Water in your gas is a really rare problem anymore. Better storage tanks (mandated so they don't leak into the ground more than anything) and much higher rates of consumption than ever before mean the gas is pretty clean coming out of the pump. Gas doesn't absorb water so it's not going to pull it out of the air like some other fuels will. Ethanol will but it won't freeze up or cause any problems at all as long it's not an unreasonable amount of water.

 

Any of you guys that have the low temps like below zero, have you tried changing your motor oil to something like a 0W-20 or 0W-30 to help with cold start flow. Also a synthetic should help greatly.

I might be moving to Minneapolis soon with my '04 TSX and wondering if I will have the same issue.

 

I've run strictly Mobil 1 synthetic since my first oil change. Still starts hard.

 

I had a HUGE water problem a few months back. I was nearly OUT of gas and ended up gassing up at a little, podunk, out of the way place that probably sells NO premium. Whatever the reason, less than 5 miles from the gas station I started experiencing problems and it took me a long time to get it resolved. So, I do agree that it happens less, but it's certainly not unheard of. It happens quite frequently where I live. I'm not sure if the tank laws are state laws or federal? So it could be that some of the smaller, older stations have sub-par tanks still?

 

I'm in Minneapolis with these problems (although it has always started for me, even though I've doubted it a few times). I run Mobil 1 5w-30. Have not tried the 0w oils yet and really don't want to.

 

Yeah I remember you talking about that problem with the bad gas. So it turned out to be water in the gas then? An old crusty station like that could conceivably have tanks that are grandfathered in past the newer laws. I believe they're set by the EPA so they would have federal jurisdiction.

 

Yes, it was definitely water, and LOTS of it. It took me about three FULL tanks to get all the water out and get it running smooth again.