ThosL Posted March 15, 2017 Share Posted March 15, 2017 I have been getting really lousy start-ups on winter mornings. A friend said I needed to put a can of dry gas in, I don't recall doing so. What are the best option on this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbhrps Posted March 15, 2017 Share Posted March 15, 2017 ThosL, Fuel line deicer/fuel line antifreeze (I believe its wood alcohol?) is what is being referred to. A small container added to a full tank of fuel will absorb any water in your fuel tank/lines and allow it to burn. I always add one to the tanks of my vehicles during the winter, about half way through the winter season, even though I've never had a fuel line freeze up issue. Another thing to decrease the possibility of water in the first place, is to always keep the fuel tank as full as possible. This leaves little room for air in the tank to condense the water from it into the fuel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 Can you elaborate on the really lousy part? Lots of things can cause cold starting problems, but there are too many versions of "lousy cold start" to say what's causing your problem without having some more info. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 ^^^ what FF said dew/moisture on old plug wires can cause issues. Failed Engine temp Sensor could as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveT Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 My one experience with water in the fuel showed up on the highway. If your only trouble is starting, it's probably something else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThosL Posted March 16, 2017 Author Share Posted March 16, 2017 Cold or wet in the morning, vehicle runs crappy until it really warms up. Check engine light flashes. Once it warms up in 15 minutes or longer it runs well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveT Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 I'd be looking at plug wires and the CTS first. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jp98 Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 If the check engine light flashes when it is running I would see if there are any codes stored. I agree if it just happens when you first start it then I'd be looking somewhere besides water in the fuel. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 while it's wamed-up an idling well, you could use a plant mister to spray water on/near each plug wire and see if it causes stumbling. Some folks say if you do that at night you can see arcing. seems like plug wires or coil. the moisture is driven-off after the engine bay warms up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil02outback Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 check your idle air control valve if it is dirty or sticking it will not run right or possibly not start. last time i ran in to that issue after i ran it by cracking the throttle body enough for the car to run it ran fine once it warmed up a little bit 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jp98 Posted March 17, 2017 Share Posted March 17, 2017 while it's wamed-up an idling well, you could use a plant mister to spray water on/near each plug wire and see if it causes stumbling. Some folks say if you do that at night you can see arcing. seems like plug wires or coil. the moisture is driven-off after the engine bay warms up. I had a 56 Chevy that you could almost read from all the light that from the arcing that was going on under the hood from the spark plug wires. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThosL Posted March 18, 2017 Author Share Posted March 18, 2017 Very likely it's the plug wires. I will have to buy a set of those for around $30. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 (edited) do not get cheap aftermarket, they are known to not work reliably on Subarus. OEM is best. NGK or Denso will probably be $25 to $50 on am,azon depending on what part number you need. Edited March 18, 2017 by 1 Lucky Texan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vin_ams Posted March 19, 2017 Share Posted March 19, 2017 If you are running a fuel that is say around 10% ethenol or higher, is dry gas gonna be of any benefit. Just saying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vin_ams Posted March 19, 2017 Share Posted March 19, 2017 I happen to come across this: Dry gas - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_gas Dry gas. Drygas is an alcohol-based additive used in automobiles to prevent any water in the fuel from freezing, or to restore combustive power togasoline spoiled by water. ... The belief that dry gas is not needed because of the significant amount of ethanol is largely true because ethanol is a drying agent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThosL Posted March 27, 2017 Author Share Posted March 27, 2017 I ran a test at Auto Zone: It came back as ignition coil, based on: PO301 PO302 PO303 PO304 PO400 egr P1100 low input. I'm thinking wires as when it warms up it runs well. I don't think I've changed them since I bought it, a year ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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