Gas Fill Door Frozen Shut
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
Gas Fill Door Frozen Shut
Does anyone have a tip for getting the gas fill door open? We're in the midst of an ice storm here, so the whole exterior is glazed over and I can't get the fuel door open. I'm really low on gas...suggestions?
And no, I do not have access to a hair dryer...I'm at work!
And no, I do not have access to a hair dryer...I'm at work!
#2
Drifting
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Age: 46
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Get a bucket or pitcher or something else that can hold a decent volume of water and pour it over the door. I had to do this not too long ago. Just leave the door open for a bit because it's going to re-freeze but it's easier to get it to close than it is to open.
#5
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by LukeaTron
Get a bucket or pitcher or something else that can hold a decent volume of water and pour it over the door. I had to do this not too long ago. Just leave the door open for a bit because it's going to re-freeze but it's easier to get it to close than it is to open.
PLEASE do not pour water over ice. That will just ruin the paint/metal.
Best bet would be to get the car indoor somewhere and run a hair dryer at low heat over it (from a distance away) melting it slowly.
to make a point, put your hand into some snow for lets say 30 seconds to a minute and now go run some hot water over it. BURN! BURN BURN! thats how it is when you pour water on ice for a car, it will burn. Wont notice it immediately but overtime...
#6
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What are you talking about? The example with the hand you give is purely the result of the nerves conditioning to the stimulus of the cold and then sending a confused signal when that stimulus changes rapidly. Does you're paint have nerves? Mine doesn't.
Unless it's 50 below and you're pouring boiling water on the car, absolutely nothing bad will happen. You don't even need hot water for this to work. Cold water will work almost as well. It's more about the moving water eroding the ice than it is heating the ice. Water is a very efficient transporter of heat and moving water will readily melt ice, even when the water is well below freezing.
Unless it's 50 below and you're pouring boiling water on the car, absolutely nothing bad will happen. You don't even need hot water for this to work. Cold water will work almost as well. It's more about the moving water eroding the ice than it is heating the ice. Water is a very efficient transporter of heat and moving water will readily melt ice, even when the water is well below freezing.
#7
Don't feed the...WTF?
Are you close enough to home to make it? If not - how about getting to a gas station? Just get a car wash - I'd think that would be enough warm water to dethaw the door.
I guess that is if the car washes are open. Most of the time the "better" car washes stay open no matter what - It's only the cheaper washes that close for anything under freezing because they don't want to pay the extra to keep the wash heated
I guess that is if the car washes are open. Most of the time the "better" car washes stay open no matter what - It's only the cheaper washes that close for anything under freezing because they don't want to pay the extra to keep the wash heated
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#8
Don't feed the...WTF?
Originally Posted by LukeaTron
Unless it's 50 below and you're pouring boiling water on the car, absolutely nothing bad will happen. You don't even need hot water for this to work. Cold water will work almost as well. It's more about the moving water eroding the ice than it is heating the ice. Water is a very efficient transporter of heat and moving water will readily melt ice, even when the water is well below freezing.
I saw this on Good Eats (Alton Brown should hook up with the Mythbusters if you ask me). They put some ice or something in 1) bucket of hot water, 2) the refridgerator, and 3) under cold running water.
The order was cold running water melted the fastest, followed by hot water, then the fridge.
#9
Originally Posted by mau108
PLEASE do not pour water over ice. That will just ruin the paint/metal.
#14
As "mau108" posted it, de-icer works like a miracle.
If I forget the deicer I usually just press on the door in a couple of times until the ice cracks around, then the door is able to release...
If I forget the deicer I usually just press on the door in a couple of times until the ice cracks around, then the door is able to release...
#15
Years ago, my dad was walking to a friends house to get a ride to school. Car was ice covered, friend came out of the house with a pot of VERY hot water. Did NOT hurt the paint, according to my dad, but it sure turned out to be an efficient way to remove the ice. Along with the windshield...
#16
Originally Posted by kennungesser
Years ago, my dad was walking to a friends house to get a ride to school. Car was ice covered, friend came out of the house with a pot of VERY hot water. Did NOT hurt the paint, according to my dad, but it sure turned out to be an efficient way to remove the ice. Along with the windshield...
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