How to remove ice from fuel lines in the field

[hilltop170]

If you use HEET brand, make sure and ONLY use the red bottle, not the yellow. The red bottle is isopropyl, the yellow is methanol. Pour the HEET into the tank just before or during filling the tank with gas.

Also, since 170 tanks are aluminum, they are bad about collecting condensation if not completely full. In the winter, always fill the tanks completely after each flight to minimize the amount of tank surface exposed to the air which will minimize the tank's ability to condense water vapor in the air into water/ice inside the tanks.

[GAHorn]

In addition to Richard's comments...think about what happens every time we fly.

We go to altitude and let the fuel level fall, filling the tanks with moisture-laden air. Then we descend (usually to cooler temps) where the moisture in that air condenses in the tanks. (Think of that cold glass of Scotch-on-the-rocks, with condensation on the outside of the glass.) Later the condensation runs down the tank sides and enters the fuel.
If we re-fuel after landing, the condensation enters the fuel immediately. Some of it dissolves...some of it settles to the bottom.

If we don't drain that tank before the night-time freeze...it freezes around the sumps...and "locks" or "jams" your sump drains.

Recommendation: Re-fuel after landing, park/tie-down, and let it settle about 20 mins, then drain the sumps.
Ideally, you also have a drain on your fuel valve, and will also drain that, as well as your gascolator.

IN OTHER WORDS...don't wait until you want to fly again...do it after landing/re-fueling.

Also, if it helps re-assure you, ...remember your gascolator sits on the lower firewall...where it is constantly heated by warm engine air, which keeps ice from freezing there. So, keep water/ice out of your tanks and fuel valve, and you should be OK if you can drain your gascolator during pre-flight.