# Anti freeze **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [September 17, 2011, 4:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze/67995 "2011-09-17T16:50:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chuckbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@chuckbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/chuckbo)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 4:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze/67995/1 "2011-09-17T16:50:55Z")
Hi, I’m using non-toxic RV anti freeze in a set of solar hotwater panels used for radiant heat in my shop. How often does the fluid need to be changed? Thanks, ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 5:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze/67995/2 "2011-09-17T17:10:25Z")
This type of anti-freeze offers little or no corrosion protection…In your application, why not use regular automotive anti-freeze and get it’s corrosion protection benefits? ---
**Author:** ![chuckbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee7513/32.png) [@chuckbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/chuckbo)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze/67995/3 "2011-09-17T17:35:10Z")
The bottle says that it protects against corrosion. I wanted to use some thing non toxic in case of a leak. Dogs in the yard. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 11:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze/67995/4 "2011-09-17T23:16:44Z")
3 to 5 years would not be unreasonable…If you could test the Ph of the fluid, that would give an indication a change was needed if the solution became acidic… ---
**Author:** ![oblivion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3ab097/32.png) [@oblivion](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oblivion)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 11:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze/67995/5 "2011-09-18T11:57:10Z")
In your application, I think it will last longer than in a car, since it won’t get as hot, no combustion byproducts, etc. But I doubt the nontoxic stuff protects as well as the green stuff. Maybe check some blogs dedicated to alternative energy? ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 12:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze/67995/6 "2011-09-19T12:15:57Z")
**In your application, I think it will last longer than in a car, since it won’t get as hot, no combustion byproducts,** What combustion byproducts could possibly be getting in the antifreeze of a car?? If they are…you’ve got a problem somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 1:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze/67995/7 "2011-09-19T13:14:57Z")
I would drain and refill every two years. If you wait longer, it might be a good idea to flush the system with water every time you replace the fluid. ---
**Author:** ![UncleTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9a140/32.png) [@UncleTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/UncleTurbo)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 1:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze/67995/8 "2011-09-19T13:47:18Z")
The best answer you can get would come from the mfg’r of the solar panels. RV antifreeze is not meant for multi-year storage. It is made for putting up the RV for the winter and the expectation is that at about 6 months the RV will be put back in service. Therefore corrosion protection would not necessarily apply to year 2, 3, etc. I believe there are less or perhaps non-toxic auto antifreeze available on the market. The RV antifreeze could be just fine, but this a question for solar panel folks to confirm. ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 2:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze/67995/9 "2011-09-19T14:45:18Z")
UT: “RV antifreeze is not meant for multi-year storage. It is made for putting up the RV for the winter and the expectation is that at about 6 months the RV will be put back in service.” RV antifreeze meets the same specs as antifreeze used in all vehicles of that make. If your RV chassis is a GM product, the antifreeze is GM’s Dexcool, just like any other GM product. The same principle applies to a Ford chassis. Whatever antifreeze you use needs to meet the specs of the chassis manufacturer. ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 3:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze/67995/10 "2011-09-19T15:02:08Z")
“RV antifreeze meets the same specs as antifreeze used in all vehicles of that make.” I think RV antifreeze is for the sink/shower plumbing, not engine coolant. ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 3:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze/67995/11 "2011-09-19T15:11:11Z")
You can get propylene glycol based antifreeze with the HOAT corrosion protection that is good for 5-7 years. The propylene glycol is much less toxic than ethylene glycol, in fact its used in medicine to evacuate your GI tract for certain uncomfortable procedures. ---
**Author:** ![UncleTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9a140/32.png) [@UncleTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/UncleTurbo)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 6:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze/67995/12 "2011-09-19T18:18:57Z")
circuitsmith and I are referring to the pink or red antifreeze that is intended for RV storage and is used in the plumbing of said RV; not in the motor. It is not intended to go into the cooling system of any vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 6:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze/67995/13 "2011-09-19T18:22:41Z")
UncleTurbo, I knew that. I was attempting to add new information, not dispute any given above. ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 6:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze/67995/14 "2011-09-19T18:45:27Z")
UT: “circuitsmith and I are referring to the pink or red antifreeze that is intended for RV storage and is used in the plumbing of said RV; not in the motor. It is not intended to go into the cooling system of any vehicle.” Ah, well that changes things. I’ve never used such a product. Instead, I drain the system. ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 7:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anti-freeze/67995/15 "2011-09-19T19:01:27Z")
Sorry, I thought UncleTurbo was referring to my post.