My car has been sitting in the cold for 10 days should i put a bottle of fuel additve

[talontsiboy24]

My car has been sitting for 10days out in the cold without being started but it has more then a half tank in it 93 octane will it be ok or should i throw a bottle of heet or stp in the tank to make sure all the moisture comes out? Do those fuel additives really work i mean which ones are the best to use?

My motor is rebuilt with 33k miles on it so the previous owner says but i think mobil 1 syn 10w-30 should be fine yr round i was thinkin to go thicker in summer time but people said cause of the low mileage theres no reason to go any heavier then 10w-30? I wanted to bump it up to 15w-50 mobil 1 syn in summer time at least since i do get on it but im not running a big turbo just a big 16g but with high boost for now and the motor is pretty much stock. The previous owner ran 5w-30 i guess cause the motor was rebuilt there was no need for such thick oil he said and i noticed when i switched to thicker like 10w-30 i got longer tick at startup so i dunno? As for now though its winter time so i wanna put the best in it for good startups but really good protection as i do go get it on still in winter.

Is mobil 1 syn 10w-30 good enough for winter time like even under 20f? My car fires up right away but i wanna be sure that the oil is flowing fast enough and i get the best protection cause temps do drop out here sometimes below zero.

What about tire pressure for awd with all season tires in winter time 34psi front and 32psi rear? My car door label says 32front 29rear but thats what stock calls for with 16" wheels but i now have 17" wheels and tire size is 225/45-17.

 

[JusMX141]

You should be fine. Gasoline doesn't react to cold temperatures unless it's contaminated with water.

 

[Tyeler18]

^^ Agreed. You're ok, only thing I would do is pull the battery, put it on a charger somewhere fairly warm for 20-30 minutes then throw it back in and fire it up right away. Should fire straight up.

 

[KKneipper]

Unless you had your gas cap off you should be fine. +1 on pulling the battery and charging it for a few, since they tend to drain in cold weather. Also, let the car run for about 15 minutes to warm up and let the alternator finish charging the battery.

 

[talontsiboy24]

I heard redline SI-1 Complete Fuel System Cleaner is good?

 

[Tyeler18]

Why do you want to run fuel system cleaner? Do you feel your injectors are clogged?

 

[talontsiboy24]

Why do you want to run fuel system cleaner? Do you feel your injectors are clogged?

I dont think they are but couldnt hurt right? Last time i started it there was moisture comming out the exhaust so im thinkin now that its been sitting even longer theres gonna be alot? Plus its winter out here dont u think its good to throw a additive in to prevent the fuel lines from freezing up and water?

 

[AlaskanDsm]

Thats called a perfect combustion.

All engines when started cold will give off some moisture coming from the exhaust warming up and even after the exhaust is warm, there may be a hint of white colored moisture from the gases freezing. I am from Alaska, Unless you have a blown HG you are fine. I start my car at -45 after letting it sit outside for a week. (I have a good cold crank amp battery). Also gas doesn't freeze except for extreme temperatures otherwise I wouldn't be able to gas up my car at -45. Unless you have a hole in your filler hose or if you don't have a gas cap, go start your car and let it warm up and take her for a nice long drive.

 

[Tyeler18]

I dont think they are but couldnt hurt right? Last time i started it there was moisture comming out the exhaust so im thinkin now that its been sitting even longer theres gonna be alot? Plus its winter out here dont u think its good to throw a additive in to prevent the fuel lines from freezing up and water?

It hurts your wallet when you throw money at something that isn't necessary. Like stated your car is supposed to have moisture given off the exhaust like that. I've let plenty of cars sit out for longer than a week and haven't had any problems with them.

 

[talontsiboy24]

Thats called a perfect combustion.

All engines when started cold will give off some moisture coming from the exhaust warming up and even after the exhaust is warm, there may be a hint of white colored moisture from the gases freezing. I am from Alaska, Unless you have a blown HG you are fine. I start my car at -45 after letting it sit outside for a week. (I have a good cold crank amp battery). Also gas doesn't freeze except for extreme temperatures otherwise I wouldn't be able to gas up my car at -45. Unless you have a hole in your filler hose or if you don't have a gas cap, go start your car and let it warm up and take her for a nice long drive.

well im afraid my wideband o2 sensor gonna get damaged from the moisture thats gonna flow out the exhaust and cause its been sitting for 10days i wanna make sure moisture gets out the system to.

 

[AlaskanDsm]

They are designed to take the moisture that will be deposited by the exhaust. Putting a thing of additive into a 14 gallon tank is not going to do anything but make such a small difference that you STILL will have to burn whatever moisture that is in your tank as that is what HEET is designed to help do, make the water and moisture flow through your system without clogging the injectors and filters. You will be fine to go and start your car.

 

[rich3389]

10 days is no different then it sitting 1 night... now 10 months maybe the battery will need to be charged, and 10 years, thats when I'd be worried.

 

[talontsiboy24]

The temps were in the 20s and teens those 10days its been sitting do u guys think maybe the ignition wires or other wires developed cracks in them?

Thats called a perfect combustion.

