If I could figure out how to mark my original post "answered" I would. The problem turned out to be moisture in the fuel that froze in the 22 degree temp. and prevented the engine from getting fuel. After determining that there was spark,I took the advice from a post of adding a bottle of "dry gas" ( 99.9 % isopropol alcohol], bounced the car a little, waited a half hour, gave it a jump from my other car. In two tries it started. Also, since today the temp was up to 40 degrees I opened the hood, tailgate and doors to help things warm up a bit and let it sit before I ever tried to crank it. Thanks to all who offered solutions.

I had never heard of "dry gas". What I learned is 99.9% alcohol absorbs the water in the fuel and it disappears in the combustion process. 70% alcohol won't help because, you guessed it, the other 30% is...water so you must use the pure stuff or a commercial product. Bottle said use 12oz to 20 gallons of fuel, I had about 9 gallons of fuel in the tank and put the entire 12 oz in, drove for 25 miles, seems fine now.

I'm glad your car is running now, but frankly I'm skeptical about the cause: water freezing in the lines.

First, for ice to form from water in the tank, you need phase separation, and that means a lot of water, in proportion to the fuel. You should already have a lot of alcohol in your fuel, about 10% (i.e., E-10), which while absorbing water from the air will generally hold the water in dispersal. And adding a "dry gas" (we all know that stuff here in the cold N.E.) just adds to the alcohol content you already have.

Second, if your fuel line did freeze, adding dry gas to the tank would hardly do any good in the period you described -- it will have dispersed through the tank, but it's unlikely to disperse through the fuel lines in a mere half hour.

Third, as a solute, the alcohol will (phase separation aside) actually lower the water's freezing point.

If you ARE worried about water in the fuel, by the way, you ought to go to a marine chandlery (boating supply shop for serious boaters) and get a bottle of water dispersant (I use "E-Zorb" in my boats' fuel tanks, stored full overwinter here in the N.E., along with a fuel preservative).

Anyway, I'm glad your car started, but be wary of a repetition for IMHO some other reason.

I have not used the stuff in years, I live near Boston and routinely drive north to ME, VT and NH. Have never had a problem with temps into the singles.
Lat car that suffered from this was my 75 Opel, but I suspect the reformulation of gas has had the most to do with it.
Maybe gas bought near LA is different than that at Monmouth Lakes?
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84 242Ti IPD bars&springs, 89 745 16v M46 IPD bars, 89 744 16v M46 IPD bars, 93 945 Turbo AW71, 91 245SE AW70 IPD bars, 93 245 CLassic M47

OK, go ahead and make fun because this native Californian had never heard of "dry gas". This morning at 6:45 am it was 15 degrees and it started right up in half a second, no cranking. Sometimes the solutions are simple and I learned something new. Kid and car are now driving back from a ski vacation to college in San Diego.

http://www.brickboard.com/RWD/volvo/1396178/220/240/260/280/socal_car_wont_start_cold.html

I feel vindicated.

Did you read my response at all? Not looking for credit, just wondering if it helped.

Depending on the EPA-mandated seasonal blending of fuels in your area, the gas in the car may already be as much as 10% ethanol. This may actually add to the problem, as ethanol is somewhat hygroscopic.

Since you live in a warm, coastal climate, I would still be inclined to add a bottle of "dry gas" two or three times a year to minimize the likelihood of water accumulating in your gas tank.

Wow. 22 degrees in Scam Diego. That's getting cold.
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1986 Volvo 245

Temp: The car and the problem were in Mammoth Lakes, elev. 7300' in the eastern Sierras where it routinely gets into the teens and single digits on a winter night. 400 miles south in Scam Diego it will be 66 along the coast today, a little warmer inland.
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1988 245A. Past: 1979 245A; 1987 244 M47; 1971 164E

Are you sure it was the drygas or was it the 20 degree temperature increase that helped the car start?

Southern Cal.. never heard of DryGas.. That's funny.
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'75 Jeep CJ5 345Hp ChevyPwrd, two motorcycles, '85 Pickup: The '89 Volvo is the newest vehicle I own. it wasn't Volvos safety , it was Longevity that sold me http://home.no.net/ebrox/Tony's%20cars.htm

Well, the increase in daytime temp to above freezing probably didn't hurt, it may have started without the "dry gas" but tonight when the temp goes back down to 24 it certainly would freeze again. It was starved for fuel. As for "dry gas", I had never heard of it either but if you google "dry gas additive" or "dry gas for cars" you will come up with some articles which is how I learned that it is 99.9 % pure isopropol alcohol. If you can find that you can save a little money but this being New Year's weekend and seeing as the problem was 400 miles from home, I gladly paid $1.99 for a 12 oz bottle. Again, Brickboard to the rescue. The collective experience and wisdom here is AMAZING.

I found some amusement that you never heard of it.. Then I realized the 'SoCal'.
It is extremely popular in the northern states. Grocery stores put out large End Displays of it around late November.. you can buy it in any convenient store and it is on racks by every Pump at gas stations.
I hope that was your issue and problem solved.




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'75 Jeep CJ5 345Hp ChevyPwrd, two motorcycles, '85 Pickup: The '89 Volvo is the newest vehicle I own. it wasn't Volvos safety , it was Longevity that sold me http://home.no.net/ebrox/Tony's%20cars.htm

If you are from the great white north you know all about dry gas, if not you probably don't need to know most of the time.
Dan

I grew up in the Northeastern portion of Ohio and "Dry Gas" was a winter staple there. If you didn't run a couple of cans through the fuel system at the beginning of winter you were asking for trouble during the first extended cold spell.

Randy

Good show! There are some things that show up when it gets cold out that normally aren't an issue, that's for sure.