Dilution of Anti-Freeze Experiment

[Boatyarddog]

Originally Posted by stormalong

I think the OP is asking about the potable water system, not the engine coolant.

When adding the pink antifreeze to your water system it will be diluted by the water that remains in the system. It is impossible to get all of the water out. Don't dilute what will be diluted anyway.

It is also important to drain your water heater before adding any antifreeze. The water heater contains a lot of water relative to the volume of the antifreeze. Follow the water heater winterizing instructions that should have come with it.

You didn't friend.
You just forgot to mention a bypass valve to inadvertently refilling with anti freeze as would be the case if not bypassed.
It's a common mistake.
Happy New Year!
Boatyarddog

[thinwater]

Sounds like the guys from Rochester and Minnesota know the most about actual cold .

[Kd9truck]

To the OP, thank you for sharing, I am in a “moderate freeze zone”( not a tech term trolls just a general description ) very few days dropping into single digits or below. I find your test comforting, I winterize my vessel. As previously stated on this thread you can not get all the water out of everything, and I have often wondered how much residual water remains and I think that there is a margin of user error built into the concentration formulation.
This potency mix would be what you find in large numbers at the beginning of the winterizing season at your local auto parts store, for those who wish to take it further there is usually a case of the higher concentrations some where close.

[Boatyarddog]

Originally Posted by thinwater

Sounds like the guys from Rochester and Minnesota know the most about actual cold .

I dunno, are single digits temps colder in Rochester, than in Canada, or Colorado?
Maybe
Boatyarddog

[Chuck34]

Originally Posted by rslifkin

This is correct for use in the closed cooling system, but the propylene glycol pink stuff is fine to use for winterizing the raw water system of a closed cooling engine.

And can be used in a raw water cooled engine. Pretty much use it anywhere except in a closed system.

I use the pink for the raw water side of my FWC engines and genset as well as my AC system, water system and head/holding tank.
And in my RWC Merc powered Chapparel.

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by Tigue

I apologize if this has already been discussed.

I typical winterize the water system with 100% W. Marine #499848 (the pink stuff). Online instructions says "Do not dilute it".

So I was curious what would happen if I diluted it. So I filled up 4 water bottles.

1 with 100% water
1 with 25% anti-freeze and 75% water
1 with 50% anti-freeze and 50% water
1 with 100% anti-freeze

After 2 days in temps 25 to 19 degrees (F) the results were:

100% water completely froze. Everything else was still liquid.

Not sure this is helpful to anyone to know, but for myself I realize that a little antifreeze is better then none, but not sure why they say to not dilute?

Obviously diluted it still has some level of effectiveness.

Cheers !

RV type antifreeze becomes a slushy as it gets cold. Not like ethylene glycol. Pink or purple propylene glycol RV antifreeze behaves differently.

Buy the stuff at Home Depot or grocery stores or RV supply instead of We$t.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by Boatyarddog

I dunno, are single digits temps colder in Rochester, than in Canada, or Colorado?
Maybe
Boatyarddog

Definitely different in Canada--single digits are above freezing! (metric)

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by Chuck34

And can be used in a raw water cooled engine. Pretty much use it anywhere except in a closed system.

I use the pink for the raw water side of my FWC engines and genset as well as my AC system, water system and head/holding tank.
And in my RWC Merc powered Chapparel.

Note that PG will stiffen neoprene raw water impellers and head joker valves. This is probably leading cause of early death. EG does not do this. Get samples and test it yourself (let soak for several months).

[JBsurfin]

Originally Posted by Tigue

I apologize if this has already been discussed.

I typical winterize the water system with 100% W. Marine #499848 (the pink stuff). Online instructions says "Do not dilute it".

So I was curious what would happen if I diluted it. So I filled up 4 water bottles.

1 with 100% water
1 with 25% anti-freeze and 75% water
1 with 50% anti-freeze and 50% water
1 with 100% anti-freeze

After 2 days in temps 25 to 19 degrees (F) the results were:

100% water completely froze. Everything else was still liquid.

Not sure this is helpful to anyone to know, but for myself I realize that a little antifreeze is better then none, but not sure why they say to not dilute?

Obviously diluted it still has some level of effectiveness.

Cheers !

Walmart has this stuff on sale every fall for 2.75 a gal. Why would feel you need to save money?

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by thinwater

Note that PG will stiffen neoprene raw water impellers and head joker valves. This is probably leading cause of early death. EG does not do this. Get samples and test it yourself (let soak for several months).

No need to - Practical Sailor did it, a decade ago.
Antifreeze: ethylene glycol vs. propylene glycol
“ ... From a practical standpoint, the problem is clear: Propylene glycol is harmful to neoprene, a material commonly used in valves, seals, and impellers. Ethylene glycol is not as harmful. While neoprene does not fully degrade in propylene, it does change size and distort a bit, potentially causing a joker valve leak ... “
➥ https://www.practical-sailor.com/blo...opylene-glycol

[Mirage35]

Thanks for the info, Gord, but what do I do with it? For a number of reasons I can't use ethylene glycol in some systems, so use propylene glycol instead, like everybody else.

The impeller and the various rubber parts in other systems see it go by, but they don't spend the winter soaking in it. How big a risk am I taking? And what are the other options?

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by AnglaisInHull

Thanks for the info, Gord, but what do I do with it? For a number of reasons I can't use ethylene glycol in some systems, so use propylene glycol instead, like everybody else.

The impeller and the various rubber parts in other systems see it go by, but they don't spend the winter soaking in it. How big a risk am I taking? And what are the other options?

Under those circumstances, I don't think that you're taking much risk.

[Mirage35]

That's what I wanted to hear.

[Colin Stone]

I drain the freshwater system as best I can with a Whale Gulper pump fitted at the lowest point. I then put some pink antifreeze in through the taps and shower fittings so that the ceramic valve blocks are well coated with antifreeze.