Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
>> Narrator: ON THIS EPISODE
OF "MYTHBUSTERS"...
>> DRIVES LIKE A CUSHIONED
DREAM.
>> Narrator: IT'S THE GREAT GAS
CONSPIRACY.
>> THE END OF THE OIL MONOPOLY.
MAN!
>> Narrator: AS ADAM AND JAMIE
PUT MYTHICAL MILEAGE BOOSTERS TO
THE TEST.
[ EXPLOSION ]
>> THAT'S THE COOLEST THING
EVER!
>> Narrator: MEANWHILE KARI,
TORY, AND GRANT...
>> AAH!
Narrator: ...HAMMER OUT A
FARMYARD-FASHIONED DISASTER.
>> SOMEBODY ORDER SOME EXPLODING
PANTS?
>> Narrator: CAN CORROSIVE
CHEMICALS REALLY CAUSE TROUSERS
TO TURN TORPEDO?
>> 3, 2, 1!
>> Narrator: WHO ARE THE
MYTHBUSTERS?
ADAM SAVAGE.
>> ANTS ARE ALL OVER MY HEAD,
MAN!
>> Narrator: AND JAMIE HYNEMAN.
>> GETS ME ALL WORKED UP JUST
LOOKING AT IT.
>> Narrator: BETWEEN THEM, MORE
THAN 30 YEARS SPECIAL-EFFECTS
EXPERIENCE.
>> THAT WAS HEAVY.
JOINING THEM, GRANT IMAHARA...
>> GO GET 'EM, BOY.
>> Narrator: ...TORY BELLECI...
>> WHOA!
>> Narrator: ...AND KARI BYRON.
>> THAT WAS CRAZY!
>> Narrator: THEY DON'T JUST
TELL THE MYTHS -- THEY PUT THEM
TO THE TEST.
FIRST UP, A MYTH FROM THE VERY
UNDERSIDE OF THE WORLD FROM THE
COUNTRY THAT GAVE US THE
BACKDROP TO
"THE LORD OF THE RINGS," COMES
ANOTHER EXPLOSIVE EPIC THAT
WOULD STRIKE FEAR INTO EVEN THE
MOST HARDENED HOBBIT -- THE MYTH
OF THE EXPLODING TROUSERS.
>> ALL RIGHT, THIS IS A FUNNY
ONE.
IN 1931 IN NEW ZEALAND, A SUDDEN
AND DEADLY EPIDEMIC HIT THE
COUNTRY.
FARMERS' PANTS STARTED
EXPLODING.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
YOU'RE KIDDING.
>> TOTALLY SERIOUS.
THEY STARTED EXPLODING ON THE
WASH LINES, IN FRONT OF FIRES,
AND SOMETIMES ON THE FARMERS
THEMSELVES.
>> WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE CAN BE
EXPLOSIVE CHEMICALS ON FARMS,
AND IT SEEMS THAT THE KIWI
FARMERS STARTED USING A NEW
CHEMICAL WHICH, ONCE IT STAINED
THEIR CLOTHES, IT COULD EXPLODE.
>> THIS IS TOO PERFECT FOR US.
YOU GUYS AREN'T MAKING THIS UP.
>> Narrator: IT BRINGS NEW
MEANING TO THE TERM "FASHION
DISASTER."
THE FIRST VICTIM SURVIVED WHEN
HIS TROUSERS ALLEGEDLY BLEW UP
IN FRONT OF THE FIRE.
BUT OTHERS WEREN'T SO LUCKY.
>> IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT
THESE STORIES AREN'T
EXAGGERATED, YOUR JOB IS TO GET
FARMYARD EXPLOSIVES AND SOME
PANTS.
>> THE PANTS ARE GONNA BE THE
EASY PART.
GETTING THE EXPLOSIVES, THAT'S
GONNA BE A LITTLE BIT MORE
DIFFICULT.
>> I'VE BEEN DOING A LITTLE
BIT OF RESEARCH, AND IT SEEMS
LIKE THERE COULD BE FOUR
CULPRITS TO THIS.
ONE, IT COULD BE MADE FROM
GUNPOWDER, OR IT COULD BE MADE
FROM HERBICIDE.
IT COULD BE MADE FROM
FERTILIZER, OR POSSIBLY EVEN
SOME ACIDS.
>> SO, YOUR JOB IS TO GET THESE
TOGETHER, MIX THEM WITH SOME
PANTS, AND SEE WHICH ONE GOES
BOOM?
>> IT'S NOT GONNA REALLY BE THAT
EASY.
WE HAVE TWO MAJOR ISSUES TO DEAL
WITH.
FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO START
IN THE SMALL SCALE, BECAUSE IT'S
POSSIBLE NONE OF THEM WORK AND
THEN WE'RE BUSTED RIGHT THERE.
SECONDLY, I'M PRETTY SURE
MAKING EXPLOSIVES IS ILLEGAL, SO
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GET THE FBI
INVOLVED.
>> AND WE'RE ALSO GONNA HAVE TO
SHOT THIS IN A WAY THAT
AUDIENCES CAN'T COPY US.
'CAUSE, LET'S FACE IT, WE DON'T
WANT PEOPLE GOING AROUND MAKING
EXPLODING PANTS.
>> Narrator: SO, THAT'S THE
PLAN.
THE TEAM IS GOING TO GET HOLD
OF FOUR COMMON 1930s FARMYARD
CHEMICALS, ADD SOME SECRET
INGREDIENTS, AND SEE WHICH, IF
ANY, CAN MAKE TROUSER TORPEDOES.
SO, FIRST THING'S FIRST -- THE
HOT PANTS.
>> I HAVE PROCURED SOME 100%
COTTON OVERALLS, AND I'M CUTTING
SOME SWATCHES OUT OF IT THAT'S
ARE GONNA BE 3"x3" SQUARES SO
THAT WE ARE CAN DO A FEW
SMALL-SCALE EXPERIMENTS.
>> Narrator: TO HELP REVEAL
THE KILLER CULPRIT, THE TEAM IS
GOING TO START THE TESTING IN
MINIATURE, WHERE THEY'RE GOING
TO BE HELPED BY FORMER FBI
AGENT FRANK DOYLE.
AS ADAM AND JAMIE KNOW, FRANK IS
A HANDY FRIEND TO HAVE.
>> THESE ARE .223-CALIBER TRACER
ROUNDS.
>> Narrator: AFTER ALL, IT WAS
FRANK WHO HELPED SHOOT UP A GAS
TANK.
THIS TIME HE IS HERE TO GIVE
A BOOMS-FOR-BEGINNERS CLASS.
>> JUST LIKE THE FLIGHT
ATTENDANTS WHEN YOU'RE FLYING ON
AN AIRPLANE, SAFETY IS NUMBER 1,
SO WE WANT TO DO EVERYTHING VERY
SAFELY.
>> Narrator: FRANK'S SAFETY
BRIEF IS CRUCIAL BECAUSE MAKING
FARMYARD EXPLOSIONS CAN BE
VERY, VERY DANGEROUS.
>> ANY QUESTIONS?
>> I HAVE ONE QUESTION.
DO MYTHBUSTERS HAVE AN FBI FILE?
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE AN
ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTION.
>> SO IT'S CLASSIFIED?
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?
>> Narrator: IT'S CLASSIFIED,
JUST LIKE THE WRETCHED RECIPES
THE TEAM IS ABOUT TO MAKE...
STARTING WITH GRANT.
>> OKAY. ARE YOU READY, FRANK?
>> LET'S DO IT.
>> Narrator: GRANT'S FARM
INGREDIENT IS A 1930s
FERTILIZER, BUT THE REST OF THE
CONCOCTION IS A MYTHBUSTERS
SECRET.
>> START WITH DROPS.
YOU WILL NEED VERY LITTLE.
>> Narrator: IT IS A DELICATE
OPERATION BECAUSE ONE FALSE MOVE
COULD SPELL DISASTER.
>> FRANK, THIS IS, LIKE, THE
WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS COOKING
SHOW.
Narrator: WITH EXPLODING-TROUSER
CULPRIT ONE ALL COOKED UP, IT'S
ON TO KARI'S NUMBER TWO.
>> OKAY, BLACK POWDER IS
SOMETHING YOU WOULD DEFINITELY
FIND ON A FARM.
AND I'M NOT SURE THAT EVERYBODY
IN NEW ZEALAND COULD BE
SPREADING THIS ON THEIR CLOTHES,
ENOUGH TO CREATE QUITE A PANIC,
BUT IT IS SOMETHING EXPLOSIVE.
>> Narrator: BUT BECAUSE BLACK
POWDER WON'T CLING ON CLOTHES,
KARI'S TURNING IT INTO A STICKY
LIQUID SLUDGE.
>> IT'S LOOKING GOOD.
DO YOU NOT LIKE YOUR
BLACK-POWDER GRAVY TOO LUMPY?
Narrator: WITH 10 SWATCHES
SMEARED WITH THE GRUESOME GRAVY,
SUSPECT TWO IS ALL SET.
>> OKAY, THAT'S IT FOR THE BLACK
POWDER LAUNDRY.
