Can RV anti freeze be re-used?

[mrad]

Last year when I drained my anti freeze, I put it back in the original bottles.

Can I re-use the anti freeze, or is it not advised?

[Dakzuki]

wkswenson wrote:
Just be careful when purchasing "cheap" anti-freeze - review the contents....


Not all RV Antifreeze the same

From the link: "That other antifreeze contender, propylene glycol, is also an alcohol of sorts. Technically a “double alcohol,” this is not like a “double shot.” But like grain alcohol, it also raises the freezing point of water."

That makes zero sense. The intent is to LOWER the freezing point, not raise it.

[mlts22]

I wouldn't bother, because it means something else to store. Were I in a colder climate, I'd blow the lines out, run the RV antifreeze, then blow the lines out again, leaving a good amount in the traps and toilets.

[Bumpyroad]

brirene wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
15-30mintues of time and effort.

:? Putting the cost issue aside, how the heck are you doing this to take that long? I take an empty bottle and hold it under each low point drain, open the valve. 15-30 seconds maybe. Not much effort at all.

lets see, climb into rV to open some faucets. crawl under RV to unscrew the two drain plugs. fill bucket, etc. and repeat.
but I think I do like the idea of just letting hot and cold low point drains to drain, either on ground or into bucket to dump into black tank.
bumpy

[brirene]

valhalla360 wrote:
15-30mintues of time and effort.

:? Putting the cost issue aside, how the heck are you doing this to take that long? I take an empty bottle and hold it under each low point drain, open the valve. 15-30 seconds maybe. Not much effort at all.

[valhalla360]

You are probably looking at around $2-5 savings but an extra 15-30mintues of time and effort.

I make enough that the cost savings doesn't justify the hassle.

[Bumpyroad]

wkswenson wrote:
Just be careful when purchasing "cheap" anti-freeze - review the contents....


Not all RV Antifreeze the same

I "reviewed" that and it was just a bunch of jibber jabber to be able to write a column.
I think saving it and dumping it into the tanks to ensure they don't freeze is a good idea, but for a few $$$ why not use fresh?
bumpy

[YamaDooed]

Before reuse'n Propylene glycol I'd quick test the dilution ratio with a Refractometer.

[mpfireman]

My RV takes less than 2 gallons to Winterize. At $2.50 or less per gallon, why reuse it. A few years back i purchased 15 gallons of RV antifreeze at $ 1 dollar a gallon, (seasonal sell off) . still have 5 gallons on hand after winterizing our unit Wed afternoon.

[Lantley]

It will be diluted and less effective. The risk is not worth the savings.
Buy fresh anti freeze it is not that expensive! If you are taking the time to do it. Do it right.

[Wet_Coast]

Ok, this may be just a dumb early Friday morning question.

If one blows the lines out completely, and ensures there is no water coming out any of the fixtures; why introduce the RV antifreeze if things are dry??

as for re-using engine coolant, one has to be careful of the Ph if you are reusing it. It "may" look ok, but.....

[pianotuna]

Hi,

Before I went full time I'd rewinterized up to seven times per year. I blow the lines, install the antifreeze, then immediately blow the lines leaving the line to the toilet and sprayer full of antifreeze. I'd catch as much of the antifreeze as I could.

IMO the key to reusing is blowing the lines first.

[Oasisbob]

Great idea until I thought about it. If you put the product in your lines to prevent water from freezing it will come out diluted. If you have no water in your lines why use it? I say why risk it.

[rhagfo]

Grey Mountain wrote:
I am far from being an expert on this, but I see no reason why not. My maintenance guys recently drained my the radiator on my pusher and reused the antifreeze, so if automobile antifreeze can be reused, don't see why the pink stuff could not as well.
I don't normally have enough pink stuff to make it worth while. I blow out my system with air, put pink stuff in until it runs through all the faucets, run a little into the water heater and the fresh water holding tank, then blow it out again. That second blowing out eliminates a lot of the after-taste of pink stuff.

GM

Well the antifreeze in the Pushed Diesel is a lot different than the pink stuff.

#1. That Diesel Pusher has a huge cooling system, so if the antifreeze was clean and not too old your mechanic save you a lot of money at about $10 to $15 per gal. for automotive antifreeze.

#2 the pink stuff is cheap, as state you can get for less than $3.00 per gal. if you watch sales. I never used more than a gallon in the old 28' 5er. We don't use in the new rig, except for the drains. If I did it would be less than two gallons. It is not worth the effort/risk in my opinion.

[wkswenson]

Just be careful when purchasing "cheap" anti-freeze - review the contents....


Not all RV Antifreeze the same