RV Antifreeze vs Generic Antifreeze (Towable)

[OshawaDave]

A guy I know says he only uses RV antifreeze sold at RV shops for winterizing his towable. He says the RV type contains additives for the water pump etc and is better than the generic stuff like "Winter Proof" antifreeze for pools, spas, RV, cottages etc.

I've always just used the generic pink and been fine - never an issue.

I'm wondering if there is any truth to what he is saying?

 

[huntr70]

There are some brands that are sold at discount retailers like Walmart that contain ethylene glycol which can dry out rubber seals instead of lubricating them.

 

[Hoopy Frood]

There are some brands that are sold at discount retailers like Walmart that contain ethylene glycol which can dry out rubber seals instead of lubricating them.

I've read that the ethylene glycol is better than the Alcohol based for the same reason, the alcohol is hard on the seals. LOL

 

[geotex1]

I sure hope no-one is putting ethylene glycol in their FW system. Propylene glycol is what you want to be using and it won't hurt the seals in the valves.

 

[coglesby]

ethylene glycol is poison. I don't think you want poison in your fresh water system.

 

[Hoopy Frood]

I sure hope no-one is putting ethylene glycol in their FW system. Propylene glycol is what you want to be using and it won't hurt the seals in the valves.

Oops, there was a little ding, ding, ding when I wrote ethylene glycol, but didn't register enough to notice it was incorrect. Yeah, it should propylene gycol. Doh.

 

[ajg617]

Propylene Glycol is extremely toxic to cats even in small quantities, less so to dogs. Just sayin.

 

[Hoopy Frood]

Propylene Glycol is extremely toxic to cats even in small quantities, less so to dogs. Just sayin.

I knew ethylene glycol was harmful to cats/dogs, but didn't know about propylene glycol.

 

[trailrydr]

Been buying Walymart and Menards (pink stuff ) RV freeze and putting in both my boats and RVs when winterizing for years without issue.

Menards usually has it on sale if Walymart doesnt.

 

[geotex1]

Propylene Glycol is extremely toxic to cats even in small quantities, less so to dogs. Just sayin.

I thought it was the other way around... I know there are published toxic limits for dogs, but haven’t seen the same for cats? It definitely has effects on cats. Nonetheless, very good point that our four-legged friends should be kept from it and we should responsibly drain it.

 

[Hoopy Frood]

Google advises that both are toxic to pets, with Ethylene Glycol being worse.

 

[ajg617]

I thought it was the other way around... I know there are published toxic limits for dogs, but haven’t seen the same for cats? It definitely has effects on cats. Nonetheless, very good point that our four-legged friends should be kept from it and we should responsibly drain it.

Ethelyne Glycol is deadly - even to humans. But I also was surprised to see and hear that propylene glycol, though advertised as pet safe, is very toxic to cats. The FDA prohibits the use of propylene glycol in cat foods because it has been shown to cause abnormalities in the red blood cells of cats. Interestingly, it was the subject of a suit against Purina Beneful dog food about a decade back and the FDA has limits for dogs based upon weight but is still found in some dog foods not to mention human products such as drink mixes, dressings, dried soups, cake mix, soft drinks, popcorn, food coloring, fast foods, bread and dairy products.

 

[RV2600RB]

Guess I don’t understand the need to put antifreeze in the water system?
If the water system is properly drained it won’t freeze enough to break anything. As long as the slight amount of residual water has enough room to expand if it freezes, nothing should break.
JMO
Rich

 

[Bungy]

As long as the slight amount of residual water has enough room to expand if it freezes, nothing should break.
JMO
Rich

The problem is that the trapped water doesn't freeze uniformally. The ends of the water plug will freeze first then the middle which has nowhere to go thus bursting the pipe.

 

[huntr70]

Guess I don’t understand the need to put antifreeze in the water system?
If the water system is properly drained it won’t freeze enough to break anything. As long as the slight amount of residual water has enough room to expand if it freezes, nothing should break.
JMO
Rich

Most of the issues come up inside the water valves. Faucets, toilet valves, etc.

 

[huntr70]

I sure hope no-one is putting ethylene glycol in their FW system. Propylene glycol is what you want to be using and it won't hurt the seals in the valves.

Yep, sorry. Auto correct got me. Ethanol is what I was going for....

 

[Hoopy Frood]

Guess I don’t understand the need to put antifreeze in the water system?
If the water system is properly drained it won’t freeze enough to break anything. As long as the slight amount of residual water has enough room to expand if it freezes, nothing should break.
JMO
Rich

Ah, but that's a mighty big IF.

 

[OshawaDave]

I'm not sure that I'm any clearer.........lol

 

[Scott'n'Wendy]

Guess I don’t understand the need to put antifreeze in the water system?
If the water system is properly drained it won’t freeze enough to break anything. As long as the slight amount of residual water has enough room to expand if it freezes, nothing should break.
JMO
Rich

I'm with you Rich. Over 25 years of not using antifreeze and never had an issue. And -30 to -40 degrees is common in the winter here. Pex and soft hose are very resistant to bursting from freezing anyway. Taps etc are all high points so water doesn't pool there, but I leave them open. Plastic fittings are more susceptible to breaking from freezing, but the pex always droops below them to the coroplast so any residual water pools in the pex.
Also A/F makes the water taste bad for about a month. Although I'm told it is cheap A/F that causes that. And I guess back in the '90's, the last time I used A/F I probably bought the cheap stuff....because you are literally pouring money down the drain. lol. (P-Traps)

 

[Scott'n'Wendy]

I'm not sure that I'm any clearer.........lol

I believe any name brand RV anti-freeze would be the way to go. Don't buy the cheapest stuff..makes your water taste bad for quite a while after de-winterizing. The pool stuff probably has some differences because they are not concerned about being in a potable system?