,800 Well, as the mash burns and alcohol is produced, particulate matter can actually build up inside this thing and cause a clog. 211 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:29,800 Now, when that clog happens, all of a sudden you end up with alcohol, with no outlet, and that makes it become a pressure vessel. 212 00:13:29,800 --> 00:13:32,800 And we all know what happens on Mythbusters when a pressure vessel fails. 213 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:39,800 How am I going to induce that clog in the still? 214 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:44,800 With this, a simple half inch copper cap soldered to the only outlet for the alcohol. 215 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:46,800 That is perfect. 216 00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:50,800 Now, once we've eliminated its outlet and start to heat it up, it will find its own way out. 217 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:55,800 The question we're going to answer with that experiment is, how bad will it be? 218 00:13:55,800 --> 00:14:00,800 So for their worst case scenario still failure, they've deliberately blocked the outlet. 219 00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:05,800 Because we're looking for the worst case scenario, I'm using 200 proof alcohol. 220 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:07,800 That is pure alcohol. 221 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:09,800 We are ready to go. 222 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:16,800 Distilling from pure alcohol means more vapors and should mean more pressure for the still. 223 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:21,800 Everything looks good. Temperature is rising steadily. It's at 100. 224 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:22,800 Excellent. 225 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:25,800 Let the pressure begin. 226 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:30,800 With no outlet, the pressure inside the still builds and so does the heat. 227 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:32,800 The temperature is climbing like a rocket. 228 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:39,800 Add as the temperature within the still skyrockets to 500 degrees, the room starts to cook. 229 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:43,800 That's enough heat to auto ignite all the wood in there, if it had air. 230 00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:47,800 So my question is, is it enough to make the vessel fail? 231 00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:49,800 That's what I'm hoping. 232 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:52,800 Smoke coming out the top. 233 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:54,800 Smoke off the top. 234 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:55,800 No signal. 235 00:14:55,800 --> 00:14:57,800 Oh, we just saw a signal in the camera. 236 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:00,800 That means it got crazy, crazy, crazy hot in there. 237 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:02,800 Yeah. 238 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:10,800 After 30 minutes of their worst case scenario still, no room boom. 239 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:13,800 But there is fire in the hole. 240 00:15:13,800 --> 00:15:19,800 I see flame coming out all over the place now. 241 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:26,800 I'm starting to suspect that somewhere in the piping, leaving out of my still, there's a failure. 242 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:34,800 I might not get a failure of the actual vessel because it's just leaking consistently in that space and feeding this fire. 243 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:36,800 Should we think about putting it out? 244 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:40,800 I think so. I don't think there are any big build-ups of fumes in there. 245 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:42,800 No, I'm going to put on the fire suit. 246 00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:46,800 Adam is quick to hose down the wreckage. 247 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:51,800 The bottom is well-enabled and burned. There's nothing salvage going there. The still is totally destroyed. 248 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:52,800 Okay. 249 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:57,800 But it's the lack of an explosion that really put the damper on this myth. 250 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:03,800 Nothing that we predicted or expected to happen happened as we thought it might. 251 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:08,800 Open flames started working beautifully. We were getting some nice high temperatures on my still. 252 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:15,800 But instead of acting like a pressure vessel that fails catastrophically, once it got up to heat, it seemed to fail. 253 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:17,800 What's the opposite of catastrophic? 