¡Look at (and READ) the pink stuff jug!

[Matt_Colie]

On the advice of a friend that used to be a product engineer for a major OE chemical supplier, I have started reading the jugs of RV anti-freeze that I have.

The old ones were straight Propylene Glycol (safe to drink).

The newer ones have giant lettering that say SAFE, but do not say what they are safe for....
They are denatured alcohol, gycol (unspecified) color, water and something I don't remember. If I had this in my potable system, I would be very careful to flush the system very well in the spring.

You can probably still find PG based anti-freeze, but it won't be cheap.

Matt

[ktmrfs]

dougrainer wrote:

Wind River wrote:
Camco Arctic Ban RV antifreeze lists denatured alcohol on the label.

below is the MSDS for Camco Artic ban and it is SAFE. Doug

http://www.sfm.state.or.us/cr2k_subdb/MSDS/ARCTIC_BAN.PDF

MSDS says Ethyl alcohol NOT repeat NOT denatured alchol. There is a HUGE difference between the two. One (denatured) is highly poisonous and CANNOT be made non poisonous after ingestion. Blindness and death are two common effects of ingesting it. The other (ethyl) is "safe" for human consumption, the same stuff in beer, wine, etc.

[dougrainer]

Wind River wrote:
Camco Arctic Ban RV antifreeze lists denatured alcohol on the label.

below is the MSDS for Camco Artic ban and it is SAFE. Doug

http://www.sfm.state.or.us/cr2k_subdb/MSDS/ARCTIC_BAN.PDF

[fj12ryder]

Wind River wrote:
Camco Arctic Ban RV antifreeze lists denatured alcohol on the label.

Does it list "Denatured alcohol" or does it list "ethyl alcohol" and "denaturants"?

[ktmrfs]

Wind River wrote:
Camco Arctic Ban RV antifreeze lists denatured alcohol on the label.

well, that's one I won't be using in my RV.

I previously used 20/10 RV antifreeze that listed only propolyne glycol. this year it lists ethyl alcohol and propolyne gycol, but at least not denatured alcohol.

[camperpaul]

ktmrfs wrote:

camperpaul wrote:
Denatured alcohol:
Ethyl alcohol to which a poisonous substance, such as acetone or methanol, has been added to make it unfit for consumption.

See: About.com …

And I haven't seen any RV antifreeze with denatured alcohol listed as an ingredient. There are some with alcohol, but it lists as ethyl alcohol, NOT denatured alcohol.

I would think that any RV antifreeze with denatured alcohol would have to have a safety and hazard warning, and I'm suprised it would even be allowed to be sold for RV systems since it is intended to be used in the potable water system.

Wind River wrote:
Camco Arctic Ban RV antifreeze lists denatured alcohol on the label.

[Wind_River]

Camco Arctic Ban RV antifreeze lists denatured alcohol on the label.

[SkiingSixPack]

ScottG wrote:
I only use air which is still marginally safe for human consumption.

🙂

[ScottG]

I only use air which is still marginally safe for human consumption.

[ktmrfs]

camperpaul wrote:
Denatured alcohol:
Ethyl alcohol to which a poisonous substance, such as acetone or methanol, has been added to make it unfit for consumption.

See: About.com …

And I haven't seen any RV antifreeze with denatured alcohol listed as an ingredient. There are some with alcohol, but it lists as ethyl alcohol, NOT denatured alcohol.

I would think that any RV antifreeze with denatured alcohol would have to have a safety and hazard warning, and I'm suprised it would even be allowed to be sold for RV systems since it is intended to be used in the potable water system.

[BB_TX]

I only use Prestone RV antifreeze which is propylene glycol.

[Dog_Folks]

For any product, you can get best results and most value using three simple words: "Read the label." It is amazing sometimes what information is printed there.

[Bipeflier]

Any of the stuff tastes like Cr4p!. Always flush with water, then bleach/water solution, then water/baking soda solution or commercially available "water freshener" products.

[dougrainer]

While it does say "SAFE". You just have to go to the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) guide for the full instructions which the pertinent instructions from the MSDS is listed below. We do NOT install RV antifreeze in any frsh drinkable system other than a small cupful thru the water pump and the dishwasher/clothes washer drain pump. We install a cupful in each P trap, but blow out the complete system including the Icemaker. We DO install RV antifreeze in the Hydronic Heat hot water loop as blowing out a Hydronic system will not keep the heat coil from freezing and rupturing. But that is only at most a quart. This makes it a lot easier to flush out the system in the spring. Doug


Chemical Name & Synonyms: Antifreeze - Propylene Glycol based
Chemical Family: Polyalcohol
Proper DOT Shipping Name: NON TOX Anti-Freeze
Trade Name & Synonyms: -50 DOW RV & Marine Antifreeze
DOT Hazard Classification: Non-hazardous, Not Regulated
OSHA Permissible Exposure Limits: None established.
ACGIH Threshold Limit Value: 1
Carcinogen - NTP Program: N/A
Carcinogen - IARC Program: N/A
Symptoms of Exposure: Practically non-toxic; mild skin irritant. May cause
diarrhea by oral ingestion.Medical Conditions
Aggravated By Exposure: May be a skin sensitizer to some individuals.
Primary Route(s) of Entry: Skin, eyes, ingestion and inhalation.
Emergency First Aid: Flush with water. If irritation develops call a
physician.
Eyes: Flush with water, if irritation develops call a
physician.
Ingestion: Drink water to dilute.
Inhalation: Remove victim to fresh air.

[camperpaul]

Denatured alcohol:
Ethyl alcohol to which a poisonous substance, such as acetone or methanol, has been added to make it unfit for consumption.

See: About.com …

[tbred]

The product I just used was Splash brand and says it is Propylene Glycol which they consider safer than ethylene glycol. Splash also makes a mix with ethanol and methanol in it.