But my car won't start and I know dad is having his own snow problems (they're forecasted to have 20-30"!!!) so I'm wondering if any of you hobbyists with far more life experience than myself has any tips for me! I want to go explore this frozen tundra and not by waiting for the bus.
The scene: My car is outside. Last time it was running was 7 pm last night. I have no jumper cables. It does not plug in.
Ready.... go! I know you're all sitting at your computers on this cold day too
If the car does nothing when you turn the key and the lights either don't turn on or are very weak, the culprit is probably the battery - the cold slows the chemical reaction in the battery that generates electricity, and if it puts out too little, there won't be enough to start the car.
If the battery seems fine but the car won't turn over, the next most likely problem is that water in your fuel system has frozen in the fuel line and is blocking gas from getting to the engine. Once this happens, there's very little you can do, which is why filling the tank and/or using a gas-line antifreeze are good preventative steps.
The battery is fine, I give it a little bit to get the electricity running before turning it over, but it won't turn more than a little. So it must be fuel line is frozen or someone on Facebook suggested an oil pan heater to keep oil from freezing? Maybe. My tank is at 3/4 tank. What temp does it all start to thaw at? I've started at -1 and had no problem. Maybe today is a bus day.
Posted By: Pauper063
If the car does nothing when you turn the key and the lights either don't turn on or are very weak, the culprit is probably the battery - the cold slows the chemical reaction in the battery that generates electricity, and if it puts out too little, there won't be enough to start the car.
If the battery seems fine but the car won't turn over, the next most likely problem is that water in your fuel system has frozen in the fuel line and is blocking gas from getting to the engine. Once this happens, there's very little you can do, which is why filling the tank and/or using a gas-line antifreeze are good preventative steps.
If you have a hair dryer and extension cord put the hair dyer on the radiator facing the engine, slowly close the hood and wait for 20-30 minutes and see what happens...put hair dyer on high. It worked on my father-in laws van last week and he started it for over a week.
Because gasoline now has at least 10% ethanol, gas line freeze seems unlikely. Though you say that your battery has power, you have to wonder if it has enough power, i.e., enough cold cranking amps to sustain sufficient firing of you engine. An oil pan heater, block heater and trickle charge on your battery could certainly help. If your battery is older than 4 or 5 years, a new battery may do the trick. Get a good one.
Because gasoline now has at least 10% ethanol, gas line freeze seems unlikely.
Most water in fuel systems doesn't come from gas, but from the air - water vapor in the air condenses on the walls of the gas tank; the water, which is 'heavier' than the gasoline, collects in the bottom of the tank. This is why gas-line freeze is more common when the amount of gas in the tank is low.
A hair dryer might work, but you'll probably have better luck heating the engine block rather than the radiator, since the heat doesn't have to propagate as far to reach the gas line.
Lastly, while frozen oil and antifreeze are possible at these temperatures (especially if antifreeze has been heavily diluted with water), neither of these should prevent the car from starting unless you have a newer car where the ignition can be disabled by the car's computerized sensors.
Because gasoline now has at least 10% ethanol, gas line freeze seems unlikely.
Most water in fuel systems doesn't come from gas, but from the air - water vapor in the air condenses on the walls of the gas tank; the water, which is 'heavier' than the gasoline, collects in the bottom of the tank. This is why gas-line freeze is more common when the amount of gas in the tank is low.
Agreed, but the ethanol in the gas acts as gas line antifreeze would work.
- how decent your battery is, clean terminal connectors etc - the condition of your alternator and the belts that drive it - how brave you are
One thing you have in your favour is that the AAA deal with women (and children) first presumably because men have built-in antifreeze?
I understand the urge to explore. I've never been in temps as low as this myself and am going for a walk later, just so I can say I did it (and possibly because I'm slightly mad?)
You must be slightly mad, starving, or cold-blooded *Scandinavian here* to brave this weather. Or on the schedule at work lol. I would love to take an adventure walk with you if you're downtown Minneapolis lol. I hope the car it starts tomorrow when I have to go in! I don't have AAA.... and let my Allstate emergency assistance lapse lol. Perfect timing.
Posted By: crushedflowers
- how decent your battery is, clean terminal connectors etc - the condition of your alternator and the belts that drive it - how brave you are
One thing you have in your favour is that the AAA deal with women (and children) first presumably because men have built-in antifreeze?
I understand the urge to explore. I've never been in temps as low as this myself and am going for a walk later, just so I can say I did it (and possibly because I'm slightly mad?).
