ckiggins

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!

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.

Tripp11

I'd drop and whiz on it...

oasis3582

Ask around to see if someone has lock de-icer.

mau108

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...

LukeaTron

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.

GLowrdr

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

GLowrdr

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.

Tripp11

If this were truly the case, why are there thousands of car wash joints spraying warm water all over frozen cars in the winter to get them clean?

dracore

The solution I saw (although I don't personally recommend) was that some guy at the gas station started pounding the gas door of his MDX with his fist.

Guess it worked

visuelz

Why not just pour windshield wiper fluid over it?

mau108

If your always in this situation carry around a bottle of de-icer

VeNeNo

iTrader: (1)

^^ Nice graphic ^^

vrflyer

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...

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...

visuelz

It might not have been too good for the windows. I can imagine them cracking.

VeNeNo

iTrader: (1)

This is the best solution...