254 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:24,800 Leconically, laxidasically, don't get me wrong. If you came upon this and this was your shack and you came upon it the next morning, 255 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:30,800 you'd be like, hey, my shack flew up. But I'm here to tell you, there's no explosion there. 256 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:31,800 No explosion. 257 00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:36,800 No, it's so sad, but that was just one scenario and there are others. 258 00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:37,800 It's true there are. 259 00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:38,800 Shall we set one up? 260 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:39,800 Let's do it. 261 00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:47,800 There's no doubt that moonshine can be very strong stuff. 262 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:50,800 All right, here we go. We got some moonshine going. 263 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:54,800 And it even looks like you can run a car on it. 264 00:16:54,800 --> 00:17:00,800 So we put moonshine in a car and it ran. That's myth confirmed, right? 265 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:01,800 Not as far as I'm concerned. 266 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:05,800 I've always heard the myth that a car running on moonshine will outrun a car running on gas. 267 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:07,800 That the moonshine will outperform gasoline. 268 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:09,800 I mean, that's how they portray it in the movies, right? 269 00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:12,800 All right, why don't we continue our test with our best performing car? 270 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:14,800 Let's also mess with the formulations for the moonshine. 271 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:20,800 Find the best proof to run in the car. Put it head to head against a gas-fueled vehicle and do sort of a comparison. 272 00:17:20,800 --> 00:17:21,800 A moonshine run. 273 00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:22,800 A moonshine showdown. 274 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:23,800 I like it. 275 00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:29,800 And with a burden of three kinds of proof on board. 276 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:31,800 You got the hooch. 277 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:35,800 It's time to see which liquor is quicker. 278 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:40,800 St. George's Distillery has been kind enough to make us a full range of different proof moonshine for our experiment today. 279 00:17:40,800 --> 00:17:46,800 We have 150, 170 and 192, which we've been using in our previous experiment. 280 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:48,800 So here's how this test is going to go. 281 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:50,800 We're going to start here at the start line. 282 00:17:50,800 --> 00:17:54,800 And I'm going to stomp in the gas as soon as Tori says, go for it. 283 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:59,800 Well, Tom, how long it takes to get up to 60 miles an hour? 284 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:03,800 When I get there, I'll say, stop. 285 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:06,800 Time, 6.9 seconds. 286 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:10,800 We're going to average that three times in a row for each proof. 287 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:13,800 The proof that has the fastest time is the winner. 288 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:19,800 So first the car is drained of gas and then liquored up with the 151 proof. 289 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:24,800 Come on, Bobby Joe. The cops are on the tails. We've got to get out of here. 290 00:18:24,800 --> 00:18:27,800 In three, two, one, go. 291 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:33,800 We're having technical difficulties. 292 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:34,800 Go. 293 00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:39,800 All right, here we go. 294 00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:45,800 It doesn't like it. 295 00:18:45,800 --> 00:18:49,800 It seems the 151 is literally a non-starter. 296 00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:52,800 We've got to get to the still before the police show up. 297 00:18:52,800 --> 00:18:58,800 And despite an attempted bump start, it's all systems, no. 298 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:00,800 I don't think this is how the Moon Shiners do it. 299 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:03,800 All right, I think we should just call it. 300 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:06,800 I don't have the energy to continue this test. 301 00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:09,800 There's no way we're ever getting up to 60 or even five. 302 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:12,800 Sorry, I couldn't push that fast. 303 00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:19,800 Next, they raise the bar, draining the 151 and refueling with the 170 proof. 