In bitterly cold climates, having things freeze up that you don’t want to is a constant battle. However, gasoline or diesel is not usually something we have to worry about normally. However, if the temperature gets ridiculously low, it’s a common concern to have.
You can freeze gasoline, but it takes extremely low temperatures. Depending on the exact makeup of the fuel, freezing usually begins at about -40° F, with full freezing usually occurring at about -100° F. If you live in a cold area and do not want your gasoline to freeze, an anti-freeze additive can be used.
The anti-freeze additive that I recommend can be found here on Amazon. Many people that live in cold climates regularly use it in their cars or boats to keep them running properly when the temperatures dip down below freezing.
Continue reading to learn more about whether or not you can freeze gasoline. Related questions are likely to include the basic science behind freezing gasoline, whether gas can burn after it has been frozen, and how to avoid frozen gas when you do not want it.
At What Temperature Does Gasoline Freeze?
Gasoline does not freeze until it reaches a temperature between -40 and -200° F. There is a range because not all gasoline contains the exact same components.
While gasoline does freeze eventually, it is a much more drawn-out process than, for example, water. While water crystallizes and freezes at 32° F, only certain components of gas tend to freeze at -40° F.
Additionally, companies that provide gasoline in cold climates often add components to their gasoline to better prevent it from freezing. In any case, however, it is not the climate alone that can freeze gasoline.
If there is gas in your car, other fluids in or near the gasoline can freeze and quickly cool the gas, making it reach its freezing point more suddenly than you might imagine.
In most cases, you will not have to worry about your gasoline freezing if it is not below freezing for months on end, wherever you are. If the climate is like this, however, the problem can be solved as easily as putting an additive in your gasoline with antifreeze to further prevent it from freezing.
At What Temperature Does Diesel Freeze?
Diesel begins to freeze at -32° F because there is a component called paraffin in Diesel whose freezing point is at that temperature. It will start to form a gel when it becomes too cold.
While this may not altogether freeze an entire tank of diesel, if it becomes too thick, the diesel will not be able to function properly and can actually be dangerous.
Since diesel can start to gel quicker than unleaded gasoline, you might want to take more focused measures in keeping your diesel as warm as possible. There are additives you can put in your diesel to help prevent freezing or gelling, but they may be more difficult to find.
The best steps you can take include keeping your diesel tank as full as possible and parking your vehicle in an area with some type of warmth, whether that be a heater, a garage, or anything else that is safe.
What Happens If You Freeze Gasoline?
Typically, people do not intentionally freeze gasoline.
If your gasoline freezes, it can be detrimental to your car or any other machine for which you are using the gas to power. One of the main problems you can face if your gasoline comes in contact with freezing temperatures is not directly related to the gas itself.
If there are freezing temperatures in your area – that is, 32 degrees or less – your gasoline can still be affected. When condensation forms on your vehicle, it can slip its way into your gas tank. It can then mix with your gasoline if it freezes and turns into water, making your gas gel-like and unable to use.
This may cause your car to not be able to start. Additionally, it can cause other problems. If your vehicle tries to filter a gel through its gasoline intake, you can face all kinds of mechanical trouble.
Another question that may arise is for those who actually want to freeze gasoline. You may have heard of people freezing gas to use it for a later time, but this can be a sticky situation. In some scenarios, you can freeze gasoline, and once it unfreezes, it can still be used. This does not pertain to every circumstance, however.
As said before, condensation could get into the container in which you want to freeze your gas. If this happens, the water might freeze in the gasoline and make your gas all gel-like. This is a problem that is much more convenient to avoid than it is to try fixing.
Does Frozen Gasoline Burn?
If you choose to freeze your gasoline, you might wonder whether or not it can still burn.
Frozen gasoline does burn, so you should still handle it with extreme care. If you are intentionally freezing gasoline, you need to make sure you take proper precautions to avoid danger. Try to store it away from your home, or make sure it is not close to any other flammable objects.
Can Gas Freeze In A Gas Can?
Gas can freeze in a gas can. If you do not want your gas to freeze, you can take precautions such as adding antifreeze or keeping it in a warm area. Keep in mind, however, just like frozen gasoline, you should still handle regular gas with care.
If you do want to freeze your gas, using a gas can may not be the best option. Most cans are made from high-density polyethylene containers, which are meant to protect their components from outside contaminants.
While these are great containers for storing numerous materials, a gas can itself may not be the best choice. Most gas cans have lids that do not stay airtight. This is practical for when you need to pour gas into a machine, but for freezing, you can run into the problem of condensation forming and entering the gasoline.
Unless you have a gas can with an air-tight seal, you might want to look at a different polyethylene container meant to stay as tight as possible.
Related How Long Gas Lasts (And How To Make It Last Longer).
Can Gasoline Freeze In Your Car?
Gasoline can freeze in your car. This can be a problem because it can turn into a gel substance.
More details will be provided later, but for now, know that this is one of the popular ways people help stop their gas from freezing.
Can You Freeze Dry Gasoline?
If your gasoline freezes or starts gelling, you might wonder if you can freeze-dry it. While this is certainly not a common thing for people to do, freeze-drying gas is more or less possible. If you know there is frozen water causing your gasoline to gel, you might try freeze-drying it to evaporate the water inside.
Gasoline can technically be freeze-dried. However, it can only be done in extreme temperatures. Freeze-drying anything often takes special equipment, and if you do not have access to this equipment, you cannot successfully accomplish the task.
If your gasoline is damaged from water, it might be easiest to throw it out and get a new batch of gas.
What Keeps Gasoline From Freezing?
The best way to avoid gasoline freezing in your car is by using the following different methods:
- Keeping your car in a garage or some type of temperature-controlled space
- Additives with antifreeze
- You will benefit even more if you keep your gas tank as full as possible
The most efficient way to help prevent your gasoline from freezing is by putting an additive, like this brand, in it that contains antifreeze. If water vapor or condensation gets into the gasoline, the antifreeze inside the additive will absorb the water and prevent it from freezing into your gas.
Another easy way to avoid frozen gas is by keeping it in a location with a controlled environment. In most cases, a garage can do just as well as anything else, but for extreme temperatures, you might want to take more precautions.
If your garage has a heater, it can be very beneficial in keeping your gasoline from freezing. However, especially if your gasoline is not in your car and is instead in a container, you must make sure it is not too close to the heater. Any risk of flammability can be extremely dangerous.
Whether you have unleaded gasoline, diesel, or anything else, having as much as possible stored in your container or sitting in your gas tank is yet another simple way to avoid freezing your gasoline. The more gasoline there is, the less likely condensation is to find its way inside and contaminate the entire body of gasoline.
Thanks for reading!
For more, check out How Long Does Gasoline Last? | A Fuel Storage Guide.
Jim James is a published author and expert on the outdoors and survivalism. Through avid research and hands-on experience, he has gained expertise on a wide variety of topics. His time spent at college taught him to become really good at figuring out answers to common problems. Often through extensive trial and error, Jim has continued to learn and increase his knowledge of a vast array of topics related to firearms, hunting, fishing, medical topics, cooking, games/gaming, and other subjects too numerous to name.
Jim has been teaching people a wide variety of survivalism topics for over five years and has a lifetime of experience fishing, camping, general survivalism, and anything in nature. In fact, while growing up, he often spent more time on the water than on land! He has degrees in History, Anthropology, and Music from the University of Southern Mississippi. He extensively studied Southern History, nutrition, geopolitics, the Cold War, and nuclear policy strategies and safety as well as numerous other topics related to the content on survivalfreedom.com.