>> Narrator: SO IT'S TIME FOR
TORY.
>> WHAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW IS A
HERBICIDE, AND THEY USED IT IN
NEW ZEALAND WHERE THIS MYTH CAME
FROM.
THIS COULD BE POTENTIALLY
EXPLOSIVE.
>> Narrator: TORY'S HERBICIDE IS
ANOTHER CULPRIT IN THIS CLOTHING
CONUNDRUM.
>> FRANK, WHY ARE YOU STANDING
SO FAR AWAY?
>> BECAUSE I WANT TO CONTINUE TO
LIVE.
>> SO, THEN, THE NEXT QUESTION
IS WHY AM I STANDING SO CLOSE?
>> Narrator: WITH THIS THIRD
SUSPECT CLOSE TO FINISHING, IT'S
BACK TO KARI FOR THE FINAL
RANCID RECIPE -- GUN COTTON.
>> WE KNOW FOR A FACT THAT WHEN
WE MAKE THE NITROCELLULOSE, IT'S
ACTUALLY GOING TO CHANGE THE
PROPERTIES OF THIS COTTON AND
MAKE IT SOMETHING DIFFERENT,
WHICH IS DEFINITELY EXPLOSIVE.
SO, WE'VE DONE THIS BEFORE.
WE MADE GUN COTTON IN THE
CONFEDERATE ROCKET STORY, SO
I'M SOMEWHAT OF AN EXPERT.
>> Narrator: DON'T BE TRICKED BY
ITS CUDDLY APPEARANCE.
IT WAS KARI'S COTTON WOOL THAT
GAVE THE CONFEDERATE ROCKET ITS
INITIAL THRUST.
AND JUST LIKE BEFORE, MAKING IT
IS PRETTY HAZARDOUS.
>> YOU CAN SEE ALL THAT SMOKE
COMING OFF.
THAT DOESN'T LOOK SO GOOD.
GOD, THIS STUFF IS NASTY.
>> Narrator: BECAUSE KARI IS SO
CONFIDENT THAT THIS WILL HAVE
EXPLOSIVE RESULTS IN THE
SMALL-SCALE TESTING, SHE'S ALSO
GOING TO PREPARE A FULL PAIR OF
GUN COTTON PANTS FOR WHEN THE
TEAM RAMPS THINGS UP.
>> ARE YOU READY FOR A
GIANT FALLOUT CLOUD OF BADNESS?
>> Narrator: UNDER FRANK'S
CAREFUL SUPERVISION, KARI STARTS
MIXING ALARMINGLY LARGE AMOUNTS
OF THE HAZARDOUS INGREDIENTS.
>> OKAY, WE ARE GONNA WAIT FIVE
MINUTES.
>> Narrator: BUT ALMOST
IMMEDIATELY THE REACTION STARTS
TO SPIRAL OUT OF CONTROL.
THE PANTS PLUME OUT MORE SMOKE
THAN A BALTIMORE BINGO HALL, AND
THEN THEY START DISSOLVING.
>> THAT'S ONE MINUTE SO FAR.
FOUR MINUTES TO GO.
>> ARE THERE GONNA BE ANY PANTS
LEFT?
>> Narrator: IT'S ALL GONE A BIT
PEAR-SHAPED.
>> IT'S CRACKING THE JAR.
>> Narrator: SO KARI AND TORY
FOLLOW THE MYTHBUSTERS MANTRA,
"IF ANYONE KNOWS WHAT TO DO,
IT'S JAMIE."
>> WOW, THIS STUFF IS NASTY.
>> SO, WHAT DO WE GOT?
>> WELL, THIS ONE IS THE GREAT
GAS CONSPIRACY, AND IT IS THAT
THE AUTOMAKERS AND THE FUEL
SUPPLIERS ARE IN COLLUSION WITH
EACH OTHER TO KEEP US DEPENDENT
ON EXPENSIVE GASOLINE AND
INEFFICIENT CARS.
AND THERE IS A HOST OF DEVICES
OUT THERE THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO
HELP YOU BEAT THEM AND STICK IT
TO THE MAN!
>> THAT'D BE GREAT.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
SO WE'RE GONNA BLOW THE LID OFF
THIS THING.
>> Narrator: CONSPIRACY
THEORISTS SAY OIL COMPANIES AND
CARMAKERS SHARE THE PROFITS
GAINED BY DELIBERATELY KEEPING
CARS INEFFICIENT.
BUT THERE ARE A WHOLE HOST OF
DEVICES THAT CAN SUPPOSEDLY CUT
YOUR FUEL CONSUMPTION
DRAMATICALLY.
AND THE MAGNETIC MYTHBUSTERS ARE
GOING TO PUT THESE TO THE TEST.
>> WHAT'S THE PLAN?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE
DEVICES WORK ON CARBURATED CARS,
AND SOME WORK ON FUEL-INJECTED
CARS.
>> SOUNDS LIKE WE SHOULD GET ONE
OF EACH TYPE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER THING
IS, I SAY WE DO THIS UNDER
SUPER-CONTROLLED LAB CONDITIONS.
>> WELL, THEY HAVE THOSE
THINGS -- I THINK THEY'RE CALLED
DYNAMOMETERS.
>> THE THING THEY PUT THE CARS
ON WHILE THEY'RE TESTING.
THEY'RE STATIONARY.
>> AND WE SHOULD ALSO PUT THE
GASOLINE IN AN EXTERIOR VESSEL
THAT WE CAN TRACK AND SEE HOW
MUCH WE ARE CONSUMING.
>> I DON'T THINK ANYONE WILL
HAVE ANY ABILITY TO COMPLAIN
ABOUT OUR METHODOLOGY HERE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
>> YEAH.
>> THEY WILL.
>> Narrator: YOU CAN COUNT ON
IT.
THEY'RE GOING TO GET THE TOP
FOUR MIRACLE CURES AND FIT THEM
TO TWO STYLES OF CAR.
THEN, AT THE DYNAMOMETER,
THEY'LL SEE WHICH DEVICE KEEPS
THEIR WALLETS THE FATTEST.
FIRST THINGS FIRST, THE CARS.
CAR ONE IS A MID-1990s
FUEL-INJECTED, RUN-OF-THE-MILL
RUN AROUND.
BUT CARBURETOR CAR TWO IS
SOMETHING ALL TOGETHER MORE
RETRO.
>> THIS IS A NICE CAR.
>> YEAH, IT'S YOUR STYLE, ISN'T
IT?
>> [ CHUCKLES ] I LOVE IT.
IT DRIVES LIKE A CUSHIONED
DREAM.
LOOK AT THAT.
[ CHUCKLES ]
>> IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S IN GOOD
SHAPE.
IT'S REAL CLEAN.
>> THIS IS A ROAD-TRIP CAR.
WE'RE GOING TO VEGAS IN IT WHEN
WE'RE ALL DONE, ME AND JAMIE.
[ LAUGHS ]
>> Narrator: BUT WHY HAVE THESE
GAS GAMBLERS GOT TWO CARS IN THE
FIRST PLACE?
>> THIS IS A BEST-SELLING CAR
FROM THE '70s, AMERICAN MADE,
EIGHT-CYLINDER, CARBURATED.
AND THE BLACK ONE HERE IS ONE OF
THE BEST-SELLING FOREIGN CARS OF
THE '90s, FOUR-CYLINDER,
FUEL-INJECTED.
TWO GREAT REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLES
OF, LIKE, DO-IT-YOURSELF CAR
IMPROVEMENT PLATFORMS TO TEST
ON.
Narrator: WITH BOTH CARS UP AND
RUNNING, THE MYTHBUSTERS NEXT
TURN MECHANICS, BUT WITHOUT MUCH
SUCCESS.
>> WHAT IS THIS?
>> UH...
>> Narrator: THEY'RE TRYING TO
WORK OUT WHICH OF THE TUBES IS
THE FUEL LINE THAT CONNECTS THE
GAS TANK TO THE ENGINE.
>> THIS HOSE RIGHT HERE...
>> THAT'S FUEL?
>> THAT'S FUEL.
AND I'M GOING TO TRY AND TURN
THE ENGINE OVER.
>> AND I SHOULD SEE FUEL SQUIRT
OUT OF THAT ALL OVER THE HOT
ENGINE, YEAH?
>> YEAH.
>> OKAY.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
>> YEP. STOP, STOP!
>> Narrator: BINGO.
WITH THE FUEL LINE SUSSED, JAMIE
DISCONNECTS IT FROM THE GAS TANK
AND ATTACHES IT TO AN ACRYLIC
GAS-HOLDING CYLINDER, WHICH WILL
LET THEM SEE HOW MUCH FUEL THE
CARS CONSUME.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> Narrator: AND THAT MEANS
THEY'RE READY FOR THOSE MYTHICAL
MONEY-SAVING DEVICES.
AND WHERE CAN THOSE BE FOUND?
WHY, THE INTERNET, OF COURSE.
>> WHAT I HAVE SO FAR, FUEL-LINE
MAGNETS AND A CARBURETOR THAT
IS PURPORTED TO GIVE YOU 300
MILES PER GALLON.