304 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:23,800 But will this white lightning be lightning fast? 305 00:19:23,800 --> 00:19:24,800 Go. 306 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:27,800 Well, it's a little sluggish off the line. 307 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:33,800 19 and a half seconds, 22 seconds, 308 00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:39,800 16.7 seconds to get up to 60 miles an hour on 170 proof. 309 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:40,800 Excellent. 310 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:45,800 With an average of 19.4, there's still room for improvement. 311 00:19:45,800 --> 00:19:50,800 So can the 96% ethanol, 192 proof, power to victory? 312 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:52,800 I'm not driving. 313 00:19:52,800 --> 00:20:01,800 Okay, guys, this is Moon Shin, run zero to 60 tests with 192 proof in three, two, one, go! 314 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:02,800 Go, go! 315 00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:14,800 9.65 seconds, 8.94 seconds, 9.78 seconds to get up to 60 miles an hour. 316 00:20:14,800 --> 00:20:19,800 And clearly off the line, the 192 is the quicker liquor. 317 00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:24,800 So it turns out 192 proof moonshine works best in our vehicle. 318 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:27,800 Now that we have our moonshine and we have our best vehicle, 319 00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:30,800 it's time to put it up against gasoline. 320 00:20:37,800 --> 00:20:40,800 It's the Mythbusters moonshine happy hour. 321 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:44,800 And there's still more thrills and spills to come. 322 00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:47,800 That totally didn't work out like I was hoping. 323 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:51,800 My stills failure mode was less catastrophic and more, shall we say, 324 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:53,800 melty than I was hoping for. 325 00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:57,800 Yeah, you still got a slow leak that was feeding the fire underneath. 326 00:20:57,800 --> 00:21:00,800 Mine didn't have that problem. It had an internal electric heating element. 327 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:07,800 Right. So in theory, you still could keep on leaking and there's no ready ignition source to take care of that gas. 328 00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:12,800 Well, yeah, and then the fumes would just keep building up until you had the perfect explosive fuel air mix. 329 00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:19,800 And then if you get like a short circuit or a spark or a moonshiner lighting a cigarette, boom. 330 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:23,800 It's an altogether different kind of failure. 331 00:21:23,800 --> 00:21:28,800 But historically, igniting rooms full of flammable gas, 332 00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:33,800 did my missing an eyebrow, is a lot harder than you'd think. 333 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:40,800 See, the problem is that the worst thing that can happen when you have a chamber full of flammable gas and air is nothing. 334 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:44,800 If it doesn't ignite, nobody wants to go near that thing. 335 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:46,800 It's a dangerous thing. 336 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:55,800 So we must get ignition and I'm going to troubleshoot our ignition source here in the shop before we head out to the field and put all our eggs in one basket or a shack. 337 00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:58,800 It's not pretty, but it'll work, I promise. 338 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:00,800 So the setup is pretty straightforward. 339 00:22:00,800 --> 00:22:03,800 First, we need to shack for the experiment to happen in and that's done. 340 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:04,800 Then we need some alcohol. 341 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:06,800 Here's some I prepared earlier. 342 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:09,800 No, seriously, this is my alcohol from the earlier distillation. 343 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:15,800 Then we need a way to turn that alcohol from a liquid into a gas and that's with a hot plate and a pan. 344 00:22:15,800 --> 00:22:22,800 Then we need a way to ignite that and that is with our handy 15,000 volt neon transformer. 345 00:22:22,800 --> 00:22:24,800 I'm going to put the two contacts in there. 346 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:29,800 They'll create a nice spark and hopefully that'll give us the guaranteed pop rope and form. 347 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:30,800 Now we wait. 348 00:22:30,800 --> 00:22:31,800 Now we wait. 349 00:22:31,800 --> 00:22:38,800 With all eyes on the proof of concept shack, it's not long until the alcohol vapor starts to fog. 350 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:39,800 I'm seeing vapor. 