# Can you spray fuel into air intake? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** 330, bmw\ **Created:** [October 10, 2016, 5:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-you-spray-fuel-into-air-intake/96036 "2016-10-10T17:21:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TheMidnightNarwhal](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/themidnightnarwhal/32/5375_2.png) [@TheMidnightNarwhal](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheMidnightNarwhal)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 5:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-you-spray-fuel-into-air-intake/96036/1 "2016-10-10T17:21:53Z")
I just wanted to make sure. I’m using starter fluid which I heard causes a bigger explosion and can damage piston rings and whatnot so I figured can I just spray some gasoline into the air intake? ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 5:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-you-spray-fuel-into-air-intake/96036/2 "2016-10-10T17:26:26Z")
Yes it can be done. But be careful. ---
**Author:** ![TheMidnightNarwhal](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/themidnightnarwhal/32/5375_2.png) [@TheMidnightNarwhal](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheMidnightNarwhal)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 5:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-you-spray-fuel-into-air-intake/96036/3 "2016-10-10T17:33:50Z")
Why be careful. I can put to much and the engine will submerge or something or? ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 5:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-you-spray-fuel-into-air-intake/96036/4 "2016-10-10T17:35:45Z")
Because the gas may not spray where you intended. ---
**Author:** ![TheMidnightNarwhal](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/themidnightnarwhal/32/5375_2.png) [@TheMidnightNarwhal](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheMidnightNarwhal)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 5:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-you-spray-fuel-into-air-intake/96036/5 "2016-10-10T17:55:10Z")
What do you mean? If I spray it into the intake hose after the MAF won’t it go into the engine? ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 6:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-you-spray-fuel-into-air-intake/96036/6 "2016-10-10T18:34:44Z")
I would not use gasoline, use starter spray, it evaporates more readily and it will start the engine if only for a moment. Gas will puddle. It evaporates much more slowly and the vapor trail, if ignited can follow it to the sprayer. Don’t use gasoline! The horror stories about starter spray are generally unfounded unless you spray a bunch in. If used as intended, it won’t harm the engine if used sparingly. Bigger question is: WHY do you think you need to do this on a fuel injected engine?? Are you testing if its getting fuel? Or spark? Because it won’t do either, it will make the engine run for a moment not telling you anything. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 6:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-you-spray-fuel-into-air-intake/96036/7 "2016-10-10T18:36:36Z")
No…what I’m saying is that you just need to be careful when spraying. It’s a dangerous place to be spraying gas. I don’t care how careful you are…sh\*t happens. ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 7:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-you-spray-fuel-into-air-intake/96036/8 "2016-10-10T19:08:34Z")
Mustangman- I don’t understand your response. Are you saying a fuel injected engine will start and run briefly on ether even if it is not getting spark? ---
**Author:** ![TheMidnightNarwhal](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/themidnightnarwhal/32/5375_2.png) [@TheMidnightNarwhal](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheMidnightNarwhal)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 7:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-you-spray-fuel-into-air-intake/96036/9 "2016-10-10T19:12:56Z")
Well my car won’t start when it cold (15celcius) for some reason. If I use starter fluid it seems to go sometimes. If I don’t keep the engine coolant temp needle in the middle afterwards the car goes but then dies out. ---
**Author:** ![TheMidnightNarwhal](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/themidnightnarwhal/32/5375_2.png) [@TheMidnightNarwhal](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheMidnightNarwhal)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 7:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-you-spray-fuel-into-air-intake/96036/10 "2016-10-10T19:14:24Z")
And you sure it won’t damage? I used it yerterday and while it was getting put in the car was running I used the gas pedal and a loud noise was heard, which wasn’t before when I did the same thing. A screechhing noise. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 7:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-you-spray-fuel-into-air-intake/96036/11 "2016-10-10T19:40:38Z")
Um . . . If you have an engine which has no spark, for whatever reason, that starter fluid isn’t going to do you much good, IMO ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 7:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-you-spray-fuel-into-air-intake/96036/12 "2016-10-10T19:48:16Z")
db4690- yes and that is why I didn’t understand what Mustangman said. That is why I try using starting fluid in the first place on an engine that won’t start. If it still won’t start, no spark, compression or timing. If it starts and dies, no fuel. If it has a carb and starts and runs, insufficient choke. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 8:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-you-spray-fuel-into-air-intake/96036/13 "2016-10-10T20:00:05Z")
Starter fluid, or a mix of heptane and ether, will ignite with a very weak spark. (OK, so not NO spark) Weaker than used to fire gasoline. If the engine starts, it won’t run long without fuel and it may not continue running once the starter fluid burns up if it has fuel but a weak spark. Either way, if the engine dies, you don’t have an answer as to why. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 8:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-you-spray-fuel-into-air-intake/96036/14 "2016-10-10T20:00:56Z")
Starter fluid doesn’t screech. It may pop and backfire but not screech. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 8:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-you-spray-fuel-into-air-intake/96036/15 "2016-10-10T20:04:28Z")
So is there a check engine light on? What is the trouble code? Have you checked the fuel pressure? If you have to keep using starter fluid to start the car below 15 C (59F) you have a long winter ahead and you’ll likely will cause more damage than the car already has if you keep this up. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 8:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-you-spray-fuel-into-air-intake/96036/16 "2016-10-10T20:11:23Z")
Thank you for clarifying 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 8:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-you-spray-fuel-into-air-intake/96036/17 "2016-10-10T20:17:18Z")
Mistangman- You are thinking Zebras, I am thinking horses. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 9:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-you-spray-fuel-into-air-intake/96036/18 "2016-10-10T21:38:04Z")
Maybe @oldtimer-11 … I might be looking for the stripes 'cause this thing won’t start below 59 degrees F…There’s more here than just starter fluid. 😁 ---
**Author:** ![SteveCBT](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevecbt/32/3192_2.png) [@SteveCBT](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveCBT)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 9:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-you-spray-fuel-into-air-intake/96036/19 "2016-10-10T21:44:00Z")
Is this the same car that has the crank shaft position sensor code? If it is, @TheMidnightNarwhal try to keep everything under one post because as you add more symptoms the solution can be narrowed down. How did things work out after you replaced the sensor? ---
**Author:** ![TheMidnightNarwhal](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/themidnightnarwhal/32/5375_2.png) [@TheMidnightNarwhal](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheMidnightNarwhal)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 9:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-you-spray-fuel-into-air-intake/96036/20 "2016-10-10T21:52:35Z")
Yeah used some gas in a spray bottle same thing happened, dies out. The is only one missing key, how can temp/humidity affect ths issue, that’s like, what I can’t seem to get. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/can-you-spray-fuel-into-air-intake/96036.md?page=2)