antifreeze
 

Has anyone ever winterizes with R.V., antifreeze rather than auto antifreeze, I realize you can't run it in a raditator but just for the winter in the blocks

thks Joe

Re: antifreeze
 

I just read formulafastec's thread and I winterized almost same way, started motors till thermostats opened, hooked up my pump with R.V., antifreeze in it, let motors run till I seen good colour, put large drum under drives let circulate till reached 190. Same for other.
This is what I am curios about, I usually use auto antifreeze but very hard to clean up and expensive, this is my first time with R.V., I kept some of the solution fro km my barrel left it out last night and it started to freeze , not solid but slushy. I got very worried and rushed to the barn and put a heater in motor compartment and was going to use auto antifreeze this weekend, but then I thought maybee this is a characteristic of R.V., antifreeze.I now put solution in my deep freezer at home to see if it would freeze solid, it goes down to 0. Any input would be appreciated

thanks Joe

Re: antifreeze
 

I wonder what the reasoning is with not being able to use it in your car because of the radiator.... aluminum?? I was going to use that stuff this yr also until all of them had the same warning. So just used the reg. auto freeze as in the previous yrs.
Have also read the RV stuff gets slushy when freezes, not solid. Guess that is the charcteristic of it??

How about windshield washer fluid at .89/gal.?

On that note, a buddy has used the RV stuff for yrs for his boats and boats that he does winterize for friends and never an issue.

Re: antifreeze
 

Thanks for reply but i'm nervous as hell about it .I am in mechanical busyness for years and use same stuff for year in winterizing cottages and never had and issue, but never realy looked to see what it does. Good point on windsheild washer fluid it never goes slushy under the hood why not use it

thnks again Joe

Re: antifreeze
 

I just read a link on the marine RV antifreeze.
One point mentioned was the RV engine antifreeze was to be used only as an anti freeze for storage, not as an antifreeze/coolant for everyday use. Possibly that is the only reasoning for the 'not to be used in radiators' warning, knowing some people will try to use it instead of the regular higher priced antifreeze in their cars. Maybe it has no cooling capabilties, hense the warning? As far as rust inhibitors, as long as the block is full, even of water....no air, it is protected.
Hmmmm. I think I will use this pink stuff next yr now.

Re: antifreeze
 

The RV stuff I've always used claims to be good to -50. I never had a problem. Where I live, it's not ever going to get close to those temps anyway. Ontario?, I guess it is possible. I've seen other RV stuff that claims to be good to -100.

Re: antifreeze
 

been using it for 20 yrs, never had a problem. Its no good for vehicle cooling system because there are no rust inhibitors, no seal lubricants, no silicates etc. it is antifreeze, not coolant.

Re: antifreeze
 

JMPH, the MerCruiser manual recommended a "environmentally safe and non-toxic antifreeze" which, to my knowledge, the only stuff out there like that is the RV type. This recommendation makes sense to use the non-toxic type since it ends up in the lake or on the ground the next boating season.

I used "Super Tech RV & Marine antifreeze" (bought it at Wal-Mart. On the bottle it states "safe to brass, mild steel, copper and all plastics (except acetate). Super Tech propylen glycol antifreeze is formulated to protect to -50°F burst temperature although some slush formula is normal." It also contains a corrosion inhibitor, which I believe windshield washer fluid does not.

Also, I have seen boat engine winterizing kits for sale (large containers with a valve that gravity feeds to the muffs) and they recommend and sell the RV antifreeze to be used with the kit.

You have nothing to worry about. It would have to get down to -50°F for this stuff to freeze solid enough to cause any problems. At least I know it will never get that cold in Missouri. :drink:

Re: antifreeze
 

My guess is the reason it is not recommended for automotive cooling systems is that RV antifreeze does not raise the boiling point of the fluid like normal car antifreeze does.

Re: antifreeze
 

Thanks guy's for all the input, I was worried sick, I sold the boat to my friend and serviced and winterized it for him before storing it for him.
Another reason you could not use R.V., in auto because it does get slushy and probably would damage waterpump.

thanks again Joe

Re: antifreeze
 

If in doubt just use Jack Daniels

Re: antifreeze
 

they make a new anti freeze that dogs can drink and not die...i think its called sierra, my dog loves it

Re: antifreeze
 

The antifreeze cannot be used in radiators because it is not a coolant. It will also slush up in the winter and not flow properly. On the bottle it gives the burst protection level. That doesn't mean it won't get slushy or hard, just that it won't expand and break anything. You can't use regular automotive antifreeze legally unless you recover all of it. I have winterized thousands of engines in New York with it over many years with no failures.

Re: antifreeze
 

Hi,
Just brought 5 Jugs of Super Tech RV & Marine Antifreeze to winterize my hot tub. Put 4 jugs in the system and left the last one sitting on top of the tub. Got down to -12°F last night. The jug on top of the tub was froozen solid and showed distortion to the container from expansion. I was searching the internet to see if anyone else had similiar occurances. Don't know if it is a bad batch or what but am in the process of heathing up the hot tub enouch so I can get the frozen antifreeze out of it and try something else. Before I was using regualr automotive antifreeze but it took quite a few rinses (a lot of water) to get rid of the antifreeze smell.
Any pointers will be greatly appreciated. I had used this stuff several years ago in my camper and don't ever remember it freezing up like this.
Thanks,

Re: antifreeze
 

So your antifreeze froze solid? How much water was in the tub when you added the antifreeze? Hopefully not much more than 4 gals.

We drain our tub during the summer and only use it in the winter.

Re: antifreeze
 

aren't there rust inhibitors in real anti freeze vs. the rv stuff? I'm not using rv...not for me.

Re: antifreeze
 

Why is everyone afraid to drain the block & manifolds before adding antifreeze ? This practice of running the engine until the thermostat opens and then adding antifreeze is silly. Adding antifreeze to an already full motor, hoping it will mix is not safe. Always drain block and manifolds. Even if you can only get to one side, the antifreeze can then mix and dilute the remaining water.

Re: antifreeze
 

Ethylene Glycol aka brands like Prestone etc. have rust inhibitors...protect rubber components much better...it is toxic and needs to be collected and not run down a drain...but yea...much better than just methylene/water and color tinting.

Thuough I hear the blue stuff has corrosion inhibitors but not the "red pop"...

...I am a bit out of my niche' but that's the scoop....

Re: antifreeze
 

Have you tried squeezing between 2 motors to reach the drains and disconnect hoses? ;) Drained them the 1st 2 yrs I owned the boat. A couple hr job. This past winter I did the running method. 5 min to warm up, 1 min to suck the antifreeze in.

Re: antifreeze
 

Have I tried, yes I have. In fact it's my business. I have winterized many boats like yours and I have replaced many engines as a result of customers using your method. Next time try pulling the circulating hose off of the water pump. That will drain the motor approximately half way down leaving room for antifreeze to mix with the remaining water. Exhaust manifolds can be easily drained by removing supply hose at thermostat housing and then pulling it down below manifold level. May take a little more time, but well worth the effort!