Antifreeze mistake

[FLCERIK]

I was winterizing my GT-40 this weekend and realized I used regular auto 50/50 antifreeze instead of the marine grade antifreeze. Will this damage any part of the engine? Do I need to drain it and put in the marine type antifreeze? Any advice would be great.

[Dr.John]

RE: Antifreeze mistake

Regular anti-freeze is probably better than the marine type, the problem is the main ingredient, ethylene glycol, is toxic to living organisms (dogs, cats, fish, turtles, etc.).

When you drain it next spring, do it out of the water where you can catch most of it and take it to a recycler.

[skinautique]

RE: Antifreeze mistake

I don't like the part about 50/50. Straight antifreeze is safer in my opinion. Does this antifreeze have any corrosion protection?

[j2nh]

Straight anti-freeze

Gotta pipe in on this one. Depending upon where you live, 50/50 might be a little light. 70/30 may give better protection.
Straight anti-freeze, unless you purchase premixed, freezes at a higher temperature than a mix. Strange but true. Maximum protection only occurs when some amount of water is added. Check with the manufacturer and read the label.
Jim
From the Frozen Tundra

[ffmedic74]

RE: Straight anti-freeze

Straight antifreeze isn't so hot for a motor. 50/50 mix is good. Regular antifreeze helps with rusting on the inside of the block during layup, but does a great job at killing fish and poluting our waterways! RV mix is much better for the water and still works well during layup.

[SGY]

RE: Straight anti-freeze

Somewhere I read that CC recommends the 50/50 mixture. I could be all wet but that's my recollection. I've also read exactly what j2nh states above. Some mixture is better than straight antifreeze.

[brodie]

a 50/50 mix will keep you safe down to about -40 degrees, you will be just fine. Just make sure you do as Dr. John said and start it up out of the water first in the spring.

[Housers99]

Dr. John is right on the money. Please be careful with antifreeze when you are winterizing this fall and taking out next spring. My wife is in veterinary school and has seen firsthand what happens to dogs and cats that get into antifreeze. I'll spare the details, but it is absolutely terrible. What's worse, the stuff tastes like candy to them and it doesn't take much to create a fatal dose. Use the Lowtox or Sierra stuff to minimize the risk, but always make sure there is not so much as a drop left behind.