I'VE ALSO GOTTEN PLANS FOR A
HOMEMADE FUEL CELL THAT YOU CAN
BUILD THAT CONVERTS WATER INTO
HYDROGEN GAS YOU CAN USE TO RUN
YOUR CAR.
>> Narrator: GRANT'S HYDROGEN
FUEL CELL IS ALL ABOUT
ELECTROLYSIS.
WHEN YOU APPLY A VOLTAGE TO
ELECTRODES IN WATER, THE
MOLECULES SPLIT INTO HYDROGEN
AND OXYGEN.
THIS INTERNET PATENT CAN
ALLEGEDLY GENERATE SO MUCH
HYDROGEN THAT YOU CAN RUN A CAR
WITH IT.
[ TIRES SQUEAL ]
AND TO BUILD IT, GRANT AND ADAM
FIRST HIT THE ELECTRICAL STORE,
ONE OF THEIR ALL-TIME FAVORITE
PLACES.
>> I NEED SOME 10K RESISTORS.
>> HOW MANY?
>> UM, ABOUT HALF A DOZEN.
>> Narrator: WHILE GRANT GETS
DOWN TO BUSINESS, ADAM IS ALSO
POUCHING WITH EXCITEMENT.
>> KANGAROO WORKS ITS WAY
TOWARDS THE MOTHER'S BELLY.
THAT IS SO COOL.
>> Narrator: SEVEN HOURS LATER,
THEY RETURN TO BASE.
ADAM'S GOING TO BUILD THE
ELECTROLYSIS DEVICE AS DETAILED
IN THE INTERNET PLANS.
>> THAT RIGHT THERE IS THE
BUSINESS END OF END OF THE OIL
MONOPOLY, MAN!
>> Narrator: WHILE GRANT IS
CONCENTRATING ON THE POWER.
IT'S THE CURRENT THROUGH THE
ELECTRODES THAT SHOULD CAUSE
HYDROGEN TO BE RELEASED.
>> THIS SHOULD BE A SQUARE WAVE,
AND RIGHT NOW IT'S KIND OF A
NASTY SAWTOOTH.
>> Narrator: AFTER AN HOUR OF
FERNICKITY FIDDLING, ADAM'S FUEL
CELL IS CONNECTED TO GRANT'S
POWER CIRCUIT AND EVERYTHING'S
READY FOR A TEST.
>> DUDE...I SEE BUBBLES.
CHECK IT OUT.
>> YEAH, IT IS BUBBLING.
>> Narrator: IT'S WORKING.
HYDROGEN IS, UH, BURSTING FORTH.
BUT WILL THESE TINY BUBBLES BE
ENOUGH TO FUEL A CAR?
>> THIS WAS WHAT I FIRST THOUGHT
WAS GOING TO BE THE LABEL.
AND THEN I THOUGHT, I CAN SAY
THAT SIMPLER.
THEN I CAME UP WITH "STICKIN' IT
TO THE MAN."
>> Narrator: 1930s FARMS WERE
SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS PLACES.
THERE WAS THE GIANT MACHINERY
AND THE UNPREDICTABLE ANIMALS.
[ COW MOOS ]
BUT WERE THERE ALSO EXPLODING
TROUSERS, OR WAS IT MORE A CASE
OF "LIAR, LIAR, PANTS ON FIRE?"
TO PUT THIS BLAST OF A MYTH TO
THE TEST, THE TEAM HAS CAREFULLY
MADE FOUR POTENTIAL FARMYARD
HOWITZERS TO SEE IF ANY COULD
CAUSE TROUSERS TO TURN TORPEDO.
SO, THAT JUST LEAVES THE
DETONATION SYSTEMS.
>> ALL RIGHT, SO, IN ORDER TO
BLOW THE PANTS UP, WE NEED TO
FIND OUT CERTAIN SYSTEMS OF
IGNITION.
>> WAIT, WHY DON'T WE JUST GO
THROUGH THE SCENARIOS OF THE
MYTH, THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT
THEY POSSIBLY COULD IGNITE?
LIKE, SAY YOU LIGHT A CIGARETTE,
SPARK FALLS ON YOUR PANTS, THEY
BLOW UP.
>> WE COULD DO FRICTION 'CAUSE
APPARENTLY THESE WERE BLOWING UP
AS PEOPLE WERE WALKING.
>> ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS
STORIES WAS WHEN IT WAS DRAWING
FROM A FIRE, RIGHT?
SO, MAYBE A RADIANT HEAT SOURCE,
A HEATER.
>> AND IMPACT -- IF YOU SAT DOWN
HARD, THEY MIGHT BURST INTO
FLAMES.
>> Narrator: TO TRY TO EXPOSE
THE EXPLODING TROUSER CULPRIT,
THE TEAM WILL SUBJECT EACH OF
THE VOLATILE VAGRANTS TO THE
FOUR DETONATION SYSTEMS.
THE RECIPE THAT BLASTS OFF MOST
OFTEN WILL THEN BE RAMPED UP FOR
THE BIG-SCALE TEST.
AND FOR ROUND ONE, IT IS KARI'S
UNUSUAL OPEN-FLAME IGNITION
SYSTEM.
>> I PICKED THE CIGARETTE
INSTEAD OF JUST DROPPING A MATCH
SPECIFICALLY FOR THE REASON I
WANTED TO CREATE A REALISTIC
SCENARIO AS TO WHY THESE PANTS
MIGHT COME IN CONTACT WITH
SOMETHING SUCH AS A CIGARETTE TO
MAKE THEM EXPLODE.
>> Narrator: SHE'S HOPING THAT
THE FALLING ASH WILL BE HOT
ENOUGH TO IGNITE THE FABRIC
BELOW.
AND FIRST UP, IT'LL BE LANDING
ON GRANT'S FERTILIZER-TREATED
TROUSERS.
>> ALL RIGHT, STEP BACK.
>> SMOKE FASTER.
>> Narrator: KARI'S SMOKING AS
FAST AS A SCHOOLKID IN A
WASHROOM BUT GETS NOWHERE FAST.
EVEN QUICK-WRISTS IMAHARA CAN'T
GET ANY SATISFACTION.
>> IS IT TOUCHING IT?
>> YEAH.
>> Narrator: SO FOR TAKE TWO,
IT'S OUT WITH THE CIGARETTE AND
IN WITH THE MATCH.
BUT THE RESULTS ARE A LITTLE
DISAPPOINTING.
>> I WOULD NOT EXACTLY CALL THAT
AN ENERGETIC IGNITION.
>> Narrator: SO FERTILIZER PLUS
FLAME IS, UH, INFERTILE.
NEXT UP, THE BLACK POWDER.
BUT REMEMBER, THE BLACK
POWDER WAS MIXED WITH WATER.
>> I THOUGHT THIS WAS GONNA BE
A LITTLE MORE EXCITING.
I THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA GET A
LITTLE BLAST OUT OF THIS ONE.
>> YEAH, IT'S, LIKE, THREATENING
TO BLOW UP.
>> COME ON!
>> I THINK IF I WERE THE FARMER,
I WOULD STILL HAVE TIME TO GET
MY PANTS OFF AND RUN BEFORE IT
CAUSED ANY PROBLEM.
>> ALL RIGHT, SO, WE'RE RULING
OUT GUNPOWDER.
>> I WOULD RULE IT OUT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> NEXT LET'S DO MY FAVORITE, MY
SPECIALTY -- GUN COTTON.
I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THIS IS
GOING TO BE SOMEWHAT EXPLOSIVE,
SO JUST IN CASE MAYBE PUT ON
YOUR EAR PROTECTION.
>> OKAY.
>> Narrator: SO FAR, IT'S ZERO
FOR TWO.
CAN KARI'S GUN COTTON DO ANY
BETTER?
>> HMM.
THIS IS YOUR SPECIALTY.
>> THIS STUFF'S SUPPOSED TO BE
GUN COTTON.
>> CAN I TAKE OFF MY EAR
PROTECTION NOW?
>> YEAH.
>> Narrator: IT'S ANOTHER FLAME
FAILURE.
THAT JUST LEAVES THE WEED-KILLER
CONCOCTION.
CAN THIS HERBIE GO BANANAS?
>> ALL RIGHT.
WHOO!
>> WOW.
>> THAT IS AWESOME.
>> LOOK AT THAT.
>> THAT IS GRADUATING TO THE
NEXT LEVEL.
>> COULD YOU IMAGINE WALKING
DOWN THE STREET AND THIS
HAPPENING TO YOUR PANTS?
THAT WOULD SUCK.
>> Narrator: SO THE HERBICIDE IS
WINNING SO FAR, BUT HOW WILL
THEY ALL RESPOND TO THE NEXT
IGNITION TEST -- RADIANT HEAT?
>> WE'VE GOT OUR POWERFUL LIGHT.
RIGHT NOW, I'VE GOT A PROBE
RIGHT AT THE TOP, AND WE'RE AT A
LITTLE OVER 300 DEGREES.
>> Narrator: IT'S JUST LIKE A
FARMER DRYING HIS TROUSERS IN
FRONT OF A FIRE.
