Pink Anti-freeze

PackerBacker wrote:
Not all pink antifreezes are created equal. I've had pink antifreeze only turn to slush in the toilet after a week with temps down to -30/-35.

Personally I have never seen it freeze solid.

x2
It gets slushy. If it's freezing the person still had a substantial amount of water in the lines and didn't run the water long enough until it turned 'dark pink' before they closed the faucets.

It doesn't matter if it freezes at 32 degrees or zero or -50 or -100 degrees. The key point, as others have stated, is that it doesn't expand. No expansion means no busted pipes.

Not all pink antifreezes are created equal. I've had pink antifreeze only turn to slush in the toilet after a week with temps down to -30/-35. Personally I have never seen it freeze solid.

My solution now is to head south also :B, but when I lived in -40f winters I would blow/pink stuff/blow again. I was always amazed at how much clear water came out prior to the pink after that last blow. Happened both for my MH and 5'ver.

Last fall I helped my northern neighbor winterize his new TT. I did the blow, pink, then blow again. His new rig didn't have one drop of clear water coming out prior to the pink after the last blow. I guess it depends on the RV.

I also catch the pink stuff then use it in all the traps and toilet. At -40f the pink in the toilet would freeze, but it was a "soft" freeze and could be easily whittled with a jackknife.

dennislanier wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

Next year, after you install the pink antifreeze, blow the lines out.

This is a joke, right? Surely you don't blow the lines out AFTER installing anti-freeze. Just checking.

Actually, I do! Reason? By blowing out the lines, it's putting more RV "pink" down the traps and also in the black and gray tank. My camper takes almost 2 full gallons to fully pass the "pink" through everything. That leaves very little of the "pink" for the traps in the sinks. So I started blowing the "pink" from the lines, so I would not have to use a 3rd gallon for the traps. Since I already have the air compressor, hoses, and the valve for the fresh water city water inlet.... why not?

dennislanier wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

Next year, after you install the pink antifreeze, blow the lines out.

This is a joke, right? Surely you don't blow the lines out AFTER installing anti-freeze. Just checking.

I don't actually blow out the lines, but I do drain them AFTER filling them with the pink stuff. This would mitigate the OPs fears as well. Blowing them out afterwards is just a little more work than I want to do.

pianotuna wrote:
Hi Dennis,

What I do:

1. blow the lines
2. install pink antifreeze
3. blow the lines again and save as much of the pink as I can. I do leave the pink in the line to the toilet

One year I winterized seven times. My RV takes about 12 liters (about 3 US gallons). By being able to reuse it I saved a tidy sum. 8 liters was costing $7 by the time the tax was paid. Doing this consumed about 2 liters per time.

In winter I always carry enough to winterize in case I run into a heating problem.

Thanks for explaining. I see now that you do live in Canada so winterizing could be much more important and time-consuming than I am used to here in Georgia. (Plus I am getting lazy.)

Hi Dennis,

What I do:

1. blow the lines
2. install pink antifreeze
3. blow the lines again and save as much of the pink as I can. I do leave the pink in the line to the toilet

One year I winterized seven times. My RV takes about 12 liters (about 3 US gallons). By being able to reuse it I saved a tidy sum. 8 liters was costing $7 by the time the tax was paid. Doing this consumed about 2 liters per time.

In winter I always carry enough to winterize in case I run into a heating problem.

Everyone does it different, some just blow them out, some just pump antifreeze through, some do both and some drain after they put it in. Sometimes the issue is water stays or gathers in a low spot or the little nooks and cranny's of a faucet or something so sometimes blow it out is not quite enough. Adding antifreeze can be easier went the lines are empty as it does not have to push the water out. Once the antifreeze is in and has replaced the water, what is the difference if you leave it there or drain it. Whatever has worked for people, they just keep doing the same until there is an issue and then they will change it up.

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

Next year, after you install the pink antifreeze, blow the lines out.

This is a joke, right? Surely you don't blow the lines out AFTER installing anti-freeze. Just checking.