Randall,
Thanks for the great explination. I do have full-strength ethylene (I
hadn't chemically reflected to think this stuff would be so flammable,
yet ethylene sure does sound like something one would mix drinks with
indeed:)
Thanks for giving some guidelines on how often to replace the
anti-freeze to keep its anti-corrosive properties up to snuff. I
hadn't heard about no-rosion solutions, but that gives us another
option. Either way, I can return some of the excess straight
anti-freeze for some distilled water and pocket some cash for other
spring maintenance outlays.
Thanks for the canine tips, too. I don't have any right now, but I'll
be careful to keep the stuff away from any and use proper
environmental disposal of this stuff.
Much appreciated,
Ted
On Tue, 22 Feb 2005 15:44:37 -0800, Randall <tr3driver@comcast.net> wrote:
> > In any case, I've got a ton of anti-freeze which I haven't yet done
> > anything with. Should I use a mixture, or how do you proceed with
> > prepping these cars for spring/summer driving?
>
> Assuming this is standard full-strength ethylene glycol (not "premix" or
> "extended life" or "non-toxic" antifreeze), unless you need more freeze
> protection, I'd suggest 30% AF and 70% purified ("distilled") water. That
> mix will provide complete freeze protection down to 0F, obviously if you
> live in a more northern clime you need a stronger solution. 30% is the
> minimum recommended concentration for corrosion protection, so run that much
> even if (like me) you live where it never freezes.
>
> Standard coolant should be changed every two years, whether or not you drive
> the car. The corrosion inhibitors wear out with time even with the engine
> not running. Another option is adding more corrosion inhibitor (like
> No-Rosion brand), but the coolant still has to be periodically changed and
> No-Rosion is more expensive than anti-freeze (around here anyway).
>
> BTW, pure antifreeze is flammable.
>
> One other factoid, ethylene glycol is poisonous to pets, particularly dogs.
> Any spills should be attended to promptly. Lots of people claim dogs and
> cats are attracted to the stuff, but mine never showed any particular
> interest on the rare occasions when both were in the same area.
>
> Some areas forbid engine coolant in sanitary drains, but most allow private
> individuals to dispose of small amounts into municipal sanitary drains.
> Never put it into a septic system, or a storm drain.
>
> HTH
> Randall
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