CAMCO ANTI-FREEZE

Here a a few of the common Antifreeze Questions.
 

1. How much water should I add to your -50 Antifreeze to achieve a -25 burst protection?
   Camco -50 Antifreeze should not be diluted. It is a pre-diluted solution that is designed to be used full strength. Additional water dramatically alters the expansion properties of the propylene glycol solution, making an adequate burst protection difficult to achieve.


2. I had some Camco -50 antifreeze stored in my garage and i noticed it was frozen, is your product defective?
   No, propylene glycol antifreezes are designed to provide burst protection to temperatures of -50 F or below. Ice crystals will start to form in Camco -50 antifreeze at temperatures around +10 degrees and will appear to be solid ice at around -10 to -15 degrees F. Propylene glycol based antifreeze continues to contract and will not expand until temperatures of -50 F are reached, thus providing burst protection for pipes. If the customer needs a product that flows at the lower temperatures, a higher concentrated product such as Winter Ban -100 or our Ban Frost Marine Engine Antifreeze should be used.


3. I understood that most Antifreezes are toxic, yet you claim your Antifreeze products are not harmful, how is that possible?
   Most automotive antifreeze's are made from Ethylene Glycol which is highly toxic. Camco Antifreezes are made from Propylene Glycol which is considered GRAS (Generally Regarded as Safe) by the U.S. Government. Propylene glycol is used in many consumable products such as ice cream, candy and even cosmetics. Therefore, it is the product to use when winterizing potable water systems.


4. How can I test the Antifreeze in my plumbing system to make sure I have the proper burst protection?
   Unfortunately, there is not a reliable economical tester on the market for the RV or boat owner to use. The best assurance is to follow the instruction on the label, being careful to remove all the water from the system before winterizing to avoid dilution of the Antifreeze. Camco offers an instrument called a refractometer which accurately reads both Freeze point and Bust point of the Propylene glycol solution. The instrument is recommended for Dealers who do a lot of winterizing for their customers. This instrument is used in all of the Camco facilities to check the quality of our blends at the time of manufacture.


5. What is the difference between Freeze Point and Burst Point of Antifreezes?
   The freeze point is the temperature of the solution where ice crystals will start to form in the solution and it will have difficulty flowing. This temperature is around +1- degrees with Camco -50 Antifreeze. This temperature is not indicative of the winterizing protection. The customer is concerned about the Burst protection of the solution. The Burst temperature is the temperature where the solution will being to expand and thus cause the pipes to burst. A unit winterized properly with Camco -50 Antifreeze should show a freeze point of around +10 which indicates a Burst protection of -50 F.


6. I have seen other products on the market offering different degrees of protection and applications, what is the difference?
   Camco offers a number of different products for different application. The primary difference is in the formulations and amount of Propylene glycol used. We offer not only the -50 Antifreezes but also Winter Ban -100 for colder climates and Marine Winterization. Our Ban Frost Marine Engine Antifreeze is a highly concentrated product that is used to winterize Marine Engines and may also be used as a Coolant in engines. Our Boiler Antifreeze is designed for use in hydroponic heating systems, chillers and solar systems.


7. Do I use the Ban Frost Marine Engine Antifreeze the same way I use Ethylene Glycol based Automotive Antifreeze?
   They are used in much the same manner; however the rule of thumb is to add about 10% more product than was used with ethylene glycol. There is a blending chart on the product label for mixing Ban Frost as a coolant application and also a chart for mixing it to winterize an engine block for winter storage.


8. I have a boat with an Inboard/Outboard engine that I need to winterize, what is the best method to use?
   There are several methods used by the Marine Dealers to winterize. You should refer to your owners manual for winterizing tips and recommendations. Some Dealers use a VAT method where the out drive is lowered into an Antifreeze solution and the engine run for a few minutes at operating temperature making sure all the water is purged and the Antifreeze solution is throughout the system. Another method requires the removal of the thermostats, opening of all pet cocks to drain water from the engine block and then pouring the Antifreeze into the engine block until the solution runs out of the pet cocks. Camco offers the Do it Yourself Boat Winterizer which requires approximately 5 gallons of Antifreeze for a proper winterization. Instructions for using the Do it Yourself Boat Winterizer should be followed closely.


9. What should I do if I spill some of your RV Antifreeze on my driveway or grass?
   Unlike toxic Ethylene glycol, Propylene glycol is rated GRAS (generally regarded as safe) by the FDA. Should you spill small amounts on your driveway or grass, hose the area thoroughly with a good supply of water. Propylene glycol is biodegradable and will dissipate in the water.


10. Should I use Camco -50 Antifreeze or a higher concentration such as Winter Ban -100 or Ban Frost Marine Engine Antifreeze to winterize my marine engine?
    Camco Freeze Ban - 50 Antifreeze has been used for over 30 years by Dealers and Customers in the Marine Industry for engine and potable water system winterization. It is safe to use for the marine engine application; however if you are uncertain about getting all of the water purged out of the engine block, we suggest using a more concentrated formulation such as Winter Ban -100 of Ban Frost Marine Engine Antifreeze.