Frozen Fuel Rails. Brrrrrrr!

I went out Tuesday Morning after driving over 250 miles Sunday and Monday and she turned over but no start. After trying to start for 2 minutes, I looked to see my fuel line had burst from the rail! I fastened it up, cleaned up the mess and tried again! No luck. Checked air, spark and I knew I had fuel at least up to the line. I put the car in a garage with a heater to warm it up. I'm quite sure this is the problem due to the fact I tried starting my GF's Honda and got the same thing! Its been in the garage since 8 am yesterday and still no start. I have pressure in the rail when I press the release valve. Everyone seems to have a hard time thinking it's the fuel rails frozen but why would the line pop off unless it's trying to push fuel and can't. I have checked the Ignition fuses, Injector fuses and all possible relays, MAF, IAC and TPS Sensors as well as clearly hearing the fuel pump come on when turning the key. I know its cold here but this blows! -10 in cheery Buffalo! She's getting towed to my friends shop down the road today for further diagnosis but would appreciate any   ideas!

It's not a frozen fuel line unless it's full of water... -10 F is nothing to gas.

If you have the fuel line off the rail, just cycle the key and gas should come gushing out of the line. If not, fuel pump might be frozen.

Did you get some wet gas?

Riv and the Focus seemed to have frozen lines a couple weeks ago following fills at the same pump and some -20 temps. A bottle of isopropyl and appropriate waiting time made both clear up. Not uncommon for water condensation in the tank when there's temperature fluxuation and high humidity. The problem with frozen lines is usually at the tank end.

Yep! After warming up and cleaning plugs she fired right up! GF's car just needed to be warmed up.

Where are you buying your gas? It sounds to me like there is too much moisture in the supply. High pressure fuel systems don't freeze up, and gasoline shouldn't have any moisture in it.

Isopropyl really shouldn't be necessary if you are buying gas with any ethanol in it, it basically does the same thing. Can you still get 'pure' gas? If so, you might still need some drygas to absorb the tank moisture.

Yeah, I've been driving in ND winters for 40 years and have never had a fuel line freeze up. Sounds like bad gas at your station.

My bad tanks were from Sam's Club. I've rarely had a problem with my local BP.

Sam's? My local Sam's sells nothing better than 89 octane.

Same here...89 always at Sam's....

I've never put anything but 91-93 octane. I just got the Green Hornet a few months ago and it had a small sputter while idling since I got it. Very intermittent but since the freeze, I put dry gas in, filled the tank and started a regimen of Lucas Upper Cylinder Lubricant and it's running smooth as silk so far. I have used Lucas UCL in my white car and when I did the LIM gasket, the inside of my motor was BEAUTIFUL! 93 octane, the Upper Cylinder Lubricant with fill ups and Lucas Oil Stabilizer with oil changes is all I've ever put in.
I've also peeked into the Throttle body of the Green car and it's black with crap built up. I plan on giving her the overhaul in the spring so I'm hoping to nurse her through the winter.

Doesn't matter what octane gas you buy, that doesn't make it good quality, as far as it maybe having water in it at the station.

rivparadise wrote  "I've never put anything but 91-93 octane. I just got the Green Hornet a few months ago and it had a small sputter while idling since I got it. Very intermittent but since the freeze, I put dry gas in, filled the tank and started a regimen of Lucas Upper Cylinder Lubricant and it's running smooth as silk so far. I have used Lucas UCL in my white car and when I did the LIM gasket, the inside of my motor was BEAUTIFUL! 93 octane, the Upper Cylinder Lubricant with fill ups and Lucas Oil Stabilizer with oil changes is all I've ever put in.
I've also peeked into the Throttle body of the Green car and it's black with crap built up. I plan on giving her the overhaul in the spring so I'm hoping to nurse her through the winter."


I would definitely port those heads while ya got em out and have them rebuilt with all new seals.  jmo

My Riv has 200,000+ miles and diminished street appeal. It's a cool and safe car for my daughter to drive to college and work. Price per gallon of gas when in-town performance in severe temperatures is a limiting factor makes octane levels less relevant. Today, Sam's Club was 21 cents/gallon less than street prices.