Frozen gas lines?! What is there to do?

[Rasp]

I'm no expert but I do know that if they put ethanol in your gas (Which in Canada they put a certain (I think 5%) percentage in all gas sold). Your lines should not freeze up. That includes when your tank is below 1/2 tank.

I thought the states had some ethanol requirements but it may differ from state to state.

[Hapynzap]

Minnesota and Wisconsin is up to 10% ethanol. Fargo is on the border of MN so they probably get the E10 too. Minnesota wants to bump all gas to E20. No doubt there is a big farm lobby there. The Democrat, Farm and Labor party DFL will see to that IMO.

[Blue Bowtie]

E-20 should be fine for 99% of vehicles on the road. Even though the alcohol helps absorb the moisture, there is still moisture in the system and it can freeze once temperatures drop to the -40º range.

I understand the point about 5W30, but 10W30 PAO synthetic will still pour/pump more easily than 5W-anything mineral oil. Halfway between Hayward and Prentice gets fairly chilly at times, and the old Astro cranks and fires easily no matter what our Mother throws at us. I've had a much harder time starting the old snowblower than the van, and it's on Mobil1 as well.

[brainboy]

I believe my fuel lines froze as well. I'm in the Chicago area and it was -30 with the wind chill over the weekend and very windy. My car was parked on the street and I forgot to fill it up the night before.

I have 2 questions: I opened the hood, and there was snow inside. Apparently it was so windy that it somehow blew snow under my hood. Is this dangerous for my car?

2. Will I damage my car at all if I repeatedly try to start it with frozen fuel lines? I try to start it in the morning and at night, probably a couple times on each occasion.

Thanks!

[HotZ28]

Originally Posted by brainboy

I believe my fuel lines froze as well. I'm in the Chicago area and it was -30 with the wind chill over the weekend and very windy. My car was parked on the street and I forgot to fill it up the night before.

I have 2 questions: I opened the hood, and there was snow inside. Apparently it was so windy that it somehow blew snow under my hood. Is this dangerous for my car?

2. Will I damage my car at all if I repeatedly try to start it with frozen fuel lines? I try to start it in the morning and at night, probably a couple times on each occasion.

Thanks!

Actual temperature is what you should be concerned with; “wind chill” has nothing to do with your car liquids, however, it will affect the cool down time. Ever notice how your car will cool down quicker on a windy day/night, then on a calm day/night? If the antifreeze in your car's radiator is good for 5 degrees and the temperature drops to 15, you don't have to worry, even if your car is out in a 20 + mph wind which may drop the wind chill to minus -15 degrees.

As long as the actual temperature is 15 degrees, the fluid in your car's radiator and engine block will not go below 15 degrees, no matter how hard the wind blows. You could leave the car's hood open and it would not make any difference! Snow is a good insulator; it is closer to 32 deg. The problem may arise when it melts under your hood and soaks the ignition electrical circuit. Actually, this would be no worse than washing your engine. The main thing is to keep the ignition system well maintained and use dielectric grease on all terminals to prevent water intrusion.

The only problem with continuously trying to start your car, (when it won't start) would be drain on the battery and wear & tear on the starter. Remember, it takes more amperage to turn over a cold engine, than it does a warm engine.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by Rasp

I'm no expert but I do know that if they put ethanol in your gas (Which in Canada they put a certain (I think 5%) percentage in all gas sold). Your lines should not freeze up. That includes when your tank is below 1/2 tank.

I thought the states had some ethanol requirements but it may differ from state to state.

the fuel moisture will increase if your tank is below 1/2 and the temps vary greatly...

my area it went from 0 deg f to 50deg f in 2 days..if your tank has a lot of air in it it will condensate....then this water falls to the bottom of the tank...as water puddles there...and if you have a metal tank rust starts to develop...if it drops again to zero or below you will have problems...

water could freeze in the fuel filter also...damaging it..

[Rasp]

Well I think I'm somewhat in a special position geographically. Where I live the temperature is colder than what most of you have posted. The temperature here gets to -40 - -50 deg C range in the months of December to January. And I might add that doesn't always include windchill.

And although I'm not saying your wrong. And trust me I'm not.

I just want to point out that I have never had a gas line freeze since they have introduced ethanol to the gas.

I have had other issues. Block heater not working therefore cannot start because oil is thicker than molasis. Battery not charged enough to crank engine. But never ever have I had a frozen gas line.

I also park my car in the garage and my Truck outside. So my car gets a temp difference for possible condensation to develop ( can be quite a difference ). And my Truck gets the full blast of winter.

Anyhow not sure where I was going with that but might be interesting to some.

[Blue Bowtie]

10% ethanol in the fuel would roughly equate to about 1½ gallons of ethanol, or the equivalent of 16 bottles of gas line anti-freeze. The ethanol in the fuel is far cheaper, and just as effective.

The old variety of DeMert's HEET was straight methanol, and that's about the worst choice for an alcohol flavor that you can use in a fuel system. It can be corrosive in the presence of water, which is just what you would be trying to "cure" with its use.

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by Blue Bowtie

The old variety of DeMert's HEET was straight methanol, and that's about the worst choice for an alcohol flavor that you can use in a fuel system. It can be corrosive in the presence of water, which is just what you would be trying to "cure" with its use.

Then what is the composition of the latest version of Heet marketed by Golden Eagle? Still methyl alcohol last time I checked. The key to any gas line anti-freeze additive is proper mix and dilution. 12 oz per 10 gallons. The label on the back of the latest Heet yellow bottle says "removes water from fuel system" and "prevents rust and corrosion".

The only experience I've ever had with water or moisture in the gas supply system is from the gas station due to contaminated storage tanks or improper maintenance.

[j cAT]

rasp where you live the temps stay cold and the air is extremely dry..when you place your vehicle in a heated space the interior air is even dryer...moisture would not be a problem....here...

but where I live this is a problem,and not just for vehicle tanks but even for the fuel tanks at the service stations...

today/tomorrow 45-65deg f with rain...humidity will approach 90%..this is the perfect setting for condensation...hopefully the temps will slowly drop to the lower 10's so that this won't cause problems...like stalling, poor idle, etc..

[Rasp]

You are correct

It is a dry cold. So I really can't say what would happen in a wetter but cold climate.

[frankiee]

I use Methyl Hydrate from a hardware store.
A tip from a trucker who helped us out with frozen lines along side a hiway
We put it in the lawnmower once in awhile, the diesel tractor the snowblower, never a problem.
I worked in a scrap yard for years and we drained all gas from tanks for the yard vehicles and I will tell you that all tanks have water and crud in the bottom.
The methyl hydrate will help get rid of it.
I carry it in the trunk. It will unfreeze a line in 3 to 5 minutes
Stuff only costs about $2.50 for a liter so its not expensive.
I just use a couple cap fulls a fill up.

[HotZ28]

Methyl Hydrate, methanol, methyl alcohol, or wood alcohol, (CH3OH) are all the same thing and the basic contents of a yellow bottle of Heet (gas line antifreeze)!

[jgrh01]

either get the vehicle towed to a warm garage or build up enough heat under the car to thaw out- use some halogen lights around the bottom of car with a tarp draped over and weighted down, a torpedo heater from a DISTANCE directed under car would help beware of getting close as this will cause a fire

[88redbuicklesabre]

Well found out I did not have a frozen gas line after all. Turned out to be the crank sensor and the ignition module were bad. Which raises a question to you techs out there. Is there a test for a crank sensor to determine if it was bad? The shop I had it towed to said they had no spark and no injector activity but after they changed the sensor they spark but still no injector activity that is why they changed the module. They also claim the sensor going bad could have taken out the module. Have you ever heard of this happening?