Cash For Clunkers – The Process of Disabling a Clunker

Disabling a clunker is ultimately the end result of the government’s Cash for Clunkers national program.

Best idea ever. Or perhaps the worst idea ever? Regardless of which you pick, it’s undeniable that the Cash for Clunkers  program has struck up some controversy, and with good reason. On one end the program is taking gas guzzling, environmentally unfriendly vehicles off the road. On the other side, however, the vehicles that must be destroyed could provide transportation for those who couldn’t otherwise afford a vehicle.

While there might be a thousand points towards the good and another thousand to the bad, it doesn’t promote or evoke the fact that the Cash for Clunkers is law and will be here until either the money runs out.  With that in mind, we thought we’d give you a behind the scenes look as to what happens with these “clunkers” that get traded in. The process is fairly simple:

• The government verified “clunker” gets traded in towards a new vehicles of the customers choice and the customer leaves happy
• After paperwork is verified the vehicle gets lined up to get disabled.
• The mechanic starts to drain out all of the oil from the vehicle.
• The mechanic then injects a mixture of silica sand and water down into the engine.
• The engine is then revved up until the motor can no longer run.
• The vehicle is transported to a junk yard where it will be crushed.

Check out the video below to see the process in action (we have to warn you that many people have found this video disturbing.  Disabling a clunker is not a pretty sight or sound for that matter).