351 00:22:39,800 --> 00:22:41,800 Yeah, me too. 352 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:44,800 So it's time to flick the ignition switch. 353 00:22:44,800 --> 00:22:48,800 Minutri shack in three, two, one. 354 00:22:52,800 --> 00:22:53,800 Nothing. 355 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:54,800 Nothing. 356 00:22:54,800 --> 00:22:55,800 I can see the spark from here. 357 00:22:55,800 --> 00:22:56,800 Yeah. 358 00:22:58,800 --> 00:22:59,800 Nothing. 359 00:22:59,800 --> 00:23:01,800 I'm sure nothing has happened. 360 00:23:01,800 --> 00:23:03,800 Let's leave everything unplugged. 361 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:06,800 Wait 10 minutes and then go and clear the area. 362 00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:07,800 Okay. 363 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:13,800 10 minutes later and the ethanol vapor has cleared, but shouldn't it have been easier to ignite? 364 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:19,800 It seems like the alcohol vapor is settling to the bottom and it's ending up being really striated. 365 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:21,800 How are we going to guarantee ignition in this thing? 366 00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:28,800 Well, we've had a lot of luck before by igniting some sort of a larger thing like a paper towel or whatever. 367 00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:30,800 I'm getting a flame going on in there. 368 00:23:30,800 --> 00:23:32,800 So with the addition of a rag, 369 00:23:32,800 --> 00:23:34,800 Second time's a charm. 370 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:38,800 The vapor should ignite this time around. 371 00:23:38,800 --> 00:23:40,800 Yeah, I see mist coming down. 372 00:23:40,800 --> 00:23:43,800 It looks like it's building up in the bottom of the container. 373 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:44,800 Oh, look at that. 374 00:23:44,800 --> 00:23:46,800 It totally is getting foggy down there. 375 00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:49,800 I think we should turn off the burner and set it off. 376 00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:50,800 All right. 377 00:23:50,800 --> 00:23:51,800 All right. 378 00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:52,800 Here we go. 379 00:23:52,800 --> 00:23:53,800 Spark test. 380 00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:55,800 A little bit of fire. 381 00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:57,800 Three, two, one. 382 00:23:57,800 --> 00:23:59,800 Three, one. 383 00:24:03,800 --> 00:24:08,800 The rag put the torch to the ethanol, exploding the shaft just as they hoped it would. 384 00:24:08,800 --> 00:24:13,800 And it's clear those alcohol fumes sure are dangerous. 385 00:24:13,800 --> 00:24:16,800 Oh, I got a little bit of fire going on. 386 00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:19,800 All right. 387 00:24:19,800 --> 00:24:21,800 Now I was going to try and hold it closed. 388 00:24:21,800 --> 00:24:23,800 Oh, I see what you're doing. 389 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:24,800 Okay. 390 00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:26,800 The first one was CO2. 391 00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:31,800 That's not CO2, I guess. 392 00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:33,800 But it did the trick. 393 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:35,800 It certainly did. 394 00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:37,800 I'm going to go on and limb and say, 395 00:24:37,800 --> 00:24:41,800 I think that's an incredibly effective ignition method and let's go with it. 396 00:24:41,800 --> 00:24:42,800 Works for me. 397 00:24:44,800 --> 00:24:48,800 There's no doubt that if you brew it just right, 398 00:24:48,800 --> 00:24:50,800 Finally, good liquor, man. 399 00:24:50,800 --> 00:24:52,800 You can run your car on moonshine. 400 00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:54,800 It's not it. 401 00:24:54,800 --> 00:24:56,800 Provided you have the right car. 402 00:24:56,800 --> 00:24:58,800 This car is taking it all in stride. 403 00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:00,800 And the right moonshine. 404 00:25:00,800 --> 00:25:04,800 But could white whiskey ever outgun gas? 405 00:25:04,800 --> 00:25:07,800 You ready for some new awesome memories of this track? 406 00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:09,800 I'm ready to do some racing. 407 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:13,800 So for our moonshine fuel face off, we've come out to the Petaluma Speedway. 408 00:25:13,800 --> 00:25:16,800 We're going to test both speed and performance. 409 00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:17,800 We have a course set up. 410 00:25:17,800 --> 00:25:19,800 We have two identical cars. 411 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:22,800 They're both brand new 2013 cars. 412 00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:24,800 The only difference is one is filled with moonshine, 413 00:25:24,800 --> 00:25:26,800 one is filled with gasoline. 