Pink Super Tech (Walmart) -50 RV and Marine ok for engine?? I always thought NO...??

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crazy charlie

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I have recently seen videos of dudes winterizing Mercruiser engines using what I have ONLY used on my water systems.Pink -50 Super Tech Marine and RV antifreeze. I thought I remembered this being a BIG no on engines. Dont remember exactly why.Charlie
 
JimS123

JimS123

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crazy charlie said:
I have recently seen videos of dudes winterizing Mercruiser engines using what I have ONLY used on my water systems.Pink -50 Super Tech Marine and RV antifreeze. I thought I remembered this being a BIG no on engines. Dont remember exactly why.Charlie
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They make 2 versions. Both are pink.

One says on the bottle that it's for marine and RV water systems. The other one says it's for engines.

Just READ the instructions.
 
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airshot

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Best to drain the engine of all water, then use antifreeze to flush out any water left inside. Any trapped water will be pushed out or mixed in antifreeze so it won't freeze. By doing rhis, it makes no difference which you use, but the auto stuff does help stop or slow down rust. The pink stuff is better for the enviorment. Whatever you choose be sure it is run out in the spring before launching your boat in the water. Lots of methods used to winterize a boat engine, but this method has worked for me for 60 years.
 
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Pmt133

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The only one you'd want to avoid leaving in there is one with alcohol in it. As long as it's some version of glycol (PG or EG) with corrosion inhibitors. (Both nontoxic and automotive are corrosive when they don't have an inhibitor)

Leave it dry, leave it filled with AF, purge with AF and drain... it doesn't really matter. I have seen manifold drains rust shut when just purged with air... and tons not. It doesn't matter.
 
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Chris1956

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Both Ethylene Glycol and Propylene Glycol are alcohols, as are all glycols.
 
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Pmt133

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I only wrote it as I did because the ones not reccomended for use in engines will typically list ethanol/ethyl alcohol on the bottle... thus avoid "alcohol". That being said I've seen methanol ones as well and can't help but wonder if it is just washer fluid with a different label...
 
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Jeff J

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The -50 RV/Marine product advertises corrosion protection. It is widely used here. Many boats are winterized on the dock so the non-toxic feature is sought after since any that is spilled goes into the lake.
 
Lou C

Lou C

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Always go by the lowest temp expected in your area. If it's zero, then you want -100 because both the -50 and -60 solidify but don't expand at approx zero degrees. I don't want anything that gets solidified in a cast iron engine. -100 stays liquid down to -55*F. I also will mix up my own Sierra PG antifreeze to about -25*F, depending on the price of it, vs the price of the pre-mix -100 (remember that's burst point, not freeze point, freeze point as I said is approx -55*F).
 
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BRICH1260

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I`ve used it for several years and have had no problems so far. I live in central Indiana so it can get pretty cold at times.
 
Scott06

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BRICH1260 said:
I`ve used it for several years and have had no problems so far. I live in central Indiana so it can get pretty cold at times.
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the main issue is with the cheaper ones using denatured ethanol for most of the freeze protection vs propylene glycol is the ethanol is harder on rubber components and has a higher tendency to loose concentration over time vs the higher cost ones.

I boat in upstate NY so same thing gets very cold. I too used the cheap stuff for years in my jetski no issue. Most likely over time if left for several years you may loose freeze protection but it works for a few months. Certainly may attack your rubber components not sure if in the real world it makes a difference, and certainly wont have the corrosion inhibitors of a good PG only antifreeze.
 
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crazy charlie

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Im sticking with the highly toxic and very protecting yellow Prestone AF that I use in my Jeep. Been using it for 30 years .the Zoyza grass in my yard seem to like it.lol
 
Lou C

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I like the Sierra PG. I think it helped be get this much time from my old salt water used inboard…
 
arks

arks

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I‘ve used -50 for 3 decades here in Pa. without any issues.
A couple years ago I found a farmer selling 2 full drums of -50, so I negotiated a VERY good price.
He was going to put it in his tractor tires but changed his mind.
 

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tpenfield

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I used the alcohol-based AF on engines for years . . . No issues. Of course these were older engines. Newer engines tend to have plastic parts, which would tend to dry/crack from alcohol exposure (I believe). On newer engines, I have used the PG type, which is the kind for engines.

I hate it when instructions tell you 'what' but not not 'why'. . . :unsure:
 
rolmops

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crazy charlie said:
Im sticking with the highly toxic and very protecting yellow Prestone AF that I use in my Jeep. Been using it for 30 years .the Zoyza grass in my yard seem to like it.lol
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The problem with that stuff is that it is very sweet and dogs love to lick it of the ground. And then the dogs die.
 
guy48065

guy48065

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Before I moved I stupidly sold 4 full 5Gal cans of expensive Dowfrost PG that I once intended to use to change my cottage boiler fluid. I sold the place before getting around to that task so I short-sightedly thought the PG was no longer needed.
Oops.

Now my Mercruiser and jetskis have cheap Menards -50 in them.
 
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