AND JUST LIKE THE LAST TEST, NOT
A LOT HAPPENS.
THE FERTILIZER DOESN'T FIZZLE.
THE GUN COTTON DOESN'T GO OFF.
THERE'S SOME SPARKLES FROM THE
BLACK POWDER...
>> WHOO! YAY!
>> Narrator: BUT THEN, ONCE
AGAIN, THE HERBICIDE TAKES THE
CAKE.
>> AAH!
OH, NO!
OH, NO!
>> Narrator: THE WEED KILLER
BURNS WITH A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF
ENERGY AND IS EASILY THE
EMERGING CULPRIT FOR THIS
EXPLOSIVE MYTH.
>> EVERY WEEK A COUPLE OF GEEKS
FROM SAN FRANCISCO FACE A
CHALLENGE.
>> Narrator: FOR THIS WEEK'S
CHALLENGE, THE MYTHBUSTERS HAVE
TURNED MECHANICS AS THEY PUT
MIRACLE CURES FOR GAS GUZZLERS
TO THE TEST.
>> SO, I GUESS WE JUST PUT IT
LIKE THAT.
>> Narrator: ADAM'S BUILT A
HYDROGEN FUEL CELL.
>> I SEE BUBBLES.
>> Narrator: AND THE TEAM HAS
GOT HOLD OF THE INTERNET'S
BEST-SELLING GAS-SAVING DEVICES.
>> SUPER-EFFICIENT CARBURETOR,
MY [BLEEP]
>> Narrator: SO, NOW THEY'RE ALL
SET TO HEAD TO THE DYNAMOMETER
TEST FACILITY, BUT THE OMENS ARE
NOT LOOKING GOOD.
>> LOOK, THE EFFICIENCIES OF AN
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE ARE
REALLY WELL KNOWN.
IN THE CASE OF A GASOLINE
ENGINE, YOU'RE LOSING ABOUT 60%
TO HEAT, AND THAT ONLY LEAVES
30% TO 40% FOR MECHANICAL
ENERGY.
IN THE CASE OF A DIESEL, IT'S
MORE LIKE 50/50.
>> SO, THERE'S NOT A HELL OF A
LOT OF PERCENTAGE POINTS TO PLAY
WITH FOR IMPROVING YOUR
EFFICIENCY.
>> NO.
YOU'RE ONLY GONNA IMPROVE BY,
LIKE, AROUND 10%, AND THAT'S
NOWHERE NEAR THESE HUNDREDS OF
MILES PER GALLON THAT SOME OF
THESE BOLT-ON DEVICES CLAIM TO
GET.
>> YOU JUST WON'T GET THAT.
THE PHYSICS WON'T ALLOW IT.
>> NOT POSSIBLE.
>> Narrator: THE SPINNING
DYNAMOMETER IS THE PERFECT PLACE
TO TEST THESE MIRACLE CURES
BECAUSE IT SHOULD LET ADAM AND
JAIME GET VERY PRECISE MILEAGE
READINGS.
>> WE'VE GOT THE CAR ON THE
DYNO.
WE'VE GOT THE OTHER CAR WAITING
TO GO ON.
SO, THE FIRST THING WE'RE GONNA
DO IS OUR BASELINE TEST WITH
CARS UNMODIFIED.
>> Narrator: FOR A POINT OF
COMPARISON, USING A SET AMOUNT
OF FUEL, THEY'LL CALCULATE THE
MILES PER GALLONS OF EACH CAR.
FIRST, AT 35 MILES AN HOUR...
>> 17 MILES PER GALLON.
>> OKAY.
>> Narrator: ...AND THEN AT A
HIGHWAY AVERAGE, 55 MILES AN
HOUR.
>> THAT IS A LOT MORE FUEL
EFFICIENT IN ITS MAIN GEAR AT
55.
WE'RE GETTING 25 1/2 MILES PER
GALLON.
>> Narrator: WITH THE BASELINES
FOR THE CARBURETOR CAR CACHED,
BRING ON THE FIRST MIRACLE CURE,
THE MAGNETS.
>> OKAY, SO, IT SAYS TO PUT IT
AS CLOSE AS WE CAN TO THE
CARBURETOR.
>> OKAY, MAGNET TEST.
HERE WE GO.
>> Narrator: ACCORDING TO THE
BOX, THE MAGNETS WORK ON THE
PRINCIPLES OF HYDRODYNAMICS AND
ALIGN THE FUEL MOLECULES IN SUCH
A WAY THAT THEY BURN BETTER.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
WE ASKED OUR GRAPHICS GUY TO
EXPLAIN IT, BUT HE DIDN'T
UNDERSTAND IT, EITHER.
SO IT'S A MYSTERY HOW THEY WORK.
BUT HAVE THEY HAD ANY EFFECT AT
55 MILES AN HOUR?
>> THE BASELINE READING AT 55 IS
25.66.
I CAME OUT WITH 25.55.
>> OKAY.
NO CHANGE.
>> Narrator: NO CHANGE AT 55.
AND AT 35, IT'S THE SAME STORY.
>> WHAT DOES THAT TELL US?
>> IT BUSTS THIS WHOLE MAGNET
FUEL ELECTROMAGNETICS THING WIDE
OPEN, MAN.
IT'S CRAP.
>> Narrator: IT'S STRIKE ONE FOR
THE GAS CONSPIRACY THEORY.
>> SO, THE NEXT TEST IS ACETONE
MIXED WITH GASOLINE.
WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS PUT ABOUT
A 500/1 RATIO IN HERE, WHICH
AMOUNTS TO 2 MILLILITERS OF
ACETONE IN WITH THE GASOLINE.
>> Narrator: THE IDEA IS THAT
THE ACETONE SOMEHOW MAKES THE
GAS BURN MORE COMPLETELY, BUT
DOES IT WORK AT 35 MILES AN
HOUR?
>> WELL, IT USED UP FUEL A
LITTLE FASTER, WHICH GIVES US
MILES PER GALLON OF 16.65 WITH
ACETONE, AS OPPOSED TO 17.03
WITHOUT ACETONE.
>> Narrator: SO ACETONE MAKES
THE CAR LESS EFFICIENT, A RESULT
CONFIRMED WITH THE
55-MILE-AN-HOUR TEST.
NEXT UP, THE MIRACLE CARBURETOR.
>> I'M GONNA GET BEHIND THE
WHEEL.
>> Narrator: THIS LATEST DEVICE
CAN SUPPOSEDLY INCREASE MILEAGE
TO 300 MILES PER GALLON.
BUT ADAM'S OUT OF GAS EVEN
BEFORE HE'S REACHED THE BASELINE
LEVEL.
>> 17.69 MILES TO THE GALLON.
THAT'S A LOT LESS THAN 25.5
MILES TO THE GALLON.
>> I DON'T SEE ANY POTENTIAL FOR
100 OR 200 OR 300 MILES PER
GALLON OUT OF THIS THING.
DARN.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> Narrator: FARMYARD CHEMICALS
CAN BE DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS.
THEY CAN HINDER YOUR HEALTH IN A
WHOLE HOST OF WAYS.
BUT CAN ANY OF THEM MAKE YOUR
TROUSERS EXPLODE?
TO FIND OUT, THE TEAM IS PUTTING
FOUR POTENTIAL FARMYARD FIZZLERS
TO THE TEST.
SO FAR, THE HERBICIDE IS
WINNING.
BUT THERE ARE STILL TWO
DETONATION DEVICES LEFT...
STARTING WITH TORY'S FRICTION
MAKER, WHICH SUPPOSEDLY IMITATES
THE WAY FARMERS WALK.
>> THEY'RE WALKING LIKE THIS.
IN THIS, THERE'S A LOT OF
FRICTION BUILDS UP BETWEEN THE
LEGS WHEN YOU WALK LIKE THAT.
>> Narrator: CAN THIS MINCING
MACHINE REALLY LEAD TO A TROUSER
EXPLOSION?
[ WHIRRING ]
>> THE FARMER'S WALKING PRETTY
FAST!
[ WHIRRING STOPS ]
>> WHAT'S THAT?
>> YOUR FARMER'S WALKING PRETTY
FAST.
>> YEAH, HE'S IN A HURRY.
>> Narrator: DESPITE THE FARMER
BREAKING THE WORLD SPRINT
RECORD, THERE'S NO IMMEDIATE
IGNITION.
>> LET IT GO.
>> NO, HE'S NOT DONE WALKING.
>> Narrator: AFTER A MARATHON
RUN, NONE OF THE SAMPLES, NOT
EVEN THE HERBICIDE, SMOKE
AT ALL...WHICH LEAVES ONE FINAL
DETONATION DEVICE.
IT'S HAMMER TIME.
WHEN IT COMES TO HEAVY IMPACT,
GRANT IMAHARA IS YOUR MAN.
ON THE HIT TV SHOW
"BATTLE BOTS," AN EVEN
YOUNGER-LOOKING GRANT WAS
INFLICTING DAMAGE IN LETHAL
BLOWS.
HIS ROBOT DEADBLOW WAS FEARED
ACROSS THE LAND, AND THIS KILLER
HAMMERING ACTION IS JUST WHAT
THIS MYTH NEEDS.