414 00:25:26,800 --> 00:25:30,800 We're going to have Tori run the course three times in the gasoline vehicles, 415 00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:32,800 three times in the moonshine vehicles, 416 00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:36,800 and whichever fuel has the fastest time wins. 417 00:25:36,800 --> 00:25:40,800 Now personally, I think the moonshine has got a chance. 418 00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:42,800 Well, that's the come. 419 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:45,800 First Tori setting the pace with regular old gasoline. 420 00:25:45,800 --> 00:25:48,800 In three, two, one, begin. 421 00:25:50,800 --> 00:25:55,800 And he's off to a wheel spinning start. 422 00:25:55,800 --> 00:25:59,800 Tori's top speed attempt has him drifting on the dirt. 423 00:25:59,800 --> 00:26:02,800 Yeah, well done. 424 00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:05,800 Sharp turn, get inside, waste to the inside. 425 00:26:08,800 --> 00:26:12,800 Tori's got his foot to the floor, but with this kind of track, 426 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:15,800 that means he's not getting much traction. 427 00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:20,800 The gasoline car was performing so well that as soon as you hit the accelerator, 428 00:26:20,800 --> 00:26:21,800 the wheels are spinning. 429 00:26:21,800 --> 00:26:24,800 That was a nice recovery on that fishtail. 430 00:26:24,800 --> 00:26:28,800 So I was constantly having to readjust the steering to stay on track 431 00:26:28,800 --> 00:26:32,800 so I didn't spin out, and then I kept my speed up so that I get the best time. 432 00:26:35,800 --> 00:26:37,800 Woo! Come on in! 433 00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:42,800 The gasoline car takes the checkered flag at two minutes and 26 seconds. 434 00:26:42,800 --> 00:26:45,800 All right, let's move on to the moonshine car and see how that one performs. 435 00:26:45,800 --> 00:26:50,800 Now, gas versus moonshine, I don't think moonshine's going to handle this track very well. 436 00:26:50,800 --> 00:26:54,800 Going from slow to fast quickly is not one of its strong points as I've seen so far. 437 00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:57,800 I think gas is definitely going to rule it here. 438 00:26:57,800 --> 00:27:02,800 Okay, here goes moonshine run. In three, two, one, go! 439 00:27:05,800 --> 00:27:10,800 It's all down to Tori, but can the rocket fuel outperform the gas? 440 00:27:11,800 --> 00:27:14,800 Woo! Look at that fishtail! Nice! 441 00:27:15,800 --> 00:27:22,800 To confirm this myth, the moonshine car has to complete three laps in less than two minutes, 26 seconds. 442 00:27:22,800 --> 00:27:27,800 Now, we saw a little hesitation on the 0-60 test, but out here on the track... 443 00:27:29,800 --> 00:27:30,800 Oh my God! 444 00:27:30,800 --> 00:27:33,800 I'm not feeling any hesitation whatsoever. 445 00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:37,800 I feel like there's too much power! 446 00:27:37,800 --> 00:27:45,800 Yep, it seems as though the slower acceleration of the moonshine has the wheels taking the dirt track in their stride and gaining on the gasoline. 447 00:27:46,800 --> 00:27:50,800 God, I wonder if it's handling any different from the Inzags. From here, it looks fine. 448 00:27:50,800 --> 00:27:51,800 Woohoo! 449 00:27:54,800 --> 00:27:57,800 This moonshine is giving me a lot more get-up and go. 450 00:27:57,800 --> 00:28:01,800 We might be on to something here, man. Maybe this is true. 451 00:28:01,800 --> 00:28:04,800 This could be a tie. This could be it. 452 00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:06,800 Wow, look at the beat of Tori! 453 00:28:07,800 --> 00:28:08,800 Here we go! 454 00:28:10,800 --> 00:28:12,800 Woo! Alright, what's that on the clock? 455 00:28:13,800 --> 00:28:14,800 Oh my God, that's amazing! 456 00:28:15,800 --> 00:28:16,800 What was our time? 457 00:28:16,800 --> 00:28:18,800 You beat it by two seconds! 458 00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:20,800 Wait, we actually beat our time? 459 00:28:20,800 --> 00:28:22,800 Yeah, you did! 460 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:25,800 Dude, that's amazing! That's insane! 461 00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:31,800 Amazingly, the moonshine outgunned the gas, but that's still not a definitive result for Kari. 462 00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:39,800 Moonshine has done amazingly well, far beyond what I expected for both the speed and for performance. 463 00:28:39,800 --> 00:28:44,800 But what I'd really like to see, what I really think is going to give moonshine a test, is longevity. 464 00:28:44,800 --> 00:28:48,800 I want to see a long moonshine run. I mean, moonshiners are doing something illegal. 465 00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:51,800 They're not just going to pull over when the cops ask them, they're going to keep going. 466 00:28:51,800 --> 00:28:54,800 They need to outrun them. This is a run-and-gun situation. 467 00:28:54,800 --> 00:28:59,800 I want to see if moonshine can stand up to a real moonshine run, winning a car. 468 00:29:00,800 --> 00:29:03,800 Yup, coming up, the law catches up with our moonshiner. 