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02-08-2016, 06:54 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 7
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Rv antifreeze freezing
Not sure if this is the right section but I got a quick question. I drain all the water I could out of the fresh water tank and blew out the water lines. My question is will rv antifreeze freeze up. I put some in the toilet and when it was really cold last month I noticed it was starting to freeze up. Now I'm worried that the water lines will be ruined. Has anybody ever seen this?
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02-08-2016, 07:02 PM
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#2
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Tipp City, OH
Posts: 7,154
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You can actually make ice cubes from rv antifeeze, but they are more like "slush cubes". While the antifreeze will gel up, it doesn't expand to the point of causing damage unless it's outside of what it's rated for. (ie: -20, -50, -100)
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2016 Georgetown 364TS
2017 Jeep Rubicon Recon toad
Nights Camped 2019 - 17
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02-08-2016, 07:06 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 652
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No worries. RV antifreeze is propylene glycol, and will not freeze solid. It will freeze, but only to the consistency of a slushy. You are fine.
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2016 Ford F-350 Lariat CC, 4x4 SRW. B&W turnover with extender. 2015 CC Silverback 29RE, fitted with Reese Goose Box. Amateur Extra Class K5TS, 2016 nights camped 16
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02-08-2016, 07:06 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Troy, NC
Posts: 109
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Generally RV Antifreeze is good to about -20 to -50 at full strength depending on the brand, but the more water that is mixed with it the higher the freeze temperature will be.
If you poured it in full strength and did not add any water you should be fine (it must have been REALLY, REALLY cold to start to freeze).
I live in North Carolina so I don't have to worry about really cold temps for extended periods (teens usually for a few days is about as bad as it gets) so I don't use RV antifreeze at all anymore. For me it is too much hassle.
For years I have only used an air compressor to purge the system after opening the low point drains and emptying and bypassing the hot water tank and have not had any issues.
If you purged the fresh water tank with the water pump after draining the tank completely, for me here that would be fine because any water left in the tank or line would have plenty of expansion space after freezing and would not hurt anything.
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Doug and Becky Ridgeway
2014 Blue Ridge 3600RS
2014 Ford F-350 CC 4X4 DRW 6.7 PSD
Troy, NC
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02-08-2016, 07:08 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,748
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hasley704
Not sure if this is the right section but I got a quick question. I drain all the water I could out of the fresh water tank and blew out the water lines. My question is will rv antifreeze freeze up. I put some in the toilet and when it was really cold last month I noticed it was starting to freeze up. Now I'm worried that the water lines will be ruined. Has anybody ever seen this?
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If done right you will have no problem.
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02-08-2016, 07:10 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: North East Ohio
Posts: 182
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I just found out this year that rv antifreeze comes in two grades. If you live up north you should be buying the more expensive grade that has a lower freeze point. I lost my water filter container last year to frozen antifreeze. With temps below freezing in OH I opted for the better stuff this year. That being said we are having a milder winter this year. I will always spend the extra dollars in the future.
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02-08-2016, 07:24 PM
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#7
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Tipp City, OH
Posts: 7,154
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pvillebly
I just found out this year that rv antifreeze comes in two grades. If you live up north you should be buying the more expensive grade that has a lower freeze point. I lost my water filter container last year to frozen antifreeze. With temps below freezing in OH I opted for the better stuff this year. That being said we are having a milder winter this year. I will always spend the extra dollars in the future.
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I usually empty my water filter housing and open the low point drains. Not enough in there to freeze that that point, but enough to make sure there isn't water present to do damage.
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2016 Georgetown 364TS
2017 Jeep Rubicon Recon toad
Nights Camped 2019 - 17
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02-08-2016, 07:52 PM
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#8
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 7
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Well the antifreeze was straight out of the jug that I put in the toilet. It was about 4 degrees out for a few days and it was almost solid in there.
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02-08-2016, 07:56 PM
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#9
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 15,265
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Per the specifications on the Jug. The min protection temperature on the label is the temp at which the product begins to expand. The damage done by ice is not directly the result of freezing, it is the result of the ice expanding. The antifreeze will become very slushy or solid, but will not expand.
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02-08-2016, 08:02 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Chicago
Posts: 282
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If you bought an extra jug, check it out. It will be a real thick slurpy but not buldge out the sides of the bottle like water would because it doesn't expand. It scared me when I first noticed that it gelled in the bowl a couple seasons ago, but it didn't hurt anything.
