Heat gas tank additive: is this safe/necessary?

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Dec 22, 1998 | 05:57 AM

Sue S

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Heat gas tank additive: is this safe/necessary?

After 10 blissful years in San Diego,this is my first winter where the temperatures routinely drop below zero (Great Lakes, Illinois). People are telling me I need to put an anti-ice-crystal additive like HEAT in my gas tank to avoid ice crystals in the fuel line. I am reluctant to put something I can buy at Wal-Mart in my $30,000 A4 unless it is necessary. Do other people in cold climates use this stuff, or something similar?Sue S 98A4QMS

Dec 22, 1998 | 06:16 AM

JayF

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Major brands change gas formula to make it unnecessary...

BUT you might want to keep a can in the trunk "just in case". I think the deicers are mostly alcohol. I wouldn't use it regularly. Just my opinion.JayF 98A4Tqms

Dec 22, 1998 | 06:46 AM

Steve S.

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Nothing like pushing a car off the road that has a frozen gas line

I had a VW bug once that got a frozen gas line...real fun...NOT! I ended up pushing the car off the roadway, while on a date, during rush hour, on a main drag in Denver, without gloves, when the temperature was a minus 10 degrees F. If youre worried about it...get the Heat stuff. It just may come in handy. :-)Steve S. 97 2.8QM

Dec 22, 1998 | 08:20 AM

TobyK

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Keep your tank full.

Fuel line freeze-up is caused primarily due to water condensation in your fuel tank. If you keep your tank filled 50% or more during the really cold snaps, you'll avoid the problem since there is less area for condensation. Also, for years now cars have had sealed fuel systems due pollution requirements. Full tank, sealed system, better gas blends = no problem,

Dec 22, 1998 | 09:03 AM

randall (prolific today ONLY)

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Re: Keep your tank full.--agreed. From the great white north

well i think there are a lot of places in USA that get colder than here in TO but: i used to keep some in the glove box, but in my 15+ years of driving up here, i have never used it. (even when i do let my tank get empty.) temperatures here range from 0 DEGC to -20 DEGC (without wind chill) in the winters.i am unclear how u would use it unless u add it to every tank. If the lines had already frozen, how long would it take if u dumped this stuff in the tank before it defrosted? Probably a long time.MY 2c1996 a4 2.8 qm

Dec 22, 1998 | 09:14 AM

A. Lensink

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Oh no....

So, what did you date have to say about it? It's supposed to be about -8 here at tonight, but I don't have any dates planned (for tonight), so I guess I'm OK.

Dec 22, 1998 | 09:20 AM

Joey M.

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Re: Keep your tank full.--agreed. From the great white north

It's a good idea to use gas line antifreeze once a month because moisture gets into the service station storage tanks at the station. This is the same stuff you put in your tank when you fill up. Be sure to use one with isopropyl alcohol as this allows moisture to mix with gasoline and get burned off. The other kind with methanol I think is separates the water from the gas but all that does is leave it in your tank so it can corrode later.