Non-Toxic (pink) antifreeze.

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scadding

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Does anyone use the non toxic pink antifreeze in their fresh water systems? If so what brand and where do you source it from. I've tried a local chandlers but he looked at me as if I had three heads. I might try the local motorhome centre if all else fails. Thanks in advance.
 
scadding said:
Does anyone use the non toxic pink antifreeze in their fresh water systems? If so what brand and where do you source it from. I've tried a local chandlers but he looked at me as if I had three heads. I might try the local motorhome centre if all else fails. Thanks in advance.
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Yes. It comes in a 5l container. Can't remember the brand but buy it from local chandlery on the Thames. They don't seem to stock many of them and hide them under a bottom shelf so well, that even some of the chandlery staff don't know about the product.
 
This is usually used in the food industry and is know as monopropelene glycol, its food safe hence non toxic, you can specify that it is coloured, or you could just put food colouring in it as thats all they do.

you can get it from coolflow (coolflow fg) they sell it by the barrel (4 gallon), you can buy it neat or premixed depending on the temperature required... i have my own refractometer so i buy it neat and mix it, the higher the concentrate the lower the specific heat capasity of the fluid, so if your not sure just buy it pre mixed

if you need some numbers let me know and ill send them over

regards


Anth
 
The Coolflow products are intended for use in chiller systems. Are they suitable for use as engine antifreezes, where they will be in use at elevated temperatures?
I guess it depends on stability of the inhibitors but there is no information on them from that point of view.

I've looked before for propylene glycol based engine antifreezes but never found anything.
 
Non poisonous anti freeze

I found some polypropylene glycol in a french car spares outlet - "Roady."

John G
 
Plumbers Merchants sell it (probably at a tenth of the price at any chandlers). People use it for roof mounted solar heating systems.
 
NormanS said:
Plumbers Merchants sell it (probably at a tenth of the price at any chandlers). People use it for roof mounted solar heating systems.
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:D:D:D

Sorry, it's me perverse sense of humour

'What yer doin on yer roof Mate'

Answer.

'I'm just toppin the antifreeze up on me solar panels'

Sorry, I,ll get me coat:o
 
scadding said:
Does anyone use the non toxic pink antifreeze in their fresh water systems? If so what brand and where do you source it from. I've tried a local chandlers but he looked at me as if I had three heads. I might try the local motorhome centre if all else fails. Thanks in advance.
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I take it by freshwater system, you mean the stuff that comes out of your tap when you fill the kettle?

Camping and caravanning shops will sell it, or motorhome dealers.
But your first action would be to drain the system and only put the pink in if you think the system may have a low point that will not drain.
 
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id ring them and ask about its properties when operationg at 80 - 90 celcius, looking at the data below its boiling point is up to 155c

ive seen this used in reverse cycle heating systems operationg at +60 with no problems, it was used as the pipework ran for 30m outside and rather than install trace heating the coolflow was added to prevent pipe bursts whe the system was off during the winter.

PROPERTIES & BENEFITS (cool flow fg takn from there site)

~ Non-Toxic Multi-Metal Corrosion Inhibitors
~ Non-toxic Scale Inhibitors & Sludge mobilisers
~ Excellent Environmental Profile & Biodegradable
~ Maximise heat transfer rates & eliminate blockages
~ Frost Protection to - 50OC
~ Concentrations of 35% + CoolFlow FG do not solidify, eliminating fluid expansion and pipe bursts
~ Boiling Point : up to +155OC
~ Food Grade Tracer Dyes, in various colours
~ Bitter taste additives to prevent consumption
~ Density : 1.04 - 1.10 depending on additives
~ Non-Volatile and Non-Hazardous for storage
 
On my previous boats I've never bothered to antifreeze the fresh water system, I merely drained the system and hoped that the strategically placed tubular heaters would stop any remaining water from freezing. Do most of you follow the same procedure and therefore not worry about applying any antifreeze. I assume that you all antifreeze your generators and aircon units with regular antifreeze?
 
I take it by freshwater system, you mean the stuff that comes out of your tap when you fill the kettle?
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No, at least I dont think that's was what was meant .... They meant the fresh water cooing circuit of an indirectly cooled engine ... I think!
 
Please accept my apologies if I’ve caused some confusion. Yes I am referring to the domestic water system hence my interest in the pink non-toxic variety of antifreeze. Do the majority you not bother to apply antifreeze in the domestics? May I also ask what the consensus is for winterising your generator and aircon units.
 
For domestic water systems the best thing is to drain it down completely. Include the water heater/calorifier, water pump and filter, and open taps and blow through pipework with a dinghy pump.

Treat your genny as another engine.
 
In the past couple of years I have used the pink stuff. In the first 3 months of the system the water developed an awful smell so I had to go through the bleach vinegar procedure and later added some Steradent (1/8 tablet on 140 liters of water).
This year I heard that the pink stuff causes this problem so I have now decided to empty the tank completely and disconnected the hose from the pump and blow though the hoses a couple of times. I also let the pump run for a short while with the hoses disconnected to empty the pump.
 
rafiki_ said:
My workshop manual says only use the Ethylene Glycol, not the non-toxic Propelene Glycol. Apparantly this can gum yer tubes up!!
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Do not use ethylene or propylene glycol in the fresh water system - they are both highly toxic.

A cheap non-toxic antifreeze is Fernox Alphi 11 - available at your local plumber's merchant.
 
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