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  #1  
Old 12-20-2019, 09:51 AM
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Engine crank but no start when extremely cold

my car engine crank but doesnt start, i have this problem every single year when its extrem cold, like minus 20 ... the past couple year i change

fuel filter, the relay, spark plug, tune up



so now im kind of out of option , what are the other possibilities ?, any chance the fuel line can freeze ?
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  #2  
Old 12-20-2019, 11:16 AM
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Engine crank but no start when extremely cold

Before the USA started putting ethanol on the gas we would add methanol to remove water from the gas. Without it we would have hard starts and rough idle etc. Water won't mix with gas and is more dense so goes right to the bottom too get sucked in the fuel pump.

We use the product "heet" brand to remove water from gas when needed.

Heet is basically pure methanal. I think you can also use ethanol or denatured alcohol (like used for medical purpose)

Alcohol will absorb the water and then mix with the gas. It will then dilute the water enough it can burn through the engine.

You may need to use starting fluid to help burn off any water forward of the fuel filter, but the fuel before the fuel filter goes in circles and will mix itself whenever the fuel pump is running
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Last edited by andrewwynn; 12-20-2019 at 11:26 AM.
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Old 12-20-2019, 12:55 PM
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Before guessing for a solution, you need to do some more investigation as to why the engine is not starting. For an engine to start you need gas, air and a spark. Assuming the engine is cranking over but not starting, we can eliminate the air. For gas you can see if there is fuel pressure at the rail. You can connect a fuel pressure gauge to see if you have fuel pressure at the rail. The other check for gas is to see if you have a grounding signal to the injectors. You will need a scope or a set of noid lights to determine if you have the signal. Also you may want to see if you have 12 volts at the injectors at all time. No 12 volt means no gas from the injector to the intake manifold. Finally you will need to see if you have spark at the plugs. If you don't know how to perform these tests or don't have the equipment to perform these test, I would suggest you take the car to a tech.
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Old 12-20-2019, 12:59 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andrewwynn View Post
Before the USA started putting ethanol on the gas we would add methanol to remove water from the gas. Without it we would have hard starts and rough idle etc. Water won't mix with gas and is more dense so goes right to the bottom too get sucked in the fuel pump.

We use the product "heet" brand to remove water from gas when needed.

Heet is basically pure methanal. I think you can also use ethanol or denatured alcohol (like used for medical purpose)

Alcohol will absorb the water and then mix with the gas. It will then dilute the water enough it can burn through the engine.

You may need to use starting fluid to help burn off any water forward of the fuel filter, but the fuel before the fuel filter goes in circles and will mix itself whenever the fuel pump is running
DO NOT spray starting fluid into the intake to try and start the engine. The MAF uses either a hot wire or hot film to determine the amount of air that is entering the engine. The starting fluid will ignite once the hot wire or film come up to temp and you could have a backfire. I have seen engine fire cause by this procedure.
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Lotus Europa 1970 Destroyed by fire
Lotus Europa 1970 S2 Renault Powered
Lotus Type 52 1970 Twincam Webers Powered
PORSCHE 911 Targa 1982 The Garage Queen
Audi Avant donated to Kars for Kids
BMW 525IT Sold
Audi 4000CS Quattro Sold
Jensen Healey Lotus Powered Sold
Opel 1900 Sold
Triumph Spitfire 1971 Sold
Triumph Spitfire 1968 Sold
Plymouth "Cuda" 340 Six pack SOLD
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Old 12-20-2019, 01:00 PM
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Thanks for the follow up I forgot to mention pull a vacuum hose downstream of the MAF to inject starting fluid.
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Old 12-20-2019, 02:55 PM
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I do take the car to a tech but the next year after, the same thing happen again, i almost try every reputed perfomance euro shop in my area, but i guess they are more used to install turbo etc instead of doing diagnostic, anyway the weather here will be 2 celcius in a couple of day, i will put fuel anti freeze and try to started again, if not then i will take to another garage, i will try those commercial garage, i think that they are more used to work on older car and doing diagnostic
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Old 12-20-2019, 02:57 PM
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If the problem is water in the line the fuel antifreeze will cure the problem and It will help greatly if ambient temp gets above freezing.

Where are you located and confirm gas powered not diesel. Do they use E10 (mixed with ethanol) gas where you are ?
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Old 12-20-2019, 03:09 PM
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I live in canada and use v power fuel
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Old 12-20-2019, 03:34 PM
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In some places the premium fuel will not comtain ethanol I think that Canada caught the E10 virus from the USA: the corn growers pressures the gvt to find ways to consume corn so yay shitty gas for us.

The irony being: if your premium gas has no alcohol you set yourself up for condensation getting in the tank and with pure gas you'll get a puddle of water at the bottom of the fuel tank that won't mix with gas but will get sucked into the pump and causes horrible drivability problems or no start issue

So, wait for above freezing ambient get some heet into the tank and try to start without assist of the starting fluid. If no go, have a helper crank the engine and use a straw on the fluid nozzle to add starting fluid into the intake boot though one of the vacuum hoses you may need to clear some water out of the line between the filter and engine.

(Actually you can also purge that line at the fuel rail shraeder valve)

I would try that before starting fluid.

In fact: if you can figure out how to collect from that valve purge some fluid into a clear container and you'll see the water settle at the bottom if there is water and you don't have E10 gas.

On the 3L the pressure valve points up so it would be a trick. I would just purge into a paper towel or three (which you can burn in a barrel to safely dispose)

In the USA on the rare pumps that have no ethanol they make it very obvious because most all pumps say up to 10% ethanol added. The good pumps will say no ethanol
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Old 12-20-2019, 05:13 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Takimo View Post
I do take the car to a tech but the next year after, the same thing happen again, i almost try every reputed perfomance euro shop in my area, but i guess they are more used to install turbo etc instead of doing diagnostic, anyway the weather here will be 2 celcius in a couple of day, i will put fuel anti freeze and try to started again, if not then i will take to another garage, i will try those commercial garage, i think that they are more used to work on older car and doing diagnostic
I would find a tech that is knowledgeable in BMW engine. Forget the performance people.
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2006 Infiniti G35
2001 BMW 3.0I E53 X5 Build date 08/2000 SOLD
Lotus Europa 1970 Destroyed by fire
Lotus Europa 1970 S2 Renault Powered
Lotus Type 52 1970 Twincam Webers Powered
PORSCHE 911 Targa 1982 The Garage Queen
Audi Avant donated to Kars for Kids
BMW 525IT Sold
Audi 4000CS Quattro Sold
Jensen Healey Lotus Powered Sold
Opel 1900 Sold
Triumph Spitfire 1971 Sold
Triumph Spitfire 1968 Sold
Plymouth "Cuda" 340 Six pack SOLD
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