In all my years camping I can not recall ever having to worry about this, but with the arctic blast and predicted -30 air temps and -50 wind chill I have to wonder what is going to happen to my RV antifreeze that says it protects to -20

I place two space heaters in the coach, one in the house and one in the service bay, turn them on when needed at the temp required to keep it from freezing. We do park it at home and have 50 amp service, But when you can't heat it, I'd blow out all the water using a vacuum cleaner blow side on all the drain side and compressed air on the pressure side..

I don't know if -30 is a problem but you only have to worry about the actual temperature. Wind chill is the accelerated cooling effect for objects above ambient temp, but cannot cool an object below the ambient temp.

The anti-freeze will turn to slush and then freeze....except it will not expand such as water until it reaches the burst temperature which is the temp rating.With only -20*F anti-freeze and temps expected to be -30*F you need to get some heat going on in that trailer..open all cabinet doors/drawers so heat can easily flow into those areas

I guess this is why some from Canada blow out their water lines with compressed air, then add some anti-freeze. If you already have anti-freeze in the lines, then no worries about water collecting in low areas and freezing. If you have the possibility to blow out about 1/3 to most of the anti-freeze, then you have no danger of anything freezing in your lines. What little anti-freeze there will be left will not be enough to damage anything.Fred.

These are desperate conditions indeed. The lowest temps. I had my 1978 Vogue diesel in was -20F ambient temperatures in the late '80s way Up north, before I recall the pink RV antifreeze was even marketed. I drained the water heater and the water lines, as well as unscrewing the water pump hose line. I don't recall having any trouble when I re-plumbed it, so maybe I was just lucky.I broke down and did the RV antifreeze formula last week instead of running an electric floor space heater night after night when the coach is in my driveway. It's not often air temps get below +15F here in North Texas, so I guess I'll be OK.One thought - if I had to prepare for the -30F temperatures, and only had RV antifreeze, I would flood the plumbing with the RV antifreeze formulation fully, then open up all the floor drains and unscrew the intake hose from the water pump too. This would not trap the RV antifreeze at those extreme temps - it would be less likely for any RV antifreeze remaining in the system to have enough quantity to expand, rupturing or bursting any plumbing hoses.

RV antifreeze and cold temps | Good Sam Community

18 Replies

JJBIRISH
Explorer
Jan 08, 2014
JJBIRISH wrote:
According to Dow: Propylene glycol antifreezes are designed to provide burst protection to temperatures of -50° F…
Ice crystals will start to form in -50 RV Antifreeze at temperatures around +10° F, and it will appear to be solid ice at around -10° F to -15° F.

Propylene glycol based antifreezes continue to contract and will not expand until temperatures of -50° F are reached, thus providing burst protection for pipes…

The antifreeze has a freeze point and a burst point… you can get -100 antifreeze for added protection for colder climates and marine engines but it’s not necessary for Rvs in most places…

See FAQ here…
http://www.camco.net/assets/catalog/winterizeRV.pdf
Mocoondo
Explorer II
Jan 08, 2014
Goostoff wrote:
In all my years camping I can not recall ever having to worry about this, but with the arctic blast and predicted -30 air temps and -50 wind chill I have to wonder what is going to happen to my RV antifreeze that says it protects to -20

This is why I don't use the stuff.

Take -50 anti-freeze and dilute it with whatever water is left in your system and you have an unknown level of protection.

On the other hand, get all the water out and you are good no matter how low the temps get.
paulm999
Explorer
Jan 08, 2014
Any antifreeze left in the lines will turn to slush at extreme temps, but it will not hurt anything as it does not expand like frozen water commonly know as ice.
Goostoff
Explorer
Jan 08, 2014
Well I went down and waded through the drifts to get to the door. I went in and looked in the toilet and found it still in a good liquid form so I went back to the house with peace of mind.
Skid_Row_Joe
Explorer
Jan 08, 2014
JaxDad wrote:
I think you'll find that the temperature rating on the antifreeze is the point at which it can START to freeze. It is a slow progression from there.

Anti-freeze also does not expand like water does so even if it were to freeze, it would not burst pipes the way water will.

Of course THIS in bold is key - however, if the RV antifreeze solution is rated for -20F, what are we to believe will happen if the temperatures exceed that to say, -30F? I think that might be a problem, no?
JaxDad
Explorer III
Jan 07, 2014
I think you'll find that the temperature rating on the antifreeze is the point at which it can START to freeze. It is a slow progression from there.

Anti-freeze also does not expand like water does so even if it were to freeze, it would not burst pipes the way water will.
Fizz
Explorer
Jan 07, 2014
There is no reason to leave in the antifreeze over the winter.
Drain the water, fill up with antifreeze to displace the last drop of water then drain it.
Poor it down the drains to fill the P-traps.
All done winterizing and de-winterizing in one hour.
Skid_Row_Joe
Explorer
Jan 07, 2014
rhagfo wrote:
Golden_HVAC wrote:
I guess this is why some from Canada blow out their water lines with compressed air, then add some anti-freeze.

If you already have anti-freeze in the lines, then no worries about water collecting in low areas and freezing. If you have the possibility to blow out about 1/3 to most of the anti-freeze, then you have no danger of anything freezing in your lines. What little anti-freeze there will be left will not be enough to damage anything.

Fred.

Not only Canadians!
DW has very sensitive taste and didn't like the "taste" that the Pink RV antifreeze left in the lines. I have been blowing the lines for over two years now.

We live in the NW and four season camp, this requires us to winterize several times a year, it takes me about 40 minutes to drain and blow the lines at the storage yard. It helps that I have a Pacbrake as I have on board air. I have never put the pink stuff in the supply lines of the 5er.

Is there a tutorial for blowing your lines with compressed air for dummies? I need the equipment to do it. I have none at this time, so I'd like to see what a set-up would cost with name brands and models of electric air compressors approved without oil in them too! Also, where to buy the air compressor?

I too, would like the ease of blowing my airlines several times each winter season, depending on how much I am travelling in my coach, versus adding the costly gallons of RV pink antifreeze every time it gets below freezing or running a costly 1,500 watts floor heater expense.
beemerphile1
Explorer
Jan 06, 2014
Wind chill is the effect of moving air on exposed skin. Wind chill has nothing to do with your antifreeze or you either if you cover your skin.
Dandy_Dan
Explorer
Jan 06, 2014
I may be wrong but I have always heard that your antifreeze safety temp is actual and not wind chill. I don't believe wind chill enters into the factor. You are guarding against "actual" temp.