RV Antifreeze or Straight antifreeze

[1998CanadaNautique]

Which is best to use in your block? RV or th eother stuff. What does everyone else use?

[TRBenj]

RE: RV Antifreeze or Straight antifreeze

Either will work fine. If you use the regular green antifreeze, youll want to dilute it 50/50. I like the RV stuff becuase its premixed and biodegradable. In the spring, I just reattach the water pump, put it on the hose and blow the antifreeze right out.

[1998CanadaNautique]

RE: RV Antifreeze or Straight antifreeze

How many Litres does it take?

[ag4ever]

RE: RV Antifreeze or Straight antifreeze

The regular stuff should be collected prior to putting your boat in the water. This means you need to drain the block, the put a bucket under the exhaust and run it on a fake-a-lake to collect the remaining antifreeze. Then it must be disposed of properly.

The RV stuff can be flushed right into the lake the first time you run the boat, that is why I vote for the RV stuff.

[ag4ever]

Re: RE: RV Antifreeze or Straight antifreeze

How many Litres does it take?

When I winterize my boat (seldom), I use 2 gallons, and just pour it into a bucket, then put the hose that is connected to the raw water strainer into the bucket. When the bucket is dry the antifreeze is usually coming out the exhaust. I don't even bother draining the block first, but my extreme temps only get into the teens in winter.

[NautiqueJeff]

RE: Re: RE: RV Antifreeze or Straight antifreeze

You really should drain the block first. Diluting the RV antifreeze makes it virtually worthless. It will take about five gallons if the block is drained.

[lucey]

You don't have to fill the block entirely up with RV antifreeze after it is drained. You just need enough to get into the water jackets to prevent the small amount of water left in them from freezing. I usually use 2 gallons for the entire boat.

[WakeSlayer]

We will get a few nights in the -20's & -30's every winter. I do not drain my block but run gallons undiluted via the strainer hose. Now with the SAN, I use a fat sac pump in the bucket under the exhaust, pump to another bucket, and recycle it for about 20 minutes, run the heater, shower, etc.
I have just done the fill and shut it off method for years on my other boats also without recycling and have never ever had a problem.
I do agree that you ought to drain it, but......... if you were going to have a problem, good old MInnesota winter are the place for it, and I do not worry.

M

<sigh> noting that I will have to apply this procedure soon is not that exciting.

[slob02]

Remember that some RV anti-freeze is for plumbing an not for engines.

[MNSuperAir]

Use the RV, better for everyone.

[nms1991]

I vote for RV style because I do not like green antifreeese in the engines due to having my dog drinking some and I had to put him tosleep, worst thing I have ever had to do.

[slob02]

Remember that some RV anti-freeze is for plumbing an not for engines.

[ag4ever]

What exactly is the difference between RV antifreeze for plumbing, and RV antifreeze for engines?

[lucey]

I think there is a misuderstanding about RV antifreeze and engine anti-freeze. When people say to use RV antifreeze it is the plumbing antifreeze not RV/regular gas engine antifreeze. I would use the plumbing antifreeze over and engine antifreeze (green) just for the simple fact that if you drop any in the lake you are poisoning everyone. The best way is to drain the block and all lines and then run RV plumbing (100%) through everything. The block does not need to be filled to the brim rather a gallon just to prevent the trapped water in the water jackets from freezing. I hope this clears it up.

[slob02]

They make engine anti-freeze that is biodegradable. It is usually blue..............if you look at a lot of the pink stuff, it will say that it is not for engines. It does not have the anti-corosives that the engine needs. Some of the pink will not protect the seals and will corrode the metal.