469 00:29:03,800 --> 00:29:04,800 Moonshiners! 470 00:29:04,800 --> 00:29:06,800 What the heck? Let me get him! 471 00:29:06,800 --> 00:29:09,800 But will it be last orders for the myth? 472 00:29:09,800 --> 00:29:11,800 Woo-hoo! 473 00:29:11,800 --> 00:29:12,800 Myth! 474 00:29:16,800 --> 00:29:20,800 Do not try what you are about to see at home. We're what you would call experts. 475 00:29:21,800 --> 00:29:27,800 Welcome back. In this episode, we've been investigating mythical ways in which illegal alcohol stills might meet their end, 476 00:29:27,800 --> 00:29:30,800 hopefully via a destructive, all-encompassing explosion. 477 00:29:30,800 --> 00:29:32,800 That whole thing is going down. 478 00:29:32,800 --> 00:29:36,800 I know it might look like I'm standing in the aftermath of a successful explosion, 479 00:29:36,800 --> 00:29:40,800 but in fact, we have to admit that this experimental setup was a bit of a dud. 480 00:29:40,800 --> 00:29:42,800 The still is totally destroyed. 481 00:29:43,800 --> 00:29:47,800 And so we built a second shed. Exactly the same as the first, except in this one, 482 00:29:47,800 --> 00:29:50,800 we will be investigating a totally different kind of explosion. 483 00:29:50,800 --> 00:29:53,800 We will have Jamie still in here, and we're going to pop a leak in it. 484 00:29:53,800 --> 00:29:56,800 Now, the hole in the middle of it will be a perfect leak. 485 00:29:56,800 --> 00:30:01,800 When we have what we consider enough vapor, we will introduce an open flame. 486 00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:02,800 Woo! 487 00:30:02,800 --> 00:30:06,800 We consider this to be the highest possible explosion in the world. 488 00:30:06,800 --> 00:30:08,800 We will introduce an open flame. 489 00:30:08,800 --> 00:30:09,800 Woo! 490 00:30:09,800 --> 00:30:14,800 We consider this to be the highest percentage possibility of yielding the type of 491 00:30:14,800 --> 00:30:18,800 bye-bye shack fireball that we were looking for. 492 00:30:18,800 --> 00:30:24,800 Well, that ought to do it. Heat there, alcohol in there, alcohol vapor out here. 493 00:30:24,800 --> 00:30:25,800 Boom. 494 00:30:26,800 --> 00:30:30,800 Well, boom, so long as the moon shine-to-air ratio is right. 495 00:30:31,800 --> 00:30:36,800 Alcohol vapor becomes flammable between 3 and 19% when combined with air. 496 00:30:36,800 --> 00:30:41,800 The ideal ratio is 7, though, and so that's what we're going to be aiming for. 497 00:30:41,800 --> 00:30:46,800 But the thing is, our alcohol sensors are proven to be not so reliable, 498 00:30:46,800 --> 00:30:50,800 so what we're going to have to do is measure the oxygen content in the room. 499 00:30:50,800 --> 00:30:53,800 There's our sensor right there. Perfect. 500 00:30:53,800 --> 00:30:59,800 So we know that when we reach an oxygen concentration of about 19.5% 501 00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:03,800 as opposed to its normal 20.9% in the atmosphere, 502 00:31:03,800 --> 00:31:08,800 we'll have our ideal 7% concentration of alcohol vapor, 503 00:31:08,800 --> 00:31:10,800 and that's going to give us our best shot. 504 00:31:10,800 --> 00:31:14,800 And to ensure ignition, they're using their small-scale technique. 505 00:31:14,800 --> 00:31:17,800 Time to soak our ignition source in lighter fluid. 506 00:31:17,800 --> 00:31:20,800 But that leaves one key question. 507 00:31:21,800 --> 00:31:23,800 How would this happen in the real world? 508 00:31:23,800 --> 00:31:26,800 Let's say our moonshiner is out of smoke, 509 00:31:26,800 --> 00:31:29,800 and so he drives to town, leaving the still operating, 510 00:31:29,800 --> 00:31:31,800 not knowing that there's a leak in it. 511 00:31:31,800 --> 00:31:38,800 He comes back with his cigarettes, opens the door, lights one, and up she goes. 512 00:31:40,800 --> 00:31:42,800 My prediction here is pretty straightforward. 513 00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:44,800 You know, I like the overalls. 514 00:31:44,800 --> 00:31:46,800 They make caring come a lot easier. 515 00:31:46,800 --> 00:31:49,800 I think this thing's going to go cuphlump. 516 00:31:49,800 --> 00:31:51,800 I can't possibly do it as loud as it will happen, 517 00:31:51,800 --> 00:31:54,800 but I think the visual cue that it's going cuphlump 518 00:31:54,800 --> 00:31:59,800 is that this entire house is going to leap five feet in the air. 519 00:32:01,800 --> 00:32:04,800 Stills warming up. Now we wait. 520 00:32:04,800 --> 00:32:08,800 The wait begins, but will this be the shining scenario 521 00:32:08,800 --> 00:32:11,800 that finally brings the still house down? 522 00:32:12,800 --> 00:32:14,800 Starting oxygen reading is 20.9. 523 00:32:14,800 --> 00:32:18,800 Our butter zone will be between 19.5 and 20. 524 00:32:18,800 --> 00:32:21,800 That's the explosive ratio. 525 00:32:21,800 --> 00:32:25,800 And inside the shack, the oxygen level is slowly inching towards it. 526 00:32:25,800 --> 00:32:29,800 At stand at 20.3, we can't see the vapor, 527 00:32:29,800 --> 00:32:33,800 but it apparently is displacing oxygen, 20.2. 528 00:32:33,800 --> 00:32:38,800 The guys prepare to bide their time as the ethanol fumes fill their hut. 529 00:32:38,800 --> 00:32:40,800 Wow, things are happening in there. 