All engines when started cold will give off some moisture coming from the exhaust warming up and even after the exhaust is warm, there may be a hint of white colored moisture from the gases freezing. I am from Alaska, Unless you have a blown HG you are fine. I start my car at -45 after letting it sit outside for a week. (I have a good cold crank amp battery). Also gas doesn't freeze except for extreme temperatures otherwise I wouldn't be able to gas up my car at -45. Unless you have a hole in your filler hose or if you don't have a gas cap, go start your car and let it warm up and take her for a nice long drive.

I let it run for about 23min and then i drove around town and put some more gas in it is that good enough or should i drive it more?

 

[dalesmitsu]

Wouldnt hurt to add a bottle of heet, I do it winter to be safe. If I lived in northern upper michigan I'd use it more so. I'm glad I dont live up there anymore only to visit my relatives.
Living up there would give anyone blue balls

 

[tkelly27]

If you get a chance, take a look at a modular mustang when they start up on a cold day. Something about their exhaust, engine design, whatever, makes them pour water out the tail pipes. The important part is that you let it warm up properly by driving conservatively until the temp gauge reaches operating range.

It is important that you drive rather than let it sit and warm up because the transmission, t-case, and differential all need to warm up. With the engine spinning the transmission may get a little bit warm, but none of the other components will be up to operating temp.

 

[talontsiboy24]

If you get a chance, take a look at a modular mustang when they start up on a cold day. Something about their exhaust, engine design, whatever, makes them pour water out the tail pipes. The important part is that you let it warm up properly by driving conservatively until the temp gauge reaches operating range.

It is important that you drive rather than let it sit and warm up because the transmission, t-case, and differential all need to warm up. With the engine spinning the transmission may get a little bit warm, but none of the other components will be up to operating temp.

Well mine is auto so everything is warming up but like i said i let it run for 23min and then i took off and drove it around town.

 

[Tyeler18]

The temps were in the 20s and teens those 10days its been sitting do u guys think maybe the ignition wires or other wires developed cracks in them?



I let it run for about 23min and then i drove around town and put some more gas in it is that good enough or should i drive it more?

If you think 10 days in The teens will do damage you're way too worried. Seriously you can leave your car all 3 months of winter and only worry about needing some fresh gas and a battery charge.

 

[ChiTownHussla]

I agree with the above statements...Living in Chicago, I let my car warm up like 10 min then baby it until it reaches the halfway mark on the temp gauge. Then I proceed to beat on it

 

[tazndrew04]

your way to worried,put some fuel stabilier in it,run it for 5 mins shut it off and youll be good. Start it 1 every couple of weeks let it get up to operating temp and shut it off. Get a battery charger that has a floating charge and youll be fine. Dont worry about it this much

 

[talontsiboy24]

What about tire flat spots can 10days do it or the car would have to sit longer to develope flat spots?

 

[DSM1G90]

What about tire flat spots can 10days...

10 days ain't gonna kill it. It might thump a bit when they begin to roll but will flatten out..as long as you got correct pressure in them. If low, get them up to proper inflation pressure.

Mine's been sitting for 2 wks during this snow we've been getting and I finally got it out when the snow quit and things got melted off some. I had a tiny bit of thump, but I knew that they'd would flatten out after I got on the road some....in which they did. I have my tires pumped up to 35psi so they remain tight and not soggy.

Just get in that danged thing, quit worrying and have some fun.

-DSM

 

[talontsiboy24]

10 days ain't gonna kill it. It might thump a bit when they begin to roll but will flatten out..as long as you got correct pressure in them. If low, get them up to proper inflation pressure.

Mine's been sitting for 2 wks during this snow we've been getting and I finally got it out when the snow quit and things got melted off some. I had a tiny bit of thump, but I knew that they'd would flatten out after I got on the road some....in which they did. I have my tires pumped up to 35psi so they remain tight and not soggy.

Just get in that danged thing, quit worrying and have some fun.

-DSM

35psi in winter isnt that a lil much for all season tires? I thought lower pressure gives better ground contact in winter? I was thinkin like 32psi in all four? But im on 17" rims with 225/45-17 tires...

Also is it even worth the bother of adding heet to the tank to remove moisture out if the tank always stays past the middle mark in winter time?

 

[DSM1G90]

You want tight tires for running in the snow.

You soften them up and they gonna float over on the snow along with poor handling, wasted power, major rolling friction and extra wear and loss of gas mileage.

If you got VW 155x80R15 "wagon wheel" wheel and tires, then you can soften them up a bit, but we got wide meats on our cars that needs all the air pressure they can hold at all times...and 225/45R17's gonna need all the air to keep them tight since they are wider yet shorter than my stock 205/55R16's. Look on the sidewall for the maximum pressure and 32PSI maybe be okey, but I bet they can easily use 40PSI in them.

You can add that "HEET" stuff if you want to - ain't gonna hurt anything.

 

[toofast82]

Throw a bottle of Heet in it if you're that worried about it as said

 

[twalters09]

If your really worried about grab a bottle of dry gas, that's the best stuff I've used and a few mechanics I know that have been doing it for atleast 20 years swear by it, its about 4 bucks at your local parts store. You should be alright though without it, but on the end its your car and you do what you feel is right.