RV Antifreeze Ingredients: What Is RV Antifreeze Made Of?
On the commercial market, you do not have much of a selection to choose from. The ingredients for each of the three are very basic. Of course, different brands may add their own ingredients but generally, they use the same formulas to make their RV antifreeze.
When you go looking for RV antifreeze at your local auto parts or other RV outlet, you will find that you can choose between propylene glycol, Ethanol, and a mixture of those two ingredients. Those are your three choices and they may have water inside of them as well.
To learn more about this topic, just continue to read our article. It goes through the available RV antifreeze brands and presents you with their ingredients. It is not a complicated formula or set of ingredients.
Antifreeze Ingredients 101
Is RV Antifreeze Ethylene Glycol?
That depends. If you have a self-drive RV then you would most likely use this antifreeze in your engine. You would not use it in your water system when you winterize your pipes. This is a toxic antifreeze not meant for human consumption.
The type of antifreeze you will use in your RV and trailer's pipes is made from food-grade propylene glycol. This is safe for humans to consume and that form of glycol is found in many food products you buy today.
What Ingredients Are In RV Antifreeze?
There are two main ingredients. One is propylene glycol and the other is ethanol. The former is a food-grade liquid used in a variety of food products. The latter is a former of alcohol but not the denatured variety.
These two ingredients can be mixed separately to form their own RV antifreeze and some of those ingredients are coloring, fragrance, water, and Di