GRANT'S REPLACED DEADBLOW'S
DAGGER WITH A SLEDGEHAMMER.
AND, HEY, PRESTO -- HERE'S AN
IMPACT DETONATOR.
>> THIS IS GONNA BE GREAT.
>> SO, THIS IS COTTON WITH BLACK
POWDER.
>> IN THREE, TWO, ONE.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> WELL, IT HIT IT.
>> IT HIT IT.
>> Narrator: IT WAS RIGHT ON THE
MONEY, BUT WITH THE BLACK
POWDER, THERE IS NO TROUSER
DETONATION.
>> I THINK THAT RULES THAT OUT
PRETTY FAST.
>> Narrator: SO THE TEAM TRIES
AGAIN WITH THE FERTILIZER, BUT
GET THE SAME RESULT.
THEN IT'S KARI'S SPECIALTY, THE
GUN COTTON.
NOT A PEEP.
LAST, THE CURRENT LEADER, THE
HERBICIDE.
>> MASH IT.
>> OKAY.
THREE, TWO, ONE.
>> AAH!
>> HOLY, MACKEREL, THAT WAS
SWEET!
OH, FIRE.
>> AAH!
WHERE?
I THINK WE HAVE OUR EXPLODING
PANTS!
>> YEAH, I SAY...
>> OH, GREAT.
>> Narrator: WITH THE HERBICIDE,
IT IS A CASE OF "NOW YOU SEE IT,
NOW YOU DON'T."
>> THIS IS MY FAVORITE STUFF.
>> Narrator: TORY'S HERBICIDE
REALLY CAN MAKE TROUSERS
EXPLODE, AND WHAT'S MORE, IN
1930s NEW ZEALAND, THIS STUFF
WAS ABUNDANT.
>> SO, I'VE BEEN DOING A LITTLE
BIT OF BACKGROUND RESEARCH ON
THIS MYTH, AND I FOUND OUT THAT
NEW ZEALAND FARMERS WERE USING
OUR "CLASSIFIED" WEED KILLER.
BUT IN THE 1930s, THE AMOUNT
THEY WERE USING TOTALLY
SKYROCKETED.
>> WHY'S THAT?
>> IN THE 1920s, IT SEEMS THAT
RAGWORT WAS ACCIDENTALLY
INTRODUCED INTO THE ECOSYSTEM.
>> OH, RAGWORT'S THAT, LIKE,
SUPER-AGGRESSIVE WEED.
IT OVERTAKES CROPS.
IT'S TOXIC TO LIVESTOCK.
I THINK IT'S A PROBLEM EVEN
TODAY.
>> EXACTLY, AND YOU KNOW THAT'S
WHY THEY WANTED TO GET RID OF
IT AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.
AND, OF COURSE, WHAT WAS THE
MIRACLE CURE IN THAT ERA?
>> OH, OUR "CLASSIFIED"
CHEMICAL.
>> MM-HMM.
>> Narrator: BUT TO CONFIRM ONCE
AND FOR ALL THAT THIS HORRID
HERBICIDE IS DEFINITELY THE
CLOTHING CULPRIT, THERE'S ONE
FINAL TEST IT HAS TO PASS.
>> WE'RE GONNA WASH OUR SWATCHES
SO THAT WE CAN FIND OUT IF
THEY'RE STILL EXPLOSIVE AFTER
THEY'VE BEEN WASHED, WHICH IS
PART OF THE MYTH SINCE SOME OF
THOSE TROUSERS WERE HANGING ON
LINES, THEY WERE DRYING IN FRONT
OF FIRES, AND THEY STILL WENT
UP.
>> Narrator: THE SPIN CYCLE OF
AN AUTHENTIC 1930s WASHING
MACHINE IS THE LAST HURDLE FOR
THE HERBICIDE.
>> NOW, WHY ARE WE USING THIS
SOAP IN PARTICULAR?
>> 'CAUSE THIS SOAP'S BEEN
AROUND SINCE THE EARLY 1800s AND
WAS USED AS A LAUNDRY SOAP.
>> Narrator: IF THE COTTON IS
STILL NASTY AFTER WASHING, THEN
THE TEAM HAS FOUND ITS
CALAMITOUS CHEMICAL.
>> SWATCHES HAVE BEEN WASHED AND
DRIED.
LET'S SEE IF THEY RETAIN THEIR
EXPLOSIVE NATURE.
>> Narrator: FOR THIS LAST TEST,
THEY'RE GOING WITH THE "DRYING
BY THE FIRE" OR "RADIANT HEAT"
DETONATION SYSTEM.
>> WELL, IF THESE GO UP AFTER
BEING WASHED, THAT'S CRAZY.
OHH!
THERE IT GOES.
WHOO!
>> Narrator: IT MAY LOOK A
LITTLE WISHY-WASHY, BUT THIS
TEST PROVES THAT THE TEAM HAS
SOLVED THE CLOTHING CONUNDRUM.
TROUSERS TAINTED WITH THIS
COMMON-AT-THE-TIME HERBICIDE
REALLY CAN GO OFF WITH A ***.
>> AFTER HAVING WASHED IT, IT
DEFINITELY BEHAVES A LOT
DIFFERENTLY THAN IF IT WAS JUST
REGULAR JEANS.
I CAN HEAR A LOT OF LITTLE
SPARKS GOING CH-CH-CH-CH.
AND IT WENT UP REALLY FAST.
I THINK THIS DEFINITELY LENDS TO
THE VALIDITY OF THIS MYTH.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S MOVE ONTO THE
FULL-SCALE.
YEAH!
>> HERE YOU ARE WITH IT.
HERE YOU ARE WITHOUT IT.
>> Narrator: EVERY YEAR,
AMERICANS SPEND BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS FUELING THEIR CARS.
TO TRY TO CLAW SOME OF THAT
BACK, THE MYTHBUSTERS ARE
PUTTING MIRACLE GAS CURES TO THE
TEST.
>> FAST YOUR PICKUP GET AWAY,
MORE MILES PER GALLON THAN YOU
EVER DREAMED WERE POSSIBLE.
>> Narrator: BUT THEY'RE NOT
DOING WELL.
THEIR CARBURETOR CAR SCORED ZERO
FOR THREE.
NOTHING IMPROVED ITS MILEAGE.
SO THEY SWAPPED TO THE MORE
MODERN FUEL-INJECTED CAR.
>> EVER SINCE JAMIE HAD ONE OF
THESE INSTALLED, HE'S FELT MUCH
BETTER.
>> Narrator: SOME OF THE
MYTHICAL CURES WILL SUPPOSEDLY
WORK BETTER ON A MORE MODERN
CAR.
BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, NEITHER THE
MAGNETS...
>> THIS IS SUCH TOTAL HORSE
[BLEEP]
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> Narrator: ...NOR THE ACETONE
MIXTURE INCREASED MILEAGE AT
ALL.
>> IT'S NOT LIKE IT MAGICALLY
CHANGES LEAD INTO GOLD OR
SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW?
IT'S A NO-BRAINER.
>> Narrator: ALL THE MAGICAL
CURES SO FAR HAVE FAILED TO
IMPROVE FUEL EFFICIENCY AND SOME
HAVE EVEN MADE IT WORSE.
BUT IS ANYONE REALLY
THAT SURPRISED?
>> LOOK, THE EPA TAKES CLAIMS OF
FUEL EFFICIENCY VERY SERIOUSLY
AND HAS TESTED OVER 100 DEVICES
FOR THEIR IMPROVEMENTS.
>> YEAH, OUT OF 104 THAT THEY
TESTED, ONLY ABOUT SEVEN SHOWED
ANT IMPROVEMENT AT ALL, AND IT
WAS ONLY UP TO ABOUT 6%.
>> WELL, YOUR MOOD CAN AFFECT
YOUR DRIVING A HELL OF A LOT
MORE THAN 6%.
>> YEAH, STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT
YOU CAN REDUCE YOUR MILEAGE BY
UP TO AROUND 33% BY AGGRESSIVE
DRIVING DUE TO A BAD MOOD.
>> DO YOU ACTUALLY HAVE MOODS?
>> NO.
>> Narrator: BACK AT THE DYNO,
THE CARS HAVE BEEN SWAPPED
AROUND FOR ONE FINAL TEST -- THE
PIèCE DE RéSISTANCE.
>> THIS IS THE ONE THAT I'VE
BEEN WAITING FOR.
THIS IS THE WATER CAR HYDROGEN
FUEL CELL.
THIS IS THE ONE, THAT IF IT
WORKS, IS MAKING THIS ONE OF THE
MOST LEGENDARY HOURS OF
TELEVISION EVER BROADCAST.
>> Narrator: THEY'RE ABOUT TO
SEE IF THEY CAN RUN A CAR ON
FLAMMABLE HYDROGEN GAS PRODUCED
BY ELECTROLYSIS.
>> THIS IS THE INSTRUCTIONS ON
THE PATENT.
YOU BOLT THE OUTPUT OF THE FUEL
CELL RIGHT TO THE THROAT OF YOUR
CARBURETOR.
