[IROCZman15]

Just figured I'd ask you guys about this...


can fuel and fuel lines get so frozen that it could cause flow issues and/or an engine to stall out dead?


the story...


Finished a top end engine rebuild on my 1995 2.5L auto jeep wrangler back in September (blew head gasket and warped the head) and its purpose is to be my beater and winter ride. it has been running great since then. up until 2 days ago.

it's been really cold recently in NJ here and will snow every few days and then go into a deep freeze. All the driving I've done on the jeep has gone well in the snow storms, I'm 99.99% in two wheel drive in the snow anyways. However with no front nose or low bumper cover, a LOT of snow from other vehicle's spray and from when my front tires are turned while driving gets sprayed on the underside of the jeep. when I say lots, I mean LOTS ! well two days ago on the way to work, I was low on fuel (about 1/8 tank) driving in a snow storm all morning and about 2 mins from work the jeep dies. not like stutters or anything, just cuts out. wouldn't start back up. I fiddled with a few things in the engine bay and all seemed ok, about 5 mins later it decided to start up. 13 hours later on the way home from work, it stalled again. No Check engine codes, nothing, just wouldn't fire. then it did about 8 mins later, (temps that day were around 16-20 deg)

today I melted and chopped well over 100 pounds of snow and ice from the underside of the jeep. ice that was frozen into THICK, DENSE masses around fuel lines, brake lines, brake calipers, steering knuckles, the front driveshaft, the transfer case, and even some that had completely entombed the rear half of my exhaust. used scalding hot water from a hose that I ran from the house, and also an assortment of pry-bars, screwdrivers, and pipes to dislodge all the ice.. when all was said and done I moved the jeep and cleared out 21 full snow-shovels worth of ice and snow debris that I removed from the underside (not counting the ice I melted with hot water in the tight crevices) . lots of it from around wiring that hangs low on the underside (o2 sensor, rear tail lights, crankshaft position sensor)


So my question to you guys is, could a fuel line, fuel system, fuel itself get cold enough by being almost completely encased in ice buildup that it could cause flow problems? I checked at the shrader valve this morning prior to any of the above and I had the proper 31 psi (vac line on) and 39 (vac line off)



or, did the chunks of ice put so much weight on some of the wiring to various sensors that they may have become stressed? crankshaft sensor especially.

or .... is it some other problem. I will be running diagnostic checks tomorrow on MAP sensor, battery, ignition coil, plug wires, fuel filter, camshaft position sensor and crankshaft position sensor just in case. Also, filled up on fuel today and added some HEET dry gas to the system. thanks guys for ANY input