Saving pink antifreeze?

Pyrojodge

Pyrojodge

Well-Known Member
TECHNICAL Contributor
May 1, 2011
4,248
Lake Erie Ohio
Boat Info
1989 Sea Ray 340 DA
Engines
twin 454 Mercs
Got to thinking recently that when I un-winterize Aftica that why couldn't a person save the two or so gallons of pink that is in the water system? It is flushed well in the fall and holds a lot in the system. Why not catch most of it and reuse it next year. Am I missing something or is this a bad idea. I guess it shouldn't go bad does it. I use 6 gallons a year to winterize everything and if I can save 2 gallons figure it makes sense. What is everyone's opinion on this. Good, Bad, Horrendously idiotic? Just not sure... :huh:

Thanks All...
 
It would depend on your procedure for winterizing the water system. If you blow it out with compressed air before adding the pink, then maybe it dosen't get diluted. But for the savings of 2 gallons at 3 or 4 bucks per gallon, I just buy new every year for peace of mind!
 
Seriously, saving less than $20.00 or being 100% certain your boat is ok all winter.
 
wish2fish said:
found one on ebay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Reichert-AR...401?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20ce406229
Click to expand...


Looks like that would pay for itself in no time with the antifreeze savings.:smt043

It would probably be OK as said with the blown out line procedure but a few gallons is cheap insurance.
I just replaced all my aging lines with pex and would not want to do that project again over a gallon or two of antifreeze.
You are thinking green though - dollars :thumbsup:
 
 
MonacoMike said:
This is also my personal way of looking at it. Additionally, will it have lost
its corrosion resistance?

MM
Click to expand...
That was my concern. I certainly wouldn't put used AF in my engine. Maybe if the water system AF can be collected easily but is it worth the time just to save a few bucks.
 
I understand its saving $10 in the scheme of things. But if I can keep from dropping ten bucks on the ground why not? Was just curios and I do already own a refractometer for checking salt concentrations in aquariums. If nothing else I thought it was a good discussion.
 
I don't use pink in the water, I blow out the water lines with my compressor... If you want to save money on the pink, use a compressor... Plus, I don't have taste of pink in the spring...
 
rcknecht said:
I don't use pink in the water, I blow out the water lines with my compressor... If you want to save money on the pink, use a compressor... Plus, I don't have taste of pink in the spring...
Click to expand...

+1

I use one gallon of pink to winterize, less than a quart for the shower sump and the rest into the holding tank (via the head). Both the sump and holding tank are sucked dry before the anti-freeze is added.
 
The engine is done by the boatyard. I do the water system. First, I drain and by pass the water heater. I then drain the water tank. It gets filled with four gallons of pink. I then pump that through the the plumbing. I attach my white shore water hose to the wash down faucet and have a shut of valve on the end. This I use to pump pink into the traps and shower sump. I also use it to back flush the AC line. If anything is left in the tank, it gets pumped back into one of the pink jugs. This gets saved for next year. Its usually about a gallon and is the first thing into the tank.

I've been doing this for the past five New England winters with no problems.

Henry
 
Henry, that is my procedure to a T (minus saving the extra)

i dont drink my water from the boat so taste is not a problem.
 
Pyrojodge said:
Henry, that is my procedure to a T (minus saving the extra)

i dont drink my water from the boat so taste is not a problem.
Click to expand...

I the spring before I reconnect the water heater I start filling the empty water tank with all of the faucets open. As they start showing clear water they are shut off. I allow the tank to fill and then re-connect the heater. I also give the water tank a shot (literally a shot) of straight bleach. As I do my spring cleaning, all of the water comes out of the boat's water system besides increasing the flow through the plumbing, hot water cleans better than cold. Its not until I get to the outside and need to rinse off that I use water from the boatyard hose. By the time I am done I have probably gone through 3 tanks of water and there is no residual pink taste.

Henry
 
LTD.330 said:
+1

I use one gallon of pink to winterize, less than a quart for the shower sump and the rest into the holding tank (via the head). Both the sump and holding tank are sucked dry before the anti-freeze is added.
Click to expand...


I used to save the pink that was discharged during the winterization process, and then drop that recovered pink into the holding tank. It saved a few dollars there. This was on my old 1999 4-Winns.
 
rcknecht said:
I don't use pink in the water, I blow out the water lines with my compressor... If you want to save money on the pink, use a compressor... Plus, I don't have taste of pink in the spring...
Click to expand...

Just going through this now ... what are your steps? do you disconnect at the pump and blow into the line, opening each faucet? or the other way around (i.e. faucet to pump)?
 
Tomco said:
Just going through this now ... what are your steps? do you disconnect at the pump and blow into the line, opening each faucet? or the other way around (i.e. faucet to pump)?
Click to expand...

1. Drain the water by runing a sink until the tank is empty
2. Attach the compressor hose to your shore water connection with an adaptor that will fit on you compressor hose to the female shore water connection.
3. blow through you lines openning each sink, tollet, and any fixture connectect to your water system.
4. Open valve on the HW heater and blow the water out.
5. Disconnect the compressor connection to you shore water connection
6. ( I use a hand held small gun shape air compressor fiting and blow through the lines leading to and from my water pump. I leave the valve open on the HW heater which vents the line on the out put side of the water pump. I don't blow through the pump.
7. I put pink AF in the head, drains, shower sump, fwd bilge, and a little in the tank...
8. This year a mixed in a little of the Blue toilet fluid in with the AF to keep the head from smelling, and lubricate the rubber valve.
 
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