Fresh out of RV antifreeze!

[Rufrider]

Can anyone think of a downside to using conventional auto antifreeze (ethylene glycol) in drain traps ?

[Adventure.AS]

Originally Posted by Rufrider

Can anyone think of a downside to using conventional auto antifreeze (ethylene glycol) in drain traps ?

It is poisonous and you will be dumping hazardous waste into the sewer system of the campground or municipality when you empty the tanks in the spring.

[thewarden]

Extremely toxic and poisonous. It could kill you. And dumping it in the Spring to anything other than an approved sight, is illegal.

[Mollysdad]

WalMart carries it.
Don't use the auto stuff.

[perryg114]

I would not do it. I have never heard of a trap breaking from ice anyway. As others have said Walmart has the stuff. You could also plunge the water out with a toilet plunger.



Perry

[Rich W]

Originally Posted by Rufrider

Can anyone think of a downside to using conventional auto antifreeze (ethylene glycol) in drain traps ?

Going the other way...what would be the benefit of auto antifreeze over using RV antifreeze? Go to the liquor store and get cheap vodka, gin or neutral grain spirits.

Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes, Camping World or any RV service place will carry RV antifreeze. It's safe, cheap and environmentally friendly.

[J. Morgan]

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2014/0...of-antifreeze/







https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.foo...glycol-is.aspx

[J. Morgan]

Just my take, but from what I have read, it seems like Dex Cool might be acceptable.

[lsbrodsky]

Originally Posted by J. Morgan

Just my take, but from what I have read, it seems like Dex Cool might be acceptable.

No. Chemical Name CAS Number Wt %
01 Monoethylene Glycol 107-21-1 V HIGH
02 Components determined to be non hazardous Proprietary LOW
03 Denatonium Benzoate 3734-33-6 V LOW
PROPORTION (%weight per weight)
V HIGH > 60, HIGH 30 - 60, MED 10-29, LOW 1-9, V LOW < 1

That is from the MSDS for Dex Cool. It is just plain ethylene glycol, like antifreeze has always been. Deadly to any living creature. If you are concerned about that, then you need RV antifreeze or Vodka. However, there has been a lot of vehicle antifreeze poured down the drain to sewer systems over the years.
Larry

[AtomicNo13]

I use cheap vodka.

[jcanavera]

Other thing you could do is take a shop vac, reverse the hose to the output side, wrap some rags around the hose and and put it into the drain. I guarantee that this will force out all water from the trap. Downside is you might get some smell from the grey water tank and obviously if you have a single black/grey tank this is a nono. I used to use this technique years ago on my Hi-Lo. Now I have enough unused antifreeze from the two gallons I use, to pour additional anti-freeze into the drains.

Jack

[Wayne&Sam]

I was going to reply, but I think you get the idea.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

If indeed the local supply has been wiped out by your neighbors stockpiling it for the coming global cooling event (next month) ..... there are a number of places that will ship it in to you. One of many:
https://www.amazon.com/Camco-30767-F...s%2C157&sr=8-2

Un-mentioned above, the "rv stuff" is compatible with the materials the traps are made out of. There's no guarantee that is the case with automotive antifreeze.

Bob

[Shacksman]

Originally Posted by perryg114

I would not do it. I have never heard of a trap breaking from ice anyway. As others have said Walmart has the stuff. You could also plunge the water out with a toilet plunger.



Perry

You heard it now, I just fixed a 70 Safari broken sink trap and a 60 Ambassador tub trap both frozen broke last winter.