No other YouTube channel captures the spirit of good ol' American automotive fun quite like Cleetus McFarland's. He is the proud owner of some true rarities like the $500,000 Ripsaw Tank which he's famously driven through a Mcdonald's drive-thru all the way to a mini Plymouth Duster which he's modified to do nothing but burnouts.

His latest episode, however, is a more scientific endeavor in which he asks the age-old question. Can a vehicle run on diesel instead of engine oil? He will test his theory that it will run on a Ford Crown Victoria with a 4.6-liter V8.

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The Fuel Fireball

At the beginning of the video, Cleetus reminds us of a previous video where he tests gasoline instead of engine oil. The outcome was a fireball so strong that the explosion lifts the body of the car.

He reminds us that although the initial fire was bad, he was able to fix up the car enough to at least drive the car a full 17 laps around the Freedom Factory Track.

Not A Great Idea

Cleetus McFarland YouTube Channel Crown Vic on fire when using gasoline instead of engine oil
via: Cleetus McFarland YouTube Channel 

Cleetus reminds us that this is not something that we should try at home, which seems obvious enough, but for the sake of science, Cleetus has taken it upon himself to find out if the car can run. He hypothesis that since diesel burns at a much slower rate and "feels oilier" than gasoline that it should run longer.

The reason for this is that diesel has a high energy density. This is why diesel engines are able to run at much higher compressions and do not burn as quickly or as hot as gasoline.

To prove this, Cleetus pours some gasoline onto the Crown Vic's trunk and sets it on fire. It burns instantaneously and is very hot. He then tries the same with the diesel which initially doesn't light and when it does finally catch it burns much slower.

RELATED: Uh Oh, Cleetus McFarland Broke His Chevrolet El Camino

Time To Test Diesel As An Engine Lubricant

Cleetus McFarland YouTube Channel Crown Vic doing laps around Freedom Factory Track
via: Cleetus McFarland YouTube Channel 

At the 7:30 mark, Cleetus starts up the car and drives onto the track. Already seeing improvements over the gasoline (such as actual oil pressure) Cleetus begins his laps. Before long, he passes the 17-lap record of the gasoline engine.

He soldiers on until the 37th lap when the car decides it's had enough and Cleetus rolls safely off the track. While taking off his safety equipment he tells us he was at "full rip the entire time, which was probably 20 miles".

He continues to say that if you were really in a pinch you could probably get 50 miles with normal driving but he still doesn't recommend doing that. He reminds us once again that this was for the sake of science and our viewing entertainment.