Does RV Antifreeze Go Bad? (Expiration Date and Shelf Life)
It is all about proper storage. This is something you know about due to other products that can last a long time when stored properly. While it is hard for antifreeze to go bad, proper storage can help it last a very long time. Long enough to use your supply over several winters.
The shelf life of most RV anti-freeze is between 1 and 4 years or 1 in 5 years depending on who you are talking to and who made this product. In other words, when you store this product properly, it will last you a long time.
To learn more about this topic and how long anti-freeze will last, just continue to read our article. It has the information you want to know about so you can store this product until you need it again.
Does RV Antifreeze Go Bad?
Eventually, it will but not right away. The chemicals used to create this product degrade slightly over the next few years after you buy your supply. You have a long time in between usage to not worry about this problem.
The key will be to label the date when you bought it so you can keep better track of its shelf-life. Do this instead of trying to read the expiration date as those numbers are placed in an awkward spot or are hard to read after a while.
The expiration date will help you but if you are in a hurry, make your purchase date large enough to read at a glance. That way you do not have to waste any time looking for those small numbers.
How Long Does RV Antifreeze Last?
The key phrase will be ‘when stored properly’. Like any product, if you do not store RV anti-freeze correctly, it may not last until its expiration date. There is a proper way to store this liquid.
You will need to store it in a tightly sealed container and in a place that is consistently cool and dark. You should not store it in your garage because if it is not heated and insulated the temperature changes could degrade this product.
It seems that the constant temperature fluctuations will alter the chemical properties somewhat in RV anti-freeze so it is not as good as it once was. Make sure to keep the cap tightly sealed as well. That way the warm or cool air won’t damage the liquid.
Does Antifreeze Have an Expiration Date?
It should have one as this product does not last forever. However, if you do not open the original jug, and store it properly, it can last for over 10 years. You cut that shelf-life down to about half when you do open it and then store it properly.
To see the expiration date, just look the jug over closely and there should be one printed somewhere. What makes it last so long is that it is protected from contamination.
But even if it does expire it does not really go bad and smell up your home or garage. It simply loses its effectiveness. Then, you should be more worried about the antifreeze in your engine than in the container.
Due to use, the anti-freeze in your RV’s engine will only last about 30,000 miles. It should be changed due to the debris and dirt that gets into the radiator, etc.
Does Premixed Or 50/50 Antifreeze Expire?
The concentrated antifreeze will last a very long time, as you just read. The 50-50 mixture is not going to do as well as that format. The reason being the anti-freeze is not pure anymore.
The water inside this mixture will cut the expiration duration down to about 3 years if stored properly. If you are lucky. It is hard to say how long yours will last due to differences in storage, temperature levels in your region, and so on.
The water in this mixture will slowly degrade the anti-freeze over time. That combination will make sure this product does not sit on your shelves for very long.
It is best to simply buy as much as you need and then use it all. There is no real point in storing 50-50 anti-freeze unless you have other gas-powered devices that require it.
Antifreeze Shelf Life
An unopened jug of anti-freeze should last you up to 10 years if not longer. That is if you store it in a cool, dark spot that remains that way for ten years. The jugs you have to worry about are the ones that you open, use a portion of the product, and then close.
That situation only gives you a 4 to 5-year shelf life. These figures only apply to the concentrated anti-freeze and not the 50-50 version most people buy.
For that version, you should look for an expiration date and stick to that or use it up before 3 years is over.
Is It Ok To Use Old Antifreeze?
Yes, it is. As long as it has not been contaminated, old antifreeze still works. The best way to use old anti-freeze would be to mix it with a new batch. That way you are boosting the efficiency of the older liquid.
All of this information has not dealt with any extended-life antifreeze. You may not need to store any of that product as it is supposed to last between 500,000 to 1,000,000 miles.
This product needs another article to fully explore its benefits and properties. It is designed for diesel engines but can be used for other motor types as well.
Some Final Words
When you go to buy anti-freeze, look for the concentrated format over the 50-50. It may be a bit more work to mix it yourself but if you do not use it all, then you can have some waiting for you later on.
Just do not mix the stored anti-freeze with water or it won’t last more than roughly 3 years. Store it properly so it will be there 5 years from now ready to use.