You must be slightly mad, starving, or cold-blooded *Scandinavian here* to brave this weather. Or on the schedule at work lol. I would love to take an adventure walk with you if you're downtown Minneapolis lol. I hope the car it starts tomorrow when I have to go in! I don't have AAA.... and let my Allstate emergency assistance lapse lol. Perfect timing.
...somewhere wetter than that (no, not there... )
I work from home and not in Minneapolis, alas. I make a point to get out of the house at least once a day during the winter months, lest I get cabin fever. If only you were in reach, Ms. Natalie...
If you need help let me know, I work on them all day
Posted By: crushedflowers
- how decent your battery is, clean terminal connectors etc - the condition of your alternator and the belts that drive it - how brave you are
One thing you have in your favour is that the AAA deal with women (and children) first presumably because men have built-in antifreeze?
I understand the urge to explore. I've never been in temps as low as this myself and am going for a walk later, just so I can say I did it (and possibly because I'm slightly mad?).
Neither of the cars here are working here either.. and while I have triple A, and called at 8AM, they won't be here til at least 330- so even if you had triple A you'd still miss work.
When starting your car, make sure you turn off *everything* extra (heat, lights, radio, etc.). Also, some cars you can press the accelerator down just as you are turning the key (not with fuel injected cars, consult the owner's manual some of them you can though). Please see the link I attached below for more tips
Point the hair dryer at the battery. Cold battery will not turn the motor over quick enough to start the engine.
Posted By: AlastiNatalie
But my car won't start and I know dad is having his own snow problems (they're forecasted to have 20-30"!!!) so I'm wondering if any of you hobbyists with far more life experience than myself has any tips for me! I want to go explore this frozen tundra and not by waiting for the bus.
The scene: My car is outside. Last time it was running was 7 pm last night. I have no jumper cables. It does not plug in.
Ready.... go! I know you're all sitting at your computers on this cold day too
It will take an investment, but it has been well worth it for me.....depending on where you park- street or driveway. But a battery charger is a low dollar investment($35-50) and is effective in keeping the battery from freezing- though, as others have said, if it is 4 or older.....SIGH.......adios...... I am also a HUGE believer in a tank heater.... Whether block, oil pan, or dipstick- and in that order- I wouldn't own a vehicle in MN without a tank heater. And my last birthday present to myself was a remote starter. I worked outside too many winters to EVER play the macho winter game. Too late for today and/or tomorrow(Friday will be 30) but when you can, invest wisely in your future in Minnesota.......my $.02
Find someone to get a jump from to get it started.
Have your battery checked, you may want to consider a new one.
Get your car into a shop and have some type of engine heater installed. The best would be one that installs in the engine freeze plug if you can get one for tour car. A lower hose heater will go on most cars and will do the job also. You need to keep the oil warm.
You may also consider changing to synthetic oil. It cost a bit more, but It flows better at cold temps.
I have heard of people using battery blankets. I have not done this myself, but people tell me it works.
ust found some HotHands Hand Warmers... could I put those on top of my battery? Not touching anything.... just sitting there.... or maybe somewhere close by. It says 10 hours of heat
Hmmm, if your battery won't crank it over for at least a minute I d replace it. It might crank a bit slow in the cold bit should crank it over. If you left a dome light on or something else on last night, charging it or jumping it will work. I d bet that the battery is 5-7 yrs old and getting weak. You don't want to get it jumped and be stranded someplace worse re next time it's -20. Getting a tow truck to jump it could lead to the same thing next time it's really cold. The ethanol blended fuels don't typically freeze until -35 unless you have a large amount of water in your tank.
As mentioned earlier, gas nowdays has 10% ethonal. Ethanol = alcohol. Read the ingredients on gas line antifreeze. The only reason it is still sold is because people still buy it. If you use todays standard gas, you don't need it.
Natalie it is doubtful your gas lines are frozen. Likely it is a combination of most things mentioned. It is frikin cold out! If you have not run your battery dead and can get by, take the bus and let the car sit until it warms up a little. It will likely start right up once Iit gets above zero. It needs to spin over fast enough to fire up.
The oil is not likely "frozen" but rather just real stiff or thick. At this point you would need to get the car into a shop to install a block/frost plug or tank heater. Those are the best. But a dipstick heater or magnetic heater can be put in or on right out on the street. The hair dryer trick can work but put it on the engine block down low or right on the oil pan. And/or on the battery. There is a thermostat that isolates the radiator from the engine until the engine warms up. You will not get it hot enough with a hair dryer to open the thermostat. If you have an electric blanket you could wrap that around the battery and drape over the motor. A word of caution with the hair dryer, don't start something on fire!
If you did run the battery dead and your up to it, take the bus and go get a battery charger and maybe a dipsick or magnetic heater.