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2009 FreeLander - Retired
2015 FR3 30DS - Retired
2023 Sunseeker 2440DS
Towing 2016 Chevy Sonic LT
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02-08-2016, 09:32 PM
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#11
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 34,507
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Rv antifreeze freezing
Quote:
Originally Posted by Major
Generally RV Antifreeze is good to about -20 to -50 at full strength depending on the brand, but the more water that is mixed with it the higher the freeze temperature will be.
If you poured it in full strength and did not add any water you should be fine (it must have been REALLY, REALLY cold to start to freeze).
I live in North Carolina so I don't have to worry about really cold temps for extended periods (teens usually for a few days is about as bad as it gets) so I don't use RV antifreeze at all anymore. For me it is too much hassle.
For years I have only used an air compressor to purge the system after opening the low point drains and emptying and bypassing the hot water tank and have not had any issues.
If you purged the fresh water tank with the water pump after draining the tank completely, for me here that would be fine because any water left in the tank or line would have plenty of expansion space after freezing and would not hurt anything.
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Respectfully this is very bad advice you never want to add water to Rv antifreeze, it is NOT like automotive antifreeze!
From camco
• Protects to -50F (-46C) • Safe • Odorless • Tasteless • No mixing required • Non-Toxic • Propylene Glycol base • Safe for fresh water systems • High grade antifreeze for complete freeze protection requirements • All ingredients are listed in the U.S. Federal Register (GRAS)
The only time you ever add water to Rv antifreeze is if its concentrate, and I've never seen anyone have Rv antifreeze concentrate.
I guess I may have miss understood what you were saying.
I'm not sure why anyone would want to add water which is why I questioned your post.
2015 Columbus 320RS
2008 2500HD Duramax
2015 nights camped "34"
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02-08-2016, 09:44 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,404
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It's frozen in the toilet up here, but I'm not sticking my finger in to see if it's a slushy! Like others said, it will freeze but won't expand and crack your lines and fixtures.
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2016 FR Forester 2401R
Towing 2014 Honda CR-V
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02-08-2016, 10:00 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Alberta
Posts: 139
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Rv antifreeze will definitely freeze (depending on temperature). but being non toxic and all that other jazz, its got just enough antifreeze to keep it from expanding enough to burst pipes/fittings, it will just turn into a slush unless temperatures are well below its rated limit. the expansion rate of frozen RV antifreeze is much lower than that of plain water
Most RV antifreezes are ethanol(alcohol) based, making them non-toxic, but they still freeze to some extent and turn into a slush. If you by some chance used glycol based rv antifreeze (its not very popular, especially for domestic sale), if its frozen, its either a bad concentration or a bad batch.
Lets assume you used the standard and readily available ethanol/alcohol based antifreeze. If you allowed the water lines to purge generously with the antifreeze you will be more than fine down to whatever its rated temperature is. It will still freeze to a slushy consistency, but no harm done
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02-09-2016, 07:23 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Troy, NC
Posts: 109
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TURBS
Respectfully this is very bad advice you never want to add water to Rv antifreeze, it is NOT like automotive antifreeze!
From camco
• Protects to -50F (-46C) • Safe • Odorless • Tasteless • No mixing required • Non-Toxic • Propylene Glycol base • Safe for fresh water systems • High grade antifreeze for complete freeze protection requirements • All ingredients are listed in the U.S. Federal Register (GRAS)
The only time you ever add water to Rv antifreeze is if its concentrate, and I've never seen anyone have Rv antifreeze concentrate.
I guess I may have miss understood what you were saying.
I'm not sure why anyone would want to add water which is why I questioned your post.
2015 Columbus 320RS
2008 2500HD Duramax
2015 nights camped "34"
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TURBS,
Read my post again. I did not and would not suggest adding water to antifreeze I wouldn't do that to someone.
I was asking/questioning IF water HAD been added. Not trying to be picky... just setting the record straight
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Doug and Becky Ridgeway
2014 Blue Ridge 3600RS
2014 Ford F-350 CC 4X4 DRW 6.7 PSD
Troy, NC
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02-09-2016, 07:30 PM
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#15
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Tipp City, OH
Posts: 7,154
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Major
TURBS,
Read my post again. I did not and would not suggest adding water to antifreeze I wouldn't do that to someone.
I was asking/questioning IF water HAD been added. Not trying to be picky... just setting the record straight
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I understood what you were saying, but had to read it a couple times. I think he read it as I first did and misunderstood what you were saying.
Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums
__________________
2016 Georgetown 364TS
2017 Jeep Rubicon Recon toad
Nights Camped 2019 - 17
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02-09-2016, 08:51 PM
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#16
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 34,507
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Which I commented about in at the end of my quote
2015 Columbus 320RS
2008 2500HD Duramax
2015 nights camped "34"
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