530 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:42,800 Our feet over here is getting fuzzy. 531 00:32:42,800 --> 00:32:44,800 But after just five minutes, 532 00:32:44,800 --> 00:32:48,800 the air to moonshine mixture hits their explosive goal. 533 00:32:49,800 --> 00:32:50,800 It's 19.5. 534 00:32:50,800 --> 00:32:53,800 All right, that's the ideal ratio, shall we? 535 00:32:53,800 --> 00:32:55,800 Yeah, let's see what happens. 536 00:32:55,800 --> 00:32:59,800 Okay, here we go. Moonshining still, explosion. 537 00:32:59,800 --> 00:33:02,800 Wow, ignition. 538 00:33:02,800 --> 00:33:07,800 In three, two, one. 539 00:33:08,800 --> 00:33:11,800 Whoa! 540 00:33:11,800 --> 00:33:13,800 That was an explosion. 541 00:33:13,800 --> 00:33:15,800 That was beautiful. 542 00:33:16,800 --> 00:33:21,800 Yep, the still huffed and puffed and blew the house down. 543 00:33:22,800 --> 00:33:24,800 That worked perfectly. 544 00:33:24,800 --> 00:33:27,800 That worked absolutely perfectly. Let's go check out the damage. 545 00:33:27,800 --> 00:33:28,800 Okay. 546 00:33:28,800 --> 00:33:31,800 Ah, it looks like the still's holding the building up. 547 00:33:31,800 --> 00:33:34,800 I wouldn't have expected that. 548 00:33:34,800 --> 00:33:38,800 And it did blow apart the building as well as lifted off the foundation. 549 00:33:38,800 --> 00:33:42,800 It did, but not five feet like I predicted, more like one foot. 550 00:33:43,800 --> 00:33:47,800 Well, that was as awesome as our first experiment was disappointing. 551 00:33:48,800 --> 00:33:53,800 We actually got a kahuup, a genuine poof, and a failure of our entire structure. 552 00:33:53,800 --> 00:33:58,800 The only thing holding this building up at this point is the still that is inside it. 553 00:33:59,800 --> 00:34:03,800 What's interesting, though, to me is that we didn't see a thing. 554 00:34:03,800 --> 00:34:05,800 That room was not cloudy. 555 00:34:05,800 --> 00:34:11,800 There was nothing like any kind of teapot steam coming out of that nozzle, which I kind of expected. 556 00:34:11,800 --> 00:34:15,800 So, you know, if you were a moonshiner and you opened that door, 557 00:34:15,800 --> 00:34:19,800 you wouldn't have any idea what was going on until it was too late. 558 00:34:20,800 --> 00:34:25,800 Which means clearly this leaky still scenario is confirmed. 559 00:34:25,800 --> 00:34:26,800 So what does this tell us? 560 00:34:26,800 --> 00:34:32,800 Well, I think first and foremost we learned that a home-built still does not a destructive pressure vessel make. 561 00:34:32,800 --> 00:34:37,800 Yes, but a leakin' still can create enough fumes to blow a building apart. 562 00:34:37,800 --> 00:34:39,800 Yeah, making moonshine is dangerous business. 563 00:34:39,800 --> 00:34:42,800 And we ain't even started drinking it yet. 564 00:34:42,800 --> 00:34:43,800 Let's remedy that. 565 00:34:51,800 --> 00:34:56,800 Every single thing we investigate on Mythbusters has to do with a transfer of energy. 566 00:34:57,800 --> 00:35:01,800 From one state to another, from one form to another, from one place to another, 567 00:35:01,800 --> 00:35:04,800 often rapidly and hopefully with disastrous results. 568 00:35:04,800 --> 00:35:12,800 So just check this out and watch how the rapid combustion of all the alcohol fumes in the shack causes it to expand. 569 00:35:12,800 --> 00:35:17,800 The inrush of oxygen causes fire to just appear almost everywhere. 570 00:35:17,800 --> 00:35:24,800 The corona of flame around the perimeter as the atmosphere is combining with the oxygen and the gas fumes 571 00:35:24,800 --> 00:35:29,800 in order to set everything on fire as well as the total destruction of the shed. 572 00:35:29,800 --> 00:35:31,800 This is the best part of the job. 573 00:35:36,800 --> 00:35:39,800 Thunder Hill brings back memories, huh? 574 00:35:43,800 --> 00:35:44,800 You going down, sucker? 575 00:35:44,800 --> 00:35:45,800 Get out of the kitchen. 576 00:35:45,800 --> 00:35:49,800 We're back at Thunder Hill, the same place where we tested IndyCar Myth. 577 00:35:49,800 --> 00:35:53,800 But this time we're playing cops and moonshiners. 578 00:35:53,800 --> 00:35:56,800 We're trying to see if moonshine will outperform gasoline. 579 00:35:56,800 --> 00:35:59,800 But so far it looks like they're pretty close. 580 00:35:59,800 --> 00:36:02,800 You beat it by two seconds. 581 00:36:02,800 --> 00:36:06,800 But now it's time for our next test, longevity. 582 00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:11,800 What we need to simulate here is a long car chase down a windy road. 583 00:36:11,800 --> 00:36:13,800 And that's why Thunder Hill is ideal. 584 00:36:13,800 --> 00:36:14,800 It's got twists. 585 00:36:14,800 --> 00:36:15,800 It's got turns. 586 00:36:15,800 --> 00:36:17,800 It's got a straightaway. 587 00:36:17,800 --> 00:36:21,800 All right, we about to start our moonshine run experiment. 588 00:36:21,800 --> 00:36:22,800 This is how it's going to go. 589 00:36:22,800 --> 00:36:24,800 Chiefs really get on my nerves. 590 00:36:25,800 --> 00:36:28,800 Tori and I are going to be waiting next to that billboard right there. 591 00:36:28,800 --> 00:36:30,800 We are cops eating donuts. 592 00:36:30,800 --> 00:36:32,800 He's giving us these bum beats. 593 00:36:32,800 --> 00:36:34,800 There's plenty of donuts. 