2017 wrx winter tips

2432 Views 21 Replies 9 Participants Last post by EJ257, Nov 10, 2017

RocPile

Discussion Starter · Nov 3, 2017

hellllo,
so i have a 2017 wrx and i live in Edmonton Alberta Canada where temperatures can reach -30 Celcius. well today i went to fill up gas and the lid was frozen shut. does anyone else have this problem? if so, what did you do to help it? as well the doors get pretty stuck when trying to open in the morning so thats a thing. i believe i should use some sort of De-icer or lube for my doors and possibly my gas lid? any suggestions on that to use? the gas lid is all paint so i want something that wont be eating away at the paint. as well, what does anyone recommend for start up? i mean idleing these new cars for too long isnt great, but at -30, you pretty well need to warm it up for 15 minutes.

1 - 20 of 22 Posts

dorsodurojohn

· #2 · Nov 3, 2017

2016 WRX- I've had that here in Minnesota, the gas lid was just iced over, I think I stuck a credit card or key in there to pry it ever so gently. Do my best to keep it dry going forward.
The idle does seem to take forever to drop down to 1k RPM's, not sure what that's all about, so it's going to get warmed up in the driveway for a few.
good luck! John

RocPile

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 3, 2017

yeah i didnt have to fight tooo hard with the gas cap lid, but i noticed inside that some plastic pieces look separated from their clips or something. im going to see if subaru will help a brother out if it comes time for replacement. to me, thats an overlooked feature that isnt my fault. i mean if there was a part that was lifted so you could get a finger in there like most vehicles have than it wouldnt be an issue. but noooo they need to keep it all flush haha screwing us winterites over. yeah i hate running my vehicle for long periods of time on idle but i think getting up and going right away in -30 would be even worse for the vehicle! sometimes i wish i didnt have a new car so that my paranoia wouldnt bother me haha

XJman

· #4 · Nov 3, 2017

Mine does it if we have a wet day and a cold night. Make sure your door seals are dry and clean that should help with the door. I can't think of a way to stop the fuel door to keep from freezing though. It's why I hate not having one that opens from the outside.

Your idle is going to be higher for longer when it's cold because it doesn't start to drop until 100f or something. The colder it is the longer it takes the coolant temp to come up to that mark. Coupled with the defroster that's probably on it can take a bit.

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RocPile

Discussion Starter · #5 · Nov 3, 2017

so whats with this rpm drop for warming up? it sits at 2k rpm and then drops to 1k rpm when its warmed up to operable temperature?

btw first subie in winter...LOVING IT haha the handling is amazing. cant beat black ice though, but everything else has been awesome

rqjoe

· #6 · Nov 5, 2017

I cup my hands over such frozen things and blow on them to defrost. I also let my car warm up only until the TGVs open full, then I go and brap the gas pedal once and the idle comes down off the 2k high idle.

ChristopherWRX

· #7 · Nov 5, 2017

Solution: 1500 watt blow dryer and a 25 foot workshop extension cord.

Stanley Yahtzee

· #8 · Nov 5, 2017

pour a bunch of water on the fuel door, sure it will freeze again but it will let it open temporarily, as long as its not super cold... the coldest air temperature ive ever felt is 16f so i have no idea if that will still work for -30c...

RocPile

Discussion Starter · #9 · Nov 7, 2017

hahah unfortunately the blow dryer wont work for when im at a gas station.

and -30 weather is brutal. we literally throw boiling water into the air and watch it turn to snow before it hits the ground.. haha why do i even live herE?

HeubergerMotors

· #10 · Nov 7, 2017

any automotive part store or Amazon Prime should have a spray de-icer! I'd just keep a extra towel around to wipe down any over spray.

EJ257

· #11 · Nov 8, 2017

Get one of those standard spray bottles.

Fill as follows:
1/3 Tap Water
2/3 Isopropyl Alcohol

You could adjust the mixture and use a bit more water (50/50) and use a few drops of dish detergent as a surfactant as well.

Sasquatch

· #12 · Nov 8, 2017

EJ257 said:
Get one of those standard spray bottles.

Fill as follows:
1/3 Tap Water
2/3 Isopropyl Alcohol

You could adjust the mixture and use a bit more water (50/50) and use a few drops of dish detergent as a surfactant as well.

^^ This. Distilled water is ever better - no mineral deposits. Dish detergent? Why?

EJ257

· #13 · Nov 8, 2017

Sasquatch said:
^^ This. Distilled water is ever better - no mineral deposits.

Do you wash your car with distilled water? If not, unless you keep a steady supply of distilled water (e.g., water/meth system), I wouldn't worry about it.

Sasquatch said:
Dish detergent? Why?

Dish soap or baby shampoo acts as a surfactant, or wetting agent.

Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surfactant
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetting

Layman's Terms: It helps the spray "stick" to the ice vs just bead up and/or slide off.

NOTE (not related to cars, but to this post): If spraying liquid weed control in your lawn, consider introducing a surfactant like baby shampoo into the mixture, for better results. The surfactant will help the liquid spread evenly over the plant vs beading up (therefore, applying greater coverage area to the chemical that kills the plant).

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Sasquatch

· #14 · Nov 8, 2017

Ah, got it. I usually have some distilled water around, so I suggested that.

EJ257

· #15 · Nov 8, 2017

Sasquatch said:
Ah, got it.

Sasquatch said:
I usually have some distilled water around, so I suggested that.

Between acid rain and the minerals in the water when you wash your car, I don't know why you'd bother with distilled water in something like this.

I certainly understand there are situations you absolutely want to use distilled water, where minerals and such could clog up a system (e.g., you DO NOT want a water/methanol injection system to fail due to a clog), but water with minerals on it getting on your paint? Meh. Save the hassle of buying/transporting/storing distilled water for where it's really needed, IMO.

Certainly, distilled water in your mixture is not a bad thing. I just prefer to have a supply handy for when it's needed, rather than needing it (and not having it) as a result of unnecessarily using it, thus requiring a trip to the store.

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XJman

· #16 · Nov 8, 2017

The coldest I've dealt with recently was -20f and even de-icing products froze. I wouldn't even consider any water at that point. I don't know the exact conversion but I'm sure the temps are similar there.

Maybe you can put some sort of cellophane or something around the gas cap so it releases easily.

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EJ257

· #17 · Nov 8, 2017

XJman said:
The coldest I've dealt with recently was -20f and even de-icing products froze. I wouldn't even consider any water at that point. I don't know the exact conversion but I'm sure the temps are similar there.

Isopropyl alcohol won't freeze in -120°F temperatures (freezing point is ~-89°C). While dilution with water will impact that, not enough that would ever cause a problem.

XJman

· #18 · Nov 8, 2017

I just bought commercial stuff. I don't recall the brand but they sell it at the local grocery store. It would just frost right up when I tried it around my fuel door

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EJ257

· #19 · Nov 8, 2017 (Edited)

XJman said:
I just bought commercial stuff. I don't recall the brand but they sell it at the local grocery store. It would just frost right up when I tried it around my fuel door

I'm not sure what the ingredients are for what you bought.

I would dilute the mixture to be on the safe side, and if you ran into "freezing" issues (which you shouldn't), adjust the mixture accordingly. What you buy in the store can vary in isopropyl alcohol content (e.g., Walgreens sells both 91% and 70% mixtures). If you happen to experience freezing issues, either reduce the water/alcohol mixture (1/5 water, 4/5 isopropyl alcohol), or increase the initial alcohol ratio in the mixture.

rqjoe

· #20 · Nov 8, 2017

Or you could just carry something like this

https://www.amazon.com/Compact-Trav...pID=41n8LdHo6TL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

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