Or run a "jump special"... if I wasn't so far away I would come jump you! .... and your car
Posted By: retired_fireguy_
If the gas line is frozen you will have to dump a bottle of heat in it and wait. If the line is frozen no amount of jumping is going to make it start.
I've been told that in this part of the world, you should leave at least 1/4(?) tank of gas in the tank, otherwise the moisture in the air will freeze and then melt when it warms, leaving concentrations of water. Sounds like it's flying a bit in the face of the known principles of rheology to me but I suppose it might have a kernel of truth to it?
If the car is turning over but "very little" a hair dryer will not help. battery's only deliver about 25% of their energy when it is this cold. You will need energy through the battery (jumper) from another car if there is no plug in. a friend with cables or AAA is what you need. A Gas line freeze would have different symptoms.
Gas will not freeze at this temp unless it is a gas line between the tank and the motor and exposed to wind with the car moving
warming the radiator will have no effect. the radiator will not open until the motor reaches running temp so warming it will not help.
Advice: put gas line antifreeze treatment in the gas tank. (the tall yellow bottle with a long neck)
check the oil; not the level but the type. If it is a heavy oil that will not help you. change to synthetic oil 5/30
check that battery at a service station.
If you have a good battery, gas line antifreeze in the gas and synthetic oil your problem will likely go away
good luck
When you get the car started it would be wise to have the battery's output checked. If it is old and weak you will have the same problem again
No myth..... Why do you think truck drivers keep there tanks fuller in the winter.... those motors return enuff hot or warn fuel and yes you do get condensation on the inside of the tank. I know from exprience
No myth..... Why do you think truck drivers keep there tanks fuller in the winter.... those motors return enuff hot or warn fuel and yes you do get condensation on the inside of the tank. I know from exprience
But for condensation to happen, the ambient temperature would need to be warmer than the gas - if a car is standing, temperatures would be equal. If the gas tank became slightly warmer then it may cause some condensation to occur on the inside when the car stops again, as liquid retains heat for a longer time than the atmosphere. Once it dropped below ambient temperature you would indeed get condensation inside the tank. But I don't know that a gas tank could warm up appreciably, especially in these temperatures... I'm still to be convinced! :
Also doesn't air temp need to be above freezing or near it? At -20 I can't believe there is much water vapor in the air... The frost point is typically used to describe water in the air below freezing and if I remember correctly there is exponentially less water in air below freezing then air above 50 degrees. I could be wrong.
Posted By: crushedflowers
Posted By: hornet37
No myth..... Why do you think truck drivers keep there tanks fuller in the winter.... those motors return enuff hot or warn fuel and yes you do get condensation on the inside of the tank. I know from exprience
But for condensation to happen, the ambient temperature would need to be warmer than the gas - if a car is standing, temperatures would be equal. If the gas tank became slightly warmer then it may cause some condensation to occur on the inside when the car stops again, as liquid retains heat for a longer time than the atmosphere. Once it dropped below ambient temperature you would indeed get condensation inside the tank. But I don't know that a gas tank could warm up appreciably, especially in these temperatures... I'm still to be convinced!
Truck drivers have diesel fuel in their vehicles....a completely different type of fuel. They often end up in trouble because when going cross-country, they will not have winter- mix fuel, and diesel fuel will jel and quit flowing. I would bet a date with any of the beautiful lady that a new battery will solve her issue.....and I have references!!
As driving truck you are right about the fuel so called gelling. The motors these days return enuff fuel back to the tanks, when you take the caps off you get steam to come out, steam means condesation. Trucks don't gell up anymore, the fuel ices up. Also depends on if you run bio fuel. If it's rrue soy or animal fat. I know, I drove truck.
diesel trucks are very different than cars. Cars do not return fuel from the motor. condensation is not reduced by keeping the tank full google it. The reason cars do not start is the viscosity of motor oil and the reduced energy from the battery due to cold. Sever cold cause the fuel to not vaporize. low battery energy renders compression to be too slow for the vapor that does exist to fire. filling the tank is about as effective as warming the radiator with a hair dryer (another piece of advice from a well intended contributor). Another contributor offered that she should pump the gas which has no effect in a truck or a car. You could put a blanket on the motor which does nothing at all, btw diesel trucks do not fire, they do not have spark
things that do work; use a pure synthetic motor oil 5W30 with a Dura lube additive the motor will be able to move in any weather in MN. that and a strong battery will do it. Until you have the oil changed and the battery checked just find someone with cables. Taking a battery out of a car and putting it back in is much more work and will not solve the proble
If you can disconnect the battery and bring it inside with you it should gain its charge back. May take a while to thaw though. Please let us know if anything worked for you.