>> Narrator: THERE WILL BE NO
GASOLINE, JUST HYDROGEN FED
STRAIGHT INTO THE CARBURETOR.
BUT WILL THE CAR EVEN START?
>> WE'RE MAKING HISTORY.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
OH, MY GOD!
>> Narrator: "OH, MY GOD" IS
RIGHT.
THE CAR IS WORKING, BUT SADLY,
IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF THE
HYDROGEN.
>> I THINK THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT
OF RESIDUAL FUEL IN THE SYSTEM.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
[ CHUCKLES ]
>> I THINK THAT'S THE CASE.
>> Narrator: IT WASN'T A
MIRACLE, JUST SOME LEFTOVER
GASOLINE IN THE ENGINE.
>> I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER AGAIN.
LET'S GIVE IT ANOTHER SHOT.
[ ENGINE SPUTTERS ]
COME ON!
MY, GOD!
IT DOESN'T WORK.
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT DOESN'T WORK!
I FOUND IT ON THE INTERNET, MAN.
>> Narrator: THE ELECTRODES ARE
NOT GIVING OFF ENOUGH GAS, BUT
TO TEST WHETHER A CAR COULD EVEN
RUN ON HYDROGEN IN THE FIRST
PLACE, THE BOYS ARE GOING TO
HOSE SOME DIRECTLY INTO THE
CARBURETOR.
>> READY?
OKAY, HERE WE GO.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> OKAY.
>> OKAY.
THAT'S THE COOLEST THING EVER!
I GUESS YOU COULD, IF YOU HAD A
LOT OF HYDROGEN, RUN YOUR ENGINE
COMPLETELY WITHOUT ANY OTHER
MODIFICATIONS.
>> LET'S DO IT AGAIN.
>> Narrator: YOU KNOW THERE'S
GOING TO BE TROUBLE WHEN IT'S
ALL GOING SO WELL.
[ EXPLOSION ]
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> [ LAUGHS ] WHOOPS.
OKAY, THAT'S ENOUGH OF THAT
TEST.
>> Narrator: WITH A RATHER NASTY
BACKFIRE, IT'S TIME TO BACK
OUT.
>> I THINK IT'S BEST IF WE JUST
LET IT GO.
>> Narrator: IN THE MYTH OF
EXPLODING TROUSERS, THE
HERBICIDE HAS BEEN I.D.'d AS
THE PANT PROTAGONIST.
BUT BEFORE WRAPPING THIS UP TO
FULL-SCALE, KARI WANTS TO MAKE
THIS CLASSIFIED CONCOCTION EVEN
NASTIER.
>> WHAT WE FOUND OUT FROM A 1930
AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL FROM
NEW ZEALAND IS THAT SUGAR WORKS
AS AN ACCELERANT.
>> YEAH.
I KNOW THAT WHAT MEANS.
>> [ High-pitched ] I'D LIKE TO
CALL THIS "JELLY BEAR SUICIDE."
>> Narrator: THE JELLY BEAR IS
TAKING ONE FOR THE TEAM BECAUSE
SUGAR SHOULD MAKE THE HERBIE
DOUBLY DANGEROUS.
>> BOMBS AWAY.
>> WHOO!
>> [ LAUGHS ]
AW, LOOK AT THE LITTLE GUY.
THAT'S AWESOME.
>> OH, MY GOD!
>> LOOK AT THE CLOUD OF DEATH.
>> OH, MY GOD.
>> POOR LITTLE GUY.
THAT WAS AWESOME.
>> OKAY, WELL, I'M IMPRESSED.
THAT WAS PRETTY AMAZING.
>> IT WAS VERY COOL.
WELL, NOW YOU KNOW WHAT WE HAVE
TO DO.
WE HAVE TO BUMP THIS UP TO
FULL-SCALE.
I AM GONNA TAKE A PAIR OF PANTS
AND SATURATE THE HECK OUT OF
THEM AND SEE IF THEY EXPLODE.
>> MAYBE JUST AS A POINT OF
COMPARISON, YOU KNOW, JUST FOR
FUN, WE COULD GET A HOLD OF A
FEW REAL EXPLOSIVES.
>> WELL, I'M SURE FRANK IS GONNA
HELP OUT WITH THAT.
>> I JUST WANT TO SEE REALLY BIG
EXPLODING TROUSERS.
>> Narrator: AT LAST, USING THE
RESULTS OD THE SMALL-SCALE TEST,
IT'S FINALLY TIME TO WRAP THIS
MYTH UP.
>> IF IT'S WORTH DOING, IT'S
WORTH OVERDOING, RIGHT?
>> Narrator: TORY'S COMPLETELY
COATING A REGULAR PAIR OF PANTS
IN THE WEED-KILLER CONCOCTION
THAT FARMER BUSTER WILL WEAR OUT
AT THE BOMB RANGE.
BUT WHILE THESE PUTRID PANTS
SHOULD IGNITE, WILL THEY REALLY
MAKE HIM EXPLODE?
>> I HOPE THIS WORKS 'CAUSE I
CAN'T WAIT TO GET IN A PAIR OF
'EM!
[ CHUCKLES ]
>> Narrator: WITH THE OVERALLS
FULLY FUNCTIONAL, IT'S TIME TO
HIT THE ROAD AND SEE IF BUSTER
WILL FLY BY THE SEAT OF HIS
PANTS.
>> WE'RE HERE AT ALAMEDA SHERIFF
FACILITY.
>> THIS IS WHERE BUSTER'S GONNA
PUT ON HIS EXPLODING PANTS.
[ LAUGHS ]
>> FRANK DOYLE'S HERE.
>> THE BOMB SQUAD'S HERE.
>> THE PARAMEDICS ARE HERE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> WE'RE GONNA BLOW SOMETHING
UP.
>> Narrator: WELL, IT SEEMS THAT
EVERYONE IS HERE, SO LET'S GET
STARTED.
>> SOMEBODY ORDER SOME EXPLODING
PANTS?
>> Narrator: THE
HERBICIDE-ENCRUSTED COTTON NEEDS
ONE LAST ALTERATION BEFORE ITS
EXPLOSIVE CAPABILITY CAN BE PUT
TO THE TEST.
>> I AM CUTTING OFF ALL OF THE
METAL BITS FROM THESE PANTS
'CAUSE WHEN THEY EXPLODE, THESE
WILL BECOME SHRAPNEL.
>> WELL, THEN MAYBE WE SHOULD
ADD MORE BUTTONS.
>> Narrator: WITH THE PANTS
PREPPED...STEP FORWARD OUR
NAKED VOLUNTEER FARMER, BUSTER.
>> BUSTER, YOU DON'T WANT TO DO
THIS?
WELL, THAT'S TOO BAD.
WE'RE GONNA BLOW YOUR PANTS OFF.
>> Narrator: BUSTER'S WELL USED
TO BEING THE MYTHBUSTERS' STUNT
MAN.
BUT WHAT HE'S NOT USED TO IS
CLOTHING.
>> I PUT TOO MUCH STARCH IN THE
PANTS.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> Narrator: THIS IS ONE OF THE
FEW TIMES IN MYTHBUSTERS'
HISTORY THAT BUSTER'S MODESTY --
IF NOT HIS BODY PARTS -- WILL BE
KEPT INTACT.
IT'S JUST A SHAME THAT HE DIDN'T
GET ANYTHING A BIT MORE
FASHIONABLE.
>> NOW, IF BUSTER REACTS
ANYTHING LIKE THAT JELLY BEAR,
THIS SHOULD BE QUITE EXCITING.
>> Narrator: ONCE BUSTER IS
DRESSED TO KILL, ALL THAT
REMAINS IS THE DETONATION
SYSTEM.
>> THE REMOTE TRIGGERING SYSTEM
THAT THE FBI IS GONNA BE USING
ON OUR PANTS IS PROBABLY CLOSER
TO THE IMPACT TRIGGERING SYSTEM
THAT WE HAD IN OUR SMALL-SCALE
TEST.
>> Narrator: WITH THE
IGNITER WIRED UP AND THE FINAL
TOUCHES IN PLACE, IT'S TIME FOR
A HUCKLEBERRY DIN.
>> FIRE IN THE HOLE!
[ AIR RAID SIREN BLARING ]
FIRE IN THE HOLE!
FIRE IN THE HOLE!
>> THREE, TWO, ONE!
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> THAT'S AWESOME.
>> OH, YEAH!
>> IT BURNT COMPLETELY OFF.
>> IT TOTALLY JUST BURNT FROM
HEAD TO -- WHEREVER IT BLEW UP,
HIS CROTCH, AND IT JUST TOTALLY
BURNED OFF.
>> NAKED!
>> Narrator: NOW, THAT'S WHAT I
CALL HOT PANTS.
>> ONCE IT STARTED GOING, IT WAS
LIKE PSSSH!
>> NOW, IMAGINE THAT JUST
SPONTANEOUSLY HAPPENS TO YOU OUT
IN A FIELD.
AAAH!
>> Narrator: IT SURE WAS NASTY,
BUT THE EXPLOSION WAS PANTS.
