"Non-Tox" Anti-Freeze

[Brentathon]

Anyone know a good (inexpensive) source for propylene glycol antifreeze ("non-tox")?
Am I the only one that thinks the price increase for this stuff is getting out of hand?
What is it, like $4.99/gallon I recall when it was only about $2/gallon, like 10 years ago.
We need more competitors in this market........what about China? Can't they make this stuff?

 

[JoLin]

Re: "Non-Tox" Anti-Freeze

I haven't bought any yet for this year, but I paid $2.99 last Fall. That was the going price at both the local auto stores and at West Marine.

I hope it hasn't gone up by 2 bucks a gallon since then!

 

[littlebookworm]

Re: "Non-Tox" Anti-Freeze

I just bought 6 gallons today at WM; sale day, 20% off. It seems a shame to buy it and spill it out come spring, but that was actually one of the cheapest parts of my winterization costs. Is it worth the cost? Look at the alternatives. Do nothing and crack your block; use auto anifreeze and pay almost the same and pollute the bay in the spring; leave the cooling system empty (air can't freeze so some do this), and you leave your cooling system open to rust. I accept that I'm going to have to spend over $500 to put our boat away for the winter. It hurts, but there is no real choice. I personally would not buy antifreeze from China; they've lied about too many chemical compositions. Hy

 

[jtmarten]

Re: "Non-Tox" Anti-Freeze

Why use it? Just drain and you're good to go, unless you're treating a potable system.

 

[bearkat22]

Re: "Non-Tox" Anti-Freeze

I haven't bought any yet for this year, but I paid $2.99 last Fall. That was the going price at both the local auto stores and at West Marine.

I hope it hasn't gone up by 2 bucks a gallon since then!

I have a question.

I just purchased a brand new marine battery for my boat. So I know it has full charge.
I took my starter off and took it in for testing. I replaced the bindex. Because when i turned the ignition, the starter and bindex would engage and once it hit the flywheel it stopped and wouldnt turn the flywheel. So now that I got a brand new bindex, I turned the ignition and it fired up, I kept it running for about 15 minutes off and on. I know it cranks now so that is a good thing. But two hours later I came back out and tried to start it up again, this time the bindex engages to the fly wheel but barely turns the flywheel and doesnt start the engine and the bindex doesnt disengage. Do you know what could be happenning now? Since it did start and fire up for the first 3 attempts?

Please get back to me,
Thank you.

 

[insanity]

Re: "Non-Tox" Anti-Freeze

I have a question.

I just purchased a brand new marine battery for my boat. So I know it has full charge.
I took my starter off and took it in for testing. I replaced the bindex. Because when i turned the ignition, the starter and bindex would engage and once it hit the flywheel it stopped and wouldnt turn the flywheel. So now that I got a brand new bindex, I turned the ignition and it fired up, I kept it running for about 15 minutes off and on. I know it cranks now so that is a good thing. But two hours later I came back out and tried to start it up again, this time the bindex engages to the fly wheel but barely turns the flywheel and doesnt start the engine and the bindex doesnt disengage. Do you know what could be happenning now? Since it did start and fire up for the first 3 attempts?

Please get back to me,
Thank you.

You are going to need to start a new thread in its proper section. Piggly backing off of another one is not going to help you or the OP much.


Welcome to Iboats!

 

[tfret]

Re: "Non-Tox" Anti-Freeze

Why use it? Just drain and you're good to go, unless you're treating a potable system.

Same thing my buddy thought, and did, and ended up with a cracked manifold.

 

[nola mike]

Re: "Non-Tox" Anti-Freeze

Same thing my buddy thought, and did, and ended up with a cracked manifold.

except that he apparently forgot the "drain" part.

 

[Bondo]

Re: "Non-Tox" Anti-Freeze

Quote:
Originally Posted by jtmarten
Why use it? Just drain and you're good to go, unless you're treating a potable system.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quote:
Originally Posted by tfret
Same thing my buddy thought, and did, and ended up with a cracked manifold.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

except that he apparently forgot the "drain" part.

Ayuh,.... Air just Don't Freeze.....

 

[dubs283]

Re: "Non-Tox" Anti-Freeze

i can't tell you how many times i've heard - "well, i pulled the drain plugs and nothing came out - figured the water drained on its own before i pulled the plug"

ooops! - gotta poke a wire/something solid up in there to get the sand/rust out to drain!!

 

[ziggy]

Re: "Non-Tox" Anti-Freeze

i can't tell you how many times i've heard - "well, i pulled the drain plugs and nothing came out - figured the water drained on its own before i pulled the plug"

ooops! - gotta poke a wire/something solid up in there to get the sand/rust out to drain!!

yep. drained mine yesterday. took the plug out of the manifold and nothing at all came out... a little probing and the rust scale that was plugging it broke free. drained right out then. probed it again after it was empty just to be sure..

another thought that i use too. is now that i've drained my system for a few years. i know how much is supposed to come out. assuming i get the proper amount out, i feel i've drained it. but that's only after many times draining of it. still gotta probe it though..

 

[truckermatt]

Re: "Non-Tox" Anti-Freeze

I wouldn't waste money on anti-freeze... I just drain ALL the water from the engine, and have not had a problem...... i just dont like the idea of putting ANY antifreeze on the water.... i dont care if is "safe"....

If its so safe, would you drink it? i know i wouldnt.

 

[Lou C]

Re: "Non-Tox" Anti-Freeze

If you are in a freshhwater region then corrosion of the block and manifolds it not such a big deal....but here in the salt pond I can assure you it is....I can post a pic of an old thermo housing for you to see...when you drain keep in mind that a V-6 can hold close to 4 gallons of water....so a LOT should come out...each manifold can hold up to maybe 3/4 of a gallon...again a lot should come out...Air does not freeze...YES...but air has oxygen...iron rusting is iron oxide or nasty old Fe O2...you keep out the oxygen (O2) and you cut down on corrosion. I can tell you it makes a difference. The thermo housing I replaced in 03 has no flaking corrosion and the intake manifold doesn't either (only parts of the inside of the engine I can see). I may remove the manifolds this winter to check them so I'll post pix to see what they look like....

 

[Dshow]

Re: "Non-Tox" Anti-Freeze

To the OP's question, I spent $2.79/gal last Saturday to buy the pink antifreeze. Tonight, I saw the same thing that I purchased (different in ad) at a different store for $5.97... so it just depends on where you look.

 

[jtmarten]

Re: "Non-Tox" Anti-Freeze

Same thing my buddy thought, and did, and ended up with a cracked manifold.

Impossible. He either missed the drain plug, or didn't pay attention to make sure it was draining and didn't have sand, etc preventing it from draining.
I remove the lower manifold hoses as well. 30sec each max to ensure all the water is out.
I've heard of residual water in the lower block freezing and cracking the oil pan rail, which is why I tow a few miles on a hilly route to make sure it all shakes out.

 

[Brentathon]

Re: "Non-Tox" Anti-Freeze

Wow!!!....West Marine has the -50F antifreeze at $4.99/gallon...
What the.....????
This is getting out of hand.
It's just water and propylene glycol.......can't someone compete and bring the price down.
This stuff is found in everything.......from baby wipes to shampoo, even if food....