594 00:36:34,800 --> 00:36:40,800 Now when Grant races by in his moonshine vehicle, we are going to drop our donuts and jump in the car. 595 00:36:40,800 --> 00:36:43,800 Grant's going to enter the Thunder Hill Raceway track. 596 00:36:43,800 --> 00:36:47,800 Now when he does three laps, that's 10 miles. 597 00:36:47,800 --> 00:36:50,800 If in that time we can catch up to him in our gas powered vehicle, 598 00:36:50,800 --> 00:36:52,800 then the myth is busted. 599 00:36:52,800 --> 00:36:55,800 If he makes it away from us, it's confirmed. 600 00:36:55,800 --> 00:36:58,800 And over on the wrong side of the tracks. 601 00:36:59,800 --> 00:37:02,800 Yes! Good to go. 602 00:37:06,800 --> 00:37:07,800 Moog honours! 603 00:37:07,800 --> 00:37:09,800 What the heck? Let's get him. 604 00:37:09,800 --> 00:37:13,800 As Grant powers past the police, the chase is on. 605 00:37:15,800 --> 00:37:16,800 Here we go. 606 00:37:16,800 --> 00:37:18,800 Woohoo! 607 00:37:20,800 --> 00:37:26,800 With just over 10 miles of high speed, high tail in, hot pursuit and to go, 608 00:37:27,800 --> 00:37:32,800 this is the ultimate test of endurance for the unconventional fuel. 609 00:37:32,800 --> 00:37:36,800 Come on moonshine! You can do it! 610 00:37:38,800 --> 00:37:41,800 Both drivers are giving it everything they've got. 611 00:37:41,800 --> 00:37:43,800 Woohoo! We can get him. 612 00:37:43,800 --> 00:37:46,800 Pushing their vehicles to the limit. 613 00:37:48,800 --> 00:37:51,800 This is insane. He's performing like he's driving on gas. 614 00:37:51,800 --> 00:37:54,800 The moonshine is unbelievable. 615 00:37:55,800 --> 00:38:00,800 Yep, incredibly. Grant with his tank full of good old white lightening. 616 00:38:02,800 --> 00:38:04,800 Is hanging on to his lead. 617 00:38:05,800 --> 00:38:08,800 Alright, so I gotta say, going into the next round, 618 00:38:08,800 --> 00:38:10,800 I was a little dubious. 619 00:38:10,800 --> 00:38:13,800 They are never gonna catch me. 620 00:38:13,800 --> 00:38:18,800 As I went in, I started driving and the first lap around, I was being really careful. 621 00:38:19,800 --> 00:38:23,800 And then once I started to gain confidence, I put the pedal to the metal. 622 00:38:26,800 --> 00:38:31,800 The moonshine performed just as well as the gas lane, if not better. 623 00:38:31,800 --> 00:38:34,800 Yes! Take that coppers, I made it! 624 00:38:35,800 --> 00:38:37,800 Moonshine! Woohoo! 625 00:38:38,800 --> 00:38:43,800 After 10 miles of pedal to the metal, Grant and his hooch have passed the endurance test. 626 00:38:44,800 --> 00:38:46,800 He's gonna be smug. 627 00:38:46,800 --> 00:38:48,800 Yep, I can tell. 628 00:38:48,800 --> 00:38:50,800 That is one smug moonshine. 629 00:38:51,800 --> 00:38:54,800 And successfully escaped the long arm of the law. 630 00:38:54,800 --> 00:38:55,800 Let's go. 631 00:38:55,800 --> 00:38:57,800 That is one smug moonshine. 632 00:38:57,800 --> 00:39:00,800 And successfully escaped the long arm of the law. 633 00:39:00,800 --> 00:39:02,800 Let me see your hands! 634 00:39:02,800 --> 00:39:05,800 I got nothing, I just got fuel in my car, officer! 635 00:39:06,800 --> 00:39:08,800 Well that was some fun driving, son. 636 00:39:08,800 --> 00:39:10,800 Wow, there's no way we could catch up to you. 637 00:39:10,800 --> 00:39:14,800 Yeah, I mean you were driving as if you were driving with gas. 638 00:39:14,800 --> 00:39:17,800 You know what, there was no problems at all here on the track. 639 00:39:17,800 --> 00:39:19,800 Are we confirming this myth? 640 00:39:19,800 --> 00:39:21,800 I can't believe it, but I think we are. 641 00:39:21,800 --> 00:39:24,800 I think it's confirmed. Moonshine is good as gasoline. 642 00:39:25,800 --> 00:39:31,800 But before you get your hopes up about moonshine, Carrie has some fuel for thought. 643 00:39:31,800 --> 00:39:34,800 At this point I feel like people are gonna start trying to put moonshine in their car. 644 00:39:34,800 --> 00:39:36,800 That's not necessarily a good idea. 645 00:39:36,800 --> 00:39:39,800 Cars are not made to have alcohol running through them. 646 00:39:39,800 --> 00:39:43,800 And we used so much moonshine compared to gasoline. 647 00:39:43,800 --> 00:39:47,800 The gas mileage? Not so good when you use a moonshine. 648 00:39:47,800 --> 00:39:49,800 Might as well just keep it in your cabinet and drink it. 649 00:39:56,800 --> 00:39:59,800 What are we doing back in the blueprint room? I thought we wrapped. 650 00:39:59,800 --> 00:40:07,800 Indeed we did, but we just got hot off the presses some news that may change the origins of the story of the exploding still. 651 00:40:07,800 --> 00:40:08,800 What? 652 00:40:08,800 --> 00:40:12,800 Okay, I want you to cast your mind back to the days you were an illegal distiller. 653 00:40:12,800 --> 00:40:15,800 If you knew the cops were coming, what would you do? 654 00:40:15,800 --> 00:40:16,800 I'd get the heck out of there. 655 00:40:16,800 --> 00:40:22,800 Exactly, illegal distillers would try and remove any evidence of their illegal operation. 656 00:40:22,800 --> 00:40:25,800 And they would do it in a way that we are very familiar with. 657 00:40:25,800 --> 00:40:26,800 With explosives. 658 00:40:26,800 --> 00:40:27,800 Exactly. 659 00:40:27,800 --> 00:40:33,800 So, for a new finale for this myth, we are going to use the oldie method of destroying the evidence. 660 00:40:33,800 --> 00:40:35,800 We're gonna blow it all up.