IT WAS MORE A CASE OF
SPONTANEOUS BUSTER COMBUSTION
THAN A TROUSER TRIGGER.
>> THE FACT THAT HIS HAT'S STILL
HERE SHOWS HOW HOT AND FAST THIS
BURNED.
IT DIDN'T EVEN MAKE IT TO THE
HAT.
IT JUST DISINTEGRATED REALLY
QUICKLY.
>> Narrator: BUT THIS MYTH ISN'T
ABOUT DISINTEGRATING TROUSERS.
IT'S ABOUT EXPLODING ONES.
SO THE GANG IS GOING TO TRY
AGAIN -- THIS TIME WITH A
POCKETLOAD MORE OF THE
HERBICIDE HODGEPODGE.
>> GOOD LUCK, BUDDY.
NICE KNOWING YOU.
[ AIR RAID SIREN BLARING ]
>> FIRE IN THE HOLE!
FIRE IN THE HOLE!
>> THREE, TWO, ONE.
>> OH! THAT WAS GREAT.
>> WOW.
>> THAT OBVIOUSLY BURNED UP
TWICE AS FAST AS THAT LAST ONE.
>> AND IT'S MUCH BIGGER, A
BIGGER REACTION.
>> THAT WAS COOL.
>> Narrator: THE POCKETS OF
PESTICIDE SURE GOT BUSTER FIRED
UP.
BUT WAS HE FIRED UP ENOUGH?
>> HERE'S MY QUESTION, THOUGH.
WE CALL THIS MYTH "EXPLODING
TROUSERS."
THEY DIDN'T REALLY EXPLODE.
>> NO.
THEY WERE JUST BURNING RAPIDLY.
>> I HAVE A FEELING IF YOU WERE
WEARING THOSE PANTS AND THEY
BURNED THAT FAST, YOU WOULD
DEFINITELY CLAIM EXPLOSION.
>> YOU NEED COMPRESSION TO HAVE
AN EXPLOSION.
>> YOU ARE SO HARD TO PLEASE.
>> BUT, I MEAN, IF YOUR PANTS
BURST INTO FLAMES LIKE THIS, HOW
WOULD YOU EXPLAIN IT TO
SOMEBODY?
>> SEMANTICS.
IT'S AN EXPLOSION.
>> "MY PANTS BLEW UP."
THAT'S WHAT I'D SAY.
>> Narrator: I'M WITH KARI AND
TORY ON THIS ONE.
IT MAY NOT TECHNICALLY BE AN
EXPLOSION, BUT DID 1930s FARMERS
REALLY KNOW THE TERMINOLOGY?
THIS IS MYTH CONFIRMED.
THE ONLY REMAINING QUESTION IS,
WOULD BUSTER HAVE SURVIVED?
>> SO, AS MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS,
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE DAMAGE?
>> IF HE JUST HAD PANTS ON, IT
WOULD HAVE BURNED UP THE PANTS,
MAYBE YOU'D HAVE A COUPLE BURNS
UP HERE IN THE CHEST AREA, BUT
IT WOULDN'T HAVE GONE FARTHER.
>> SO, YOU'RE SAYING HE LIVED?
>> OH, HE WOULD HAVE LIVED,
YEAH.
HE WOULD HAVE MAYBE JUST HAD
SOME SCARRING FROM THE BURNS,
BUT A PERSON COULD SURVIVE FROM
IT, DEFINITELY.
>> YOU LIVED!
YAY!
LOOK, YOU CAN SEE THE SMILE ON
HIS FACE.
"I'M ALIVE!"
>> Narrator: LIKE A PHOENIX FROM
THE FLAMES, BUSTER SMOLDERS TO
FIGHT ANOTHER DAY, BUT MAYBE NOT
FOR LONG.
>> BUSTER, YOU'RE NOT OVER YET.
>> WELL, THERE'S YOUR PROBLEM.
>> Narrator: IN THE GREAT GAS
CONSPIRACY, SKID MARKS ASIDE,
ADAM AND JAMIE HAVE TESTED ALL
OF THEIR MYTHICAL MILEAGE
BOOSTERS.
>> THIS IS SUCH TOTALLY HORSE
[BLEEP]
>> Narrator: AND THE RESULTS ARE
IN.
>> ALL RIGHT, SO, OUR
DYNAMOMETER TESTS -- HOW DID
WE DO WITH THE MAGNETS?
>> BUBKES.
>> ACETONE?
>> BUBKES.
>> THE HYDROGEN FUEL CELL?
>> LESS THAN BUBKES.
>> AND THE -- OH, THE MIRACLE
CARBURETOR?
>> EVEN LESS THAN BUBKES.
>> I THINK WE STILL NEED SOME
MORE EXPLORATION INTO WAYS TO
BREAK YOURSELF FREE OF THE MAN'S
DEATH GRIP ON YOUR WALLET.
>> WELL, IF THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS
TO ACTUALLY DEFEAT THIS MONOPOLY
OF FOSSIL FUELS, THERE IS A WAY
TO DO THAT, AND MAYBE WE CAN TRY
IT OUT.
>> Narrator: AND WHERE DOES THIS
MYSTERY SOLUTION LIVE?
>> I NEED SOME FRENCH FRIES AND
ALL THE FRY OIL YOU CAN LAY ON
ME.
>> Narrator: WHY, THE BURGER
BAR, OF COURSE.
>> THAT RIGHT THERE -- IT'S THE
END OF THE GAS CONSPIRACY.
MAYBE.
>> Narrator: IT'S USED COOKING
OIL, THE GUNK THAT GETS LEFT AT
THE BOTTOM OF DEEP-FAT FRYERS.
AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THIS MAY
BE THE NEXT BIG THING.
>> I THINK THAT'S IT.
>> Narrator: AND BACK AT THE
SHOP, IT'S REFINERY TIME.
>> DUDE, THIS MAKES SO MANY
THINGS TASTE SO DAMN GOOD.
THAT'S JUST WRONG.
>> Narrator: APPARENTLY ALL
THAT'S NEEDED INTO CONVERT THIS
FATTY FRY OIL TO FUEL IS FILTER
IT.
THAT'S IT.
>> THIS IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING
THAT YOU DO OVERNIGHT.
NOT IF YOU'RE, LIKE, IN A
HURRY TO GO GET SOMEWHERE.
"I'LL BE THERE IN A FEW MINUTES,
MAN!
COME ON!"
[ LAUGHS ]
>> Narrator: IT'S A
TIME-CONSUMING PROCESS, BUT
GIVEN THAT IT COULD RESULT IN
FREE FUEL, IT'S MORE THAN WORTH
IT.
>> THERE WE GO.
THAT'S A LITER.
>> Narrator: AND TO PUT IT TO
THE TEST, THEY'RE GOING TO DRIVE
A CIRCUIT AROUND ALAMEDA IN A
DIESEL CAR WHICH HAS THEIR
VIEWABLE FUEL TANK ATTACHED.
>> I LIKE THIS, JAMIE.
I THINK THIS IS A NICE SOLID
ARRANGEMENT.
NOT GONNA MOVE.
WE CAN JUST TAPE THAT DOWN.
>> WELL, AS LONG AS YOU ARE
HAPPY, ADAM.
>> THANK YOU, JAMIE.
>> Narrator: AND WITH EVERYONE
HAPPY, IT'S TIME TO GET STARTED.
>> WE HAVE BEEN HEARING PEOPLE
ARE RUNNING THEIR CARS WITHOUT
MODIFICATIONS ON USED VEGETABLE
OIL LIKE THIS.
>> Narrator: BUT BEFORE
EXPERIMENTING WITH BEEFED-UP
BURGER JUICE, THEY FIRST NEED TO
TEST REGULAR DIESEL TO FIND
THE CAR'S NORMAL FUEL
CONSUMPTION.
>> HOLD ON.
YOU'RE PRETTY MUCH EXACTLY AT A
LITER, SO GIVE IT A TINY BIT
MORE.
STOP. THAT'S PERFECT.
EXACTLY RIGHT.
>> OKAY.
DIESEL, FIRST RUN.
ALL RIGHT.
READY.
>> GO.
>> Narrator: THE COURSE IS 2.9
MILES LONG AND HAS BEEN DESIGNED
SO THEY CAN MAINTAIN A STEADY 35
MILES PER HOUR ALL OF THE WAY
AROUND.
>> WE ARE VERY CLOSE TO THE END
OF THIS LITER HERE.
PROBABLY ABOUT A MINUTE AND A
HALF, TWO MINUTES AWAY, TOPS.
>> Narrator: THEY'RE GOING TO
DRIVE LAP AFTER LAP UNTIL THEY
HAVE USED ONE LITER OF EACH
FUEL.
>> THAT'S IT.
WE ARE OUT OF FUEL.
WHAT WAS THE MILEAGE ON THAT?
>> 8.8.
>> 8.8, OKAY.
15 MINUTES, 15 SECONDS.
33 1/3 MILES TO THE GALLON ON
STRAIGHT DIESEL.
>> Narrator: WITH THE BASELINE
SUSSED, NEXT UP IS THE USED
COOKING OIL.
>> AH, LOOK AT THAT.
