R/v anti freeze

[dantheman]

has anyone had any luck using the pink r/v anti-freeze??? I have always winterized my boats using the traditional automotive green anti-freeze or GM's dexcool. This stuff was on sale at the local parts store, so I picked up a few gallons, I did a little experiment with the r/v anti-freeze...I could not get an accurate reading using my coolant tester for freeze point/boil point, so I stuck some in the freezer in a plastic bottle, 3 hours later it was a popsicle.....!!!! This was straight/not mixed right out of the bottle. It says on the label burst protection to -50 degrees, some slushing is normal...
I think I will stick with my automotive ethylene glycol anti-freeze!

[TxJole]

For ballast or engine?

[dantheman]

engine

[TxJole]

Not made for engines it's for storage tanks. Toilets water tanks holding tanks. Just for winterizing.

[AirTool]

Besides being bad for the lake if you started the engine there, why don't folks just use DexCool to winterize with?

I think that is what I would use...might this year instead of just draining.

[dantheman]

ok...not to start an argument, but both PCM and Indmar recommend using the pink r/v anti-freeze for winterizing the engine block, shower, and heater core...The r/v anti-freeze is bio-degradable/non toxic.

My point is this crap is freezing in the freezer! my freezer's temp is at about 25-28 degrees F.

[herd2243]

Pure Antifreeze will freeze a lot easier than a 50/50 mix, try a 50/50 mix in your freezer and you will find it won't freeze as easy as your previous batch, if you don't believe me, "google it"

[jmo]

Pure Antifreeze will freeze a lot easier than a 50/50 mix, try a 50/50 mix in your freezer and you will find it won't freeze as easy as your previous batch, if you don't believe me, "google it"

Automotive AF is designed to be mixed, but marine AF is not designed to work that way.

[Nautiquehunter]

I use green in the engine and pink in the ballast tanks . In the spring put a bucket under the exhaust and run it on a hose to get the green out before putting it in the lake.

[shonuff]

More importantly, did it expand and burst the plastic bottle? Your main concern is whether it expands when frozen or not so it won't crack your engine block.

I always use the pink RV/Marine antifreeze.

[leek2001]

I have a '93 Ski Nautique 196 with a PCM 5.8 HO Pro Boss engine. My owner's manual states: "...fill the engine with a solution of 50% clean water and 50% of non-toxic food grade antifreeze." I use undiluted R/V antifreeze to flush the transmission and headers after draining the block & headers. Boat is stored in unheated bldg 50 mi. north of Pittsburgh, PA and I have not had any problems since buying the boat 5 yrs ago...

[Sac Surfer]

I used about 7 gallons of Pink RV antifreeze, I didn't mix it just sucked it right up out of a cooler. It really froze in (3) hours? in your freezer? Bottle does say go till -50F. The green stuff is bad for the environment, the pink stuff well 12 inches of ground to filter it and enviro-safe.

I'll find out in the spring if Pink worked or didn't but I know 90% of the boats in the New England for wintering run pink in ballast and engine.

[JoeSki]

I run the pink stuff here...I have not had a problem and have seen a few nights in the -20's air temp over the years.

[scottb7]

i use pink stuff... i hard it will get slushy but not freeze...did it get solid?

[jmo]

So when I read about dantheman's experiment about freezing some pink AF in the freezer I looked at the AF I had bought and read the "fine print" on the back of the jug:

Pink Marine AF -50 F really means:
* Copper pipes are protected from BURSTING as low as -50 degrees F
* PVC pipes are protected against BURSTING as low as -10 degrees F
* AF will not freeze until 12 degrees F

Teal Marine AF -100 F really means:
* Copper pipes are protected from BURSTING as low as -100 degrees F
* PVC pipes are protected against BURSTING as low as -60 degrees F
* AF will not freeze until -60 degrees F

Assuming your Iron block is stronger than a typical copper pipe, your engine is safe to -50 F with the Pink AF, for the heater I'm not sure where that falls in comparison to copper pipe, I would compare to the pvc number just to be safe...

The key distinction is that the AF must not expand as much as straight water when freezing.

For those living in really cold regions, get the teal colored AF that is labeled -100, the Pink AF I bought is going back to be exchanged for the Teal -100, even though its probably overkill in my case.

Final notes:

1
On the jug is repeatedly states: "Use at full strength, do not dilute". For the reference to the manual stating to use 50/50 mix of non toxic AF: the manual is wrong, the only AF I have come across that is supposed to be diluted is car AF (green) and it is TOXIC, maybe there is one out there, I've just never seen it.

2
Remember to pour the AF directly into the block first before filling the rest of the system via the "pull from the bucket trick" as with a cold block the thermostat isn't open, and hence no fluid is routed into the block until the engine warms up. I leave the plugs slightly loose on the block until I can see a bit dripping out to make sure I'm getting it in there.

Hope this helps,

JMO