If you can disconnect the battery and bring it inside with you it should gain its charge back. May take a while to thaw though. Please let us know if anything worked for you.
Too funny, I was thinking that too, in fact some Minnesotans hasten the process by turning the oven on very low, turning if off and putting the batter in with the door open-Natalie, don't get the impression you can bake it , set it somewhere warm, on a register or somewhere. If you can get it out and bring it in, sometimes it really helps. Hope you had or have good luck! I can remember when it was soooo cold like this that a gentleman I knew who did not have garage or engine block warmer actually started charcoal in a pan and put it under the car to help thaw it out- no fire of course but low embers haha- Welcome to Minnesota!
Totally forgot about the charcoal! Now if you remember how to check for bad battery cells in the comforts of home w/o paying a shop or mechanic I'll know you are a Mn grown woman every Mn man prays for!
Last resort,if you can't get anyone to help. All you need is a 6 amp Battery charger,extension cord with a 3-way, and a oil dipstick heater. Sometimes not all auto stores have the oil dipstick heaters. Then just get an magnetic heater. Plug in your cord, put battery charger on your battery with red alligator on the pos.(+ or red cable).Take out the oil dip stick and replace it with the dipstick heater(make sure you stick it all the way down until it stops.Or if you end up with the mag heater stick it on the oil pan(preferable) or on a flat spot towards the bottom of the engine. Leave it all plugged in for 3-4 hrs. The charger will warm the battery with the current flow. And the heater will warm the engine.Just call your auto parts store,they will deliver it to you. Then just return everything when you are done. Good Luck
And two more thoughts; What is going on in your neighborhood that someone doesn't own jumper cables and why didn't one of them come out to help you this morning?
If all else fails, call dad. But big cuddoes for trying to figure it out yourself!
I was off today (thank God, the horses were fed by someone else!)
I don't know my neighbors and didn't ask for jumper cables this AM as I slept in (on my day off) and just didn't really care too much since I didn't have anywhere to be
PM me in morning if your still having problem. If the engine only turns a little, then it's a weak battery, an nothing else. I'm an electrical and computer engineer and I know a little about battery
I second bringing the battery inside. If you have juice this trick will also help, Modern cars have electric fuel pumps. It takes a few seconds for the pump to bring up fuel pressure. Before you start the car turn off the radio, and fan so you can hear. Turn the switch to "on" but don't engage the ignition. You will hear a hum, this is the fuel pump. When it stops it means that you now have good fuel pressure. In very cold weather I will turn the key on and off a couple times and repeat. When you have good fuel pressure THEN engage the ignition. If your car is a hard starter or you have an iffy battery this can make all the difference.
Posted By: AlastiNatalie
But my car won't start and I know dad is having his own snow problems (they're forecasted to have 20-30"!!!) so I'm wondering if any of you hobbyists with far more life experience than myself has any tips for me! I want to go explore this frozen tundra and not by waiting for the bus.
The scene: My car is outside. Last time it was running was 7 pm last night. I have no jumper cables. It does not plug in.
Ready.... go! I know you're all sitting at your computers on this cold day too
Good tip Tinknai! This has helped me too and you can tell when it turns on. I also was told that on newer cars, many are not aware that they also have a plug in for a block heater-etc. You need to look behind the front grill sometimes or look up under the front to make sure there is not one- or it has a cap over on it and you don't notice- look carefully and if there is pull it out a little so you can plug it in from the house or an outlet- easy and sure makes a difference- even so when it as cold as it has been let it warm up a little while!
I remember a few years back, the way we would get a car started and warmed up fast was to put a pan of hot charcoal under the engine. In about fifteen minutes to a half hour, I'd be ready to go.
I posted the other day for advice on how to start my car in this subzero weather, and immediately began receiving messages/texts/calls with advice and even offers from gents who wanted to help. Many didn't have references (so sorry, couldn't let you come over! I really appreciate the offer) but finally a kind gent with a plethora of whitelists and reviews contacted me with a jump for that evening or this morning. I opted for this morning and this kind gent braved traffic, crazy cold drivers, and falling icicles to help me - a provider he never met before - with a jumpstart.
The point of this post is to say a huge THANK YOU to all the stand-in boy friends (& even girl friends!) who had help for me when no one else did. My Facebook post about my ordeal had only 2 comments and one was me replying to that friend! (I just remind myself I'm not from here ) I know I can bring a question or concern here, whether it be about our online community or our physical community... and there is support.
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presumably because men have built-in antifreeze? 
