Even if you flush your system through and drain it properly, there is still a high chance that antifreeze will leach into the lake or sea where your boat is. Why Does the Toxicity Matter?Īuto antifreeze is extremely toxic to the environment and marine wildlife if it leaks into the water.
Rv coolant near me full#
You’ll also want to use marine antifreeze at full strength. To be safe, you should look for an antifreeze that has a freezing point well below the temperatures you’re expecting to get in your winter storage location.
Rv coolant near me crack#
At - 50 degrees and below, you run a serious risk of your antifreeze being a solid block of ice, which can crack your engine blocks. If a boat has not been properly winterized, you run the risk of trapped moisture causing corrosion in your engine.īear in mind that sometimes the labels lie! An antifreeze labeled for - 50 degrees Fahrenheit can actually begin freezing at about - 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Even if you’re not expecting particularly low temperatures over the winter, it is worth preparing for the worst-case scenario. You will need to check the freeze rating of any antifreeze you buy. This makes it safer for you, your family, and aquatic life. Much of the marine antifreeze you will find at the store contains plant-derived materials and is biodegradable and non-toxic. Look for a product that also has rust and corrosion inhibitors to help provide added protection for your engine. Most importantly, you want to choose an antifreeze that contains propylene glycol. This is something to bear in mind when choosing RV antifreeze for use in your boat. It is worth noting that some RV antifreeze products contain ethyl alcohol which can cause damage to PVC plumbing hoses. In contrast, auto antifreeze is toxic and should not be used in your boat engine. RV antifreeze is designed to be pumped into the plumbing system of an RV and is therefore non-toxic, like marine antifreeze. Once again, there is a big difference between auto antifreeze and RV antifreeze. It usually costs around $10 for 3 gallons, making it a viable alternative to marine antifreeze. Like marine antifreeze, RV antifreeze is made from propylene glycol - though you should always double-check the label to be certain - and is often more readily available than marine antifreeze. Whilst marine antifreeze is the best option for winterizing your engine, there are many sailors who also opt for RV antifreeze. Are There Any Alternatives to Marine Antifreeze? The two are not interchangeable and you should avoid using auto antifreeze in your boat engine.
It also does not have the same corrosion inhibitive properties of marine antifreeze. If auto antifreeze is used in a boat engine, it can damage components of your engine and cooling system.
Ethylene glycol is another organic compound that lowers the freezing point of water, but it can also be used as a coolant in a car engine. In contrast, auto antifreeze is usually made from ethylene glycol. As well as preventing freezing, most marine antifreeze products also offer rust and corrosion protection for your boat engine. Propylene glycol contains two alcohol groups and so it is classed as a diol. Marine-grade antifreeze gets its helpful properties from propylene glycol, an organic compound that raises the freezing point of water. Marine antifreeze and auto antifreeze act in a similar way but they are made of different substances. How Does Marine Antifreeze Work Compared to Auto Antifreeze?
With this in mind, let’s take a look at the differences between marine antifreeze and auto antifreeze in more detail, including why these differences matter and the environmental impact of each type of antifreeze. Car antifreeze should never be used in a boat engine. In contrast, auto antifreeze is designed to be used both as antifreeze and coolant for your car engine and can be extremely toxic and environmentally damaging. What is the difference between marine vs auto antifreeze? Marine antifreeze is non-toxic and often contains rust and corrosion inhibitors that protect your engine during the winter. There are some crucial differences between marine antifreeze and auto antifreeze that you need to be aware of before you begin – it’s worth an extra trip to the store! When winterizing your boat, it is important to invest in the right antifreeze.
0 kommentar(er)
