Can petrol freeze in the tank? The freezing point explained

The freezing point of petrol is so low that in this country you don’t have to worry about being stranded with a frozen tank in winter. Special additives also prevent the fuel from flocculating.

This is how low the freezing point of petrol is

You may also have heard of the myth that a petrol tank can freeze in winter. This is basically true, but here in Germany this mishap will most likely not happen.

• Petrol has a freezing point of minus 45 degrees Celsius. Since these temperatures are not reached in this country, you don’t have to worry about your car breaking down in winter because the petrol in the tank freezes.

• But in some countries like Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Canada or Russia, due to the extreme temperatures in winter, it could well happen that the freezing point of the petrol is reached.

• To make petrol cold-resistant, there is so-called winter petrol. A standard regulates that certain additives are added to the fuel in winter so that the engine in your vehicle is not damaged. Because even before the freezing point is reached, paraffin crystals can form and the fuel can flocculate.

• By the way: Diesel can also freeze. Here, the freezing point for winter diesel is minus 20 degrees Celsius.