Gasline might be frozen? How do I fix?

Question

My car is garage kept, but it dropped to -15 degrees the other day and now my car won't start. I don't think it's the battery because the starter is turning and none of my dashboard or dome lights are dim or dim when I'm trying to start the car. I'm assuming it's something temperature related because I haven't had problems before. Would putting a heater in my 3-car garage be enough to warm the car up and melt any frozen gaslines or should I just have a garage come and tow it in? I'm not the handiest person in the world so I'd rather not attempt to dig into the car or take a blow torch to it or something extreme. Thanks!

Answer 1

use an electric blanket ...place it over the engine for a couple hours... also pick up a can of gas additive that will dissipate the moisture in the gas...

Answer 2

Gasoline can freeze if you have water in your tank, from condensation.

But it typically needs to be very cold i.e. arctic weather. Unless you are in northern Canada, or some such, don't sweat it.

90% probability, is that your battery is just cold.

With the recent cold snaps, (- 20 wind chill in ohio here this week) Lots of people are having the same problem.

A battery typically loses 50% power even at 32 degrees F.

Even more power at colder temps than that, up to 75% of it's original power at 0 or below.

If you can honk the horn, and have dome lights and such your battery is likely just cold.

The acid-water mixture in batteries reacts a lot slower and with less power in cold temperatures. Over time, a battery with a low charge can freeze solid or nearly solid, and get chemical buildups that means it is basically ruined.

Step A) Check under the hood with a flashlight to see around the battery if it is cracked, or leaking acid. Don't mess with or touch the acid. If you see any signs of this call a tow truck, tell them you have a leaking battery, and let them handle it.

Jumping a leaking battery is a dangerous safety hazard with a very high likelihood that it will explode because of the chemical acid of the battery producing hydrogen gas, which is very explosive. Any cracked, leaking battery is a "write off" and needs replaced.

A heater would help, place it near the front of the car a few feet away. The key is getting it warm enough again, but you still might need a jump. The key is also the oil is cold, which means it is more sluggish to start.

If you have another car, use that and a set of jumper cables, or a neighbor to jump the car. Google Dead Battery to find any of a number of pages regarding this.

Finally, if you are relatively well off, and really don't need to worry about money, just eat the 100.00 and have a tow truck come, and replace your battery at a reputable garage. Be wary of having them try to sell you an alternator.

It might need an alternator, but typically and alternator fails, while driving, your car just stops, and won't start. Or you'll hear squeaking noises, and later it won't start. An alternator charges the battery while driving, and if it fails the car will slowly lose charge, until it won't start.

Again, 90% of your problem is just cold or an older battery or you left some lights, radio, or heaters or something on. Some bigger, newer cars have GPS and clocks and such that are a constant drain.

After you get it jumped or somesuch, have your checked at a garage they can typically charge it on a power charger, and then check the electolyte levels and tell from that instantly, whether it needs replaced or not.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Well... in Omyakron (or whatever it's called) in Siberia they often get frozen fuel lines and literally light a fire under the truck to defreeze it - it's probably diesel though and definitely not something I'd recommend.

Gas freezes at a very low temperature (something like 120 below) so I don't think it will be frozen gas. It may be that moisture has got into the pipes - if you have a fan heater you could direct heat under the car and up into the engine (but only enough to warm it, not get it hot).

There could be moisture in the electrics - try spraying WD40 or the like onto the electrical components of the engine.

The only other obvious things in the cold are battery and alternator but sounds like they're fine.

Try these things and if no joy then have a mechanic check the car over.

Answer 4

a trickle, or light charge from a battery charger should be enough to keep the battery from freezing. Several auto parts companies sell a neat oil heater that sticks to the oil pan (easy installation) that you can plug in and will heat the engine oil. This will warm the entire engine, insure easy starts, and prevent engine damage when doing cold starts.

Answer 5

Gasoline does not freeze,but if the tank contains any moisture(such as condensation)which occurs when you drive into the garage(a slightly warmer environment),and then back out,on so on,that moisture will freeze.Purchase Fuel Line Anti-freeze(also known as Dry Gas).put one bottle in the fuel tank when you put your vehicle in the garage overnight.This should solve your problem.I live in the mid-west and it gets pretty cold so I put a bottle in at every fill up,and I also jump up a grade in octane rated fuel.

Answer 6

Gas won't freeze but you may have some water in your gas tank, use some dry gas or consult the car's owners manual.

Answer 7

Warm it up with a lighter.

Answer 8

Gasoline does not freeze.