PURE POWER.
>> Narrator: PURE POWER IT MAY
BE.
BUT WILL THE CAR EVEN START?
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
KA-CHING.
THE ENGINE IS PURRING PERFECT.
>> IF WE DON'T MEET AGAIN, I
LOVE YOU.
>> Narrator: THEY'RE OFF.
REMEMBER, THIS IS UNMODIFIED
FRENCH-FRY OIL, THE GUNK THAT
RESTAURANTS UP AND DOWN THE
COUNTRY CHUCK OUT.
>> IT SEEMS TO BE RUNNING JUST
FINE.
>> Narrator: THEY DO THE LAPS
AND GET AN MPG OF 30, WHICH FOR
SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T COST A
DIME, IS PRETTY DARN IMPRESSIVE.
>> NUMBER ONE, I AM SURPRISED
AND IMPRESSED THAT THE CAR RUNS
ON JUST STRAIGHT FILTERED USED
KITCHEN OIL.
BUT, NUMBER TWO, THE FUEL
EFFICIENCY IS ONLY 10% LESS THAN
REGULAR DIESEL FUEL.
>> YEP. THAT'S COOL.
>> THE OTHER THING IS WE DIDN'T
MAKE ANY MODIFICATIONS TO THIS
CAR.
THAT MEANS ANYBODY WHO HAD A
DIESEL CAR COULD POUR THE STUFF
STRAIGHT INTO THE GAS TANK, AND
IT WOULD RUN FINE.
WHOO! YEAH, BABY!
SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
DO YOU THINK THE OIL COMPANIES
AND AUTOMAKERS ARE COLLUDING TO
SCREW US?
>> WELL, NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THE
DEVICES WE TESTED DID ANYTHING
AT ALL, WITH THE SOLE EXCEPTION
OF USED COOKING OIL.
>> RIGHT, BUT THAT DIDN'T
MAKE YOUR ENGINE ANY MORE
EFFICIENT, AND THAT ONLY HELPS
BECAUSE IT'S CURRENTLY FREE.
AS SOON AS THAT BECOME A REAL
ECONOMY, THEY'RE GONNA CHARGE
YOU FOR THAT LIKE ANYTHING ELSE.
>> YEAH, AND CONSIDERING THE
THERMAL EFFICIENCY OF THESE
TYPES OF
ENGINES, YOU'RE SIMPLY NOT GOING
TO GET THESE ULTRA-HIGH MILEAGES
OUT OF THOSE.
>> IF THERE WAS A WAY TO MAKE
YOUR ENGINE SUPER-EFFICIENT, WE
WOULD KNOW ABOUT IT.
IT'S BUSTED.
>> BUSTED.
>> Narrator: BACK WITH THE
FARMERS FABLE, IT'S MYTH
CONFIRMED.
FARMYARD CHEMICALS CAN TURN
PANTS PSYCHO.
BUT GIVEN THAT THIS MYTH IS
CALLED "EXPLODING TROUSERS," WE
CAN'T LEAVE IT AT THAT.
>> WE'RE MYTHBUSTERS.
WE LIKE TO RAMP IT UP TO
REPLICATE THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
>> SO, YOU WANT TO RAMP UP THE
RESULTS?
>> I WANT TO SEE A PAIR OF PANTS
EXPLODE.
>> Narrator: BUSTER DID "BURN,
BABY, BURN."
BUT FOR THIS CREW, THAT AIN'T
ENOUGH.
THEY WANT A REAL EXPLOSION, NOT
A FLASH IN THE PANT.
CUE EXPLOSIVES EXPERT
FRANK DOYLE AND HIS MAGIC
SILVER.
>> THIS IS A HIGH-VELOCITY
EXPLOSIVE THAT WE'RE USING HERE,
A SPECIALTY EXPLOSIVE.
AND IT'S MUCH FASTER IN
DETONATING VELOCITY THAN
ANYTHING WE HAVE USED IN
PREVIOUS EPISODES, SO WE EXPECT
BUSTER TO GET A PRETTY
INTERESTING RIDE.
>> Narrator: THIS IS SERIOUS
STUFF.
EXPLODING WITH A VELOCITY OF
21,000 FEET PER SECOND, THIS
COULD BE BUSTER'S LAST GOODBYE.
>> IN THE VICINITY OF FIVE
MINUTES, HIS PANTS SHOULD BE IN
NEW YORK...I THINK
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN OR
TIMES SQUARE OR SOMEPLACE LIKE
THAT.
>> Narrator: WITH THE LAST WIRES
IN CHECK, THIS BOOM PROMISES TO
BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST IN
MYTHBUSTERS HISTORY, SO HOLD ON
TO YOUR PANTS.
>> FIRE IN THE HOLE!
FIRE IN THE HOLE!
>> THREE, TWO, ONE.
>> UH-OH.
>> UH...
>> I TURNED IT ON.
>> NOW, THAT'S A PROBLEM, ISN'T
IT?
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> Narrator: RIGHT ABOUT NOW,
BUSTER SHOULD HAVE BEEN
SOMEWHERE OVER TEXAS, BUT IT
SEEMS HE'S MISSED HIS FLIGHT.
>> FIRE IN THE HOLE!
FIRE IN THE HOLE!
>> Narrator: LET'S TRY THAT
AGAIN.
>> THIS IS IT, THE MAIN EVENT.
>> TWO, ONE.
>> OH, NO.
>> A LITTLE QUIETER THAN I
THOUGHT.
>> SO, GENERALLY, IF THERE'S A
LIVE BOMB AND THE TRIGGER
DOESN'T WORK, THAT'S BAD, HUH?
>> THAT'S NOT GOOD.
>> Narrator: WITH SOME
ULTRA-DANGEROUS EXPLOSIVES, THIS
IS THE WORST-CASE
SCENARIO.
BUT AT LEAST WE HAVE THE BEST IN
THE BUSINESS TO SORT IT OUT.
>> WELL, WE HAD A MURPHY'S LAW
GLITCH.
AND APPARENTLY THERE WAS A MINOR
BREAK IN THE FIRING LINE.
AND THAT'S BEING CORRECTED, AND
WE'RE GONNA MOVE FULL-SPEED
AHEAD AND GO TO PLAN "B."
>> FIRE IN THE HOLE!
>> THREE, TWO, ONE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING
ABOUT!
THOSE ARE EXPLODING PANTS.
>> BUSTER IS NOT THERE ANYMORE.
>> 10 MILLISECONDS TO BLOW HIM
UP, AND THREE HOURS TO FIND THE
PIECES.
>> SMOLDERING BUSTER PARTS ALL
STINKING OVER THE FIELD.
>> THERE'S HIS FACE.
THAT'S A HAT.
>> FRANK, WHAT DID YOU DO TO
BUSTER?
>> Narrator: FRIENDS AND FAMILY
OF BUSTER SHOULD LOOK AWAY NOW.
>> SHOW.
>> OKAY, I GOT LEG AND KNEE.
THAT'S GOOD.
>> I GOT A FACE.
THERE'S A THIGH.
>> THERE'S A CHEST AND A HEAD.
>> Narrator: EVEN THE GREAT
HUMPTY DUMPTY WAS NEVER THIS
SCRAMBLED.
>> WHAT DO YOU GOT?
>> I GOT A HAND.
>> THAT'S ALL THAT'S LEFT OF HIS
PANTS.
>> Narrator: BUT I GUESS ALL
HUMPTY DID WAS FALL OFF A WALL,
WHEREAS BUSTER GOT BLOWN TO
SMITHEREENS BY THE BOMB SQUAD.
>> I AM NOT DISAPPOINTED WITH
THESE EXPLODING PANTS.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE FINER
EXPLOSIONS I HAVE EVER SEEN IN
MY LIFE.
AND WHEN WATCHING THE
HIGH-SPEED, YOU CAN ACTUALLY
WATCH BODY PARTS GO OFF INTO THE
HILLS SOMEWHERE.
WHERE, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I'M
SURE THEY'RE OUT THERE.
>> Narrator: WELL, AFTER THAT
BLAST, AS FRANK SAID, BUSTER IS
ON HIS WAY TO NEW YORK.
NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL "FLYING
BY THE SEAT OF YOUR PANTS.
>> HOW DID YOU GUYS DO?
>> DUDE, IT WAS SICK.
>> I THINK THIS MAY BE MY NEW
FAVORITE MYTH.
WE ACTUALLY HAD EXPLODING PANTS.
>> BUT THE HERBICIDE PANTS WERE
DANGEROUS, AND WE KNOW THAT
CHEMICAL WAS COMMON IN
NEW ZEALAND AT THE TIME.
>> IF I WAS TELLING THE STORY
AND I HAD A FLASH IGNITION IN MY
PANTS, I WOULD CALL IT AN
EXPLOSION.
>> SO, YOU GOT A LITTLE
HISTORY AND SOME EXPLODING
PANTS AND YOU CALL THIS ONE...
>> Both: CONFIRMED.
>> I SURE HOPE THIS NEVER
HAPPENS IN MY PANTS.
>> LET'S ALL PRAY IT DOESN'T.