Two Wheels Brazil – How to Get Rid of Antifreeze It’s important to prepare your car for all kinds of weather by changing the radiator fluid, which is also known as coolant or antifreeze. This blog post talks about the what, how, and why, as well as the right way to get rid of used antifreeze. Some Q&As are:
1. What does antifreeze do?
2. Why isn’t clean water good for cooling engines?
3. What is the name of the fluid for radiators?
4. Why do you need to change the antifreeze?
5. How often should the “antifreeze” be changed?
6. Is antifreeze dangerous?
7. How do I get rid of antifreeze?
8. How does antifreeze that is too old get dirty?
9. Is it okay to pour coolant down the drain?
10. Is it possible to reuse antifreeze?
11. How do you move old antifreeze?
12. Where can you find the best information on how to get rid of antifreeze?
What does antifreeze do?
The name “antifreeze” is actually wrong. This is because what most people call “antifreeze” is actually a coolant that flows through your engine block to keep it from getting too hot. Remember that a car engine that doesn’t have radiator water will quickly destroy itself if it gets too hot, no matter what time of year it is.
By soaking heat through conduction, radiator coolant keeps the engine’s temperature between 190° F and 225° F, which is safe. You guessed it: your car’s radiator, which is under the hood and (usually) in front of the engine, sends the heat back out into the air as the water flows through it (see source).
The water for the radiator also goes through a heat exchanger, which is a small radiator under the dashboard that keeps you warm by having an electric fan blow across it. How much hot water flows through the heat exchanger is controlled by your car’s temperature control. In the winter, a lot flows through, but in the summer, none flows through. In the spring and fall, the amount flows somewhere in the middle.
Why isn’t clean water good for cooling engines?
Pure water was even used in the first engines that burned fuel. But water freezes at 32° F and boils at 212° F. If it freezes, it will get bigger, which will damage the engine block. It can’t take in heat after it boils.
The temperatures at which today’s cars work make pure water useless as a cooling fluid. So, modern radiator fluid is made to have a boiling point of 387° F and a freezing point of -37° F, which are both very high and very low temperatures. Your car is not likely to reach or experience these extremes.
What is the name of the fluid for radiators?
It would be time for a new car if the coolant in your car’s engine froze in the winter. The coolant would grow so much that it would crack open the engine block. To keep this terrible thing from happening, radiator water is made to freeze at -37° F, which is well below any freezing temperature your car might experience in the winter. So, coolant for radiators is often called “antifreeze,” so antifreeze fluid.
Why do we need to change “antifreeze”?
Antifreeze, which is another name for radiator liquid, will break down over time and become less resistant to freezing or boiling. Also, many parts of motors can rust. As the radiator water moves through the engine block, it will pick up this rust and leave it in places where it can do a lot of damage that will cost a lot of money to fix. Flush the liquid often to keep it clean and avoid blockages (see source).
How often should the “antifreeze” be changed?
For “silicate coolants,” the time between flushes should be two years or 30,000 miles. For “extended drain coolants,” the time between flushes can be up to five years or 100,000 miles. The color of the antifreeze will help you figure out which one you have.
Green lights show that silicate coolants are present. The silicate makes the temperature go up when it boils and down when it freezes. It also coats your engine parts to stop rust (see source).
Coolants with a longer life span are orange. They have organic acids in them that break down much more slowly than regular coolant chemicals (see source).
Is antifreeze dangerous?
Ethane, which is also known as ethylene glycol, is the main ingredient in antifreeze (also called radiator water). It’s an organic substance that has no smell, no color, can catch fire, and is thick. The bad news is that it’s also poisonous. Besides making the coolant boil at a higher temperature and freeze at a lower temperature, ethylene glycol also works as a lubricant and a corrosion inhibitor (see source).
Propylene glycol is used in some types of coolant instead of ethylene glycol. It is less dangerous, but need to be treated with care like dangerous waste (see source).
It’s also worth mentioning that ethylene glycol tastes sweet. Of course, you might not think to use it to mix drinks, but dogs think it tastes great that way. They’ll happily eat any that leaks or spills on the garage floor or road, and even a small amount can be very dangerous. A half-teaspoon for every pound of Fifi’s body weight can kill her (source); keep in mind that a wet cup has 32 half-teaspoons.
Because this is dangerous, you need to clean up radiator coolant right away. Soak up as much as you can with baking soda or cat litter. Then, put paper towels over the place that is hurt. After two hours, put the paper towels in a plastic bag that can be sealed and throw it in with the rest of your trash. This is the last step. Spray liquid soap on the spot, scrub it with a sponge or scrubbing pad, and then wash it off with water. She would thank you, but she doesn’t know it.
How do I get rid of antifreeze?
Antifreeze that has been used should never be dumped on the ground or down the drain (see Q. 8). If you did that, ethylene glycol would be able to seep into the nearby soils and groundwater. This could damage water sources, kill plants and animals, and make the EPA very, very angry. Note: Making the EPA very, very angry is not a good idea.
Taking old antifreeze to a gas station or car repair shop that takes used motor oils and coolants is the best thing to do. But you need to check to see if the antifreeze is actually toxic or just old (see Q.8).
How does antifreeze that is too old get dirty?
Heavy metals can get into your radiator water (also called antifreeze) when your engine rusts. Or, if the head gasket on your engine is broken, oil or gasoline could get into the coolant. The contaminated coolant is an RCRA toxic waste in either case. The gas station or car repair shop near you will not want to take it off your hands. You’ll need to call the right place or hire a waste hauler with the right “permits” to get the antifreeze to a licensed coolant disposal site. This is where we usually say to get help from a professional.
Is it okay to pour coolant down the drain?
Coolant, or antifreeze, can’t go down any drain in most of the United States. It doesn’t matter if the drain goes to a private septic system or a public sewer. But in some cities and towns, coolant can be dumped down a drain as long as it’s not too strong and the drain goes to the city waste, not a septic system. It makes sense. (See picture).
Is it possible to reuse antifreeze?
If it’s polluted (see Q. 8), no. But if it’s just old, check the waste management page for your state to see how to recycle antifreeze or get rid of geriatric coolant, which is another name for old antifreeze. If that doesn’t help, call your local government office or trash center—they will value your call. The car repair shops listed above might also be able to help. If none of those work, you should get help from a professional.
How do you move old antifreeze?
To move old radiator coolant (also called antifreeze), you should use sealed plastic bags that are securely fastened in the trunk or bed of your car. Mark each jar with the date, the coolant name, and (if you know it), the chemical disposal contents of the coolant. Also, write on the label if your antifreeze has gas, oil, or heavy metals in it. We’ve already said that you can only recover pure antifreeze. Bad antifreeze needs to be handled like a dangerous trash (see Q.8).
Where can you find the best information on how to get rid of antifreeze?
We didn’t think you’d ask! You need an environmental services partner that has a track record of giving safe, effective, and legal advice on how to get rid of trash and radiator fluid. That company specializes in managing and getting rid of garbage is called Hazardous garbage Experts. We’re the best place in the country to get help on how to properly handle and get rid of RCRA wastes like gasoline, motor oils, automotive coolants, and any other noxious liquids or solids that are considered RCRA wastes.
Conclusion: How to Get Rid of Antifreeze
how to get rid of antifreeze safely and effectively requires careful steps, such as cleaning up spills immediately and using the right cleaning materials. Make sure you follow the correct procedures to avoid damaging surfaces or impacting the environment. With a little care and effort, you can keep your home or vehicle clean and safe without any problems. Hopefully, this guide helps you deal with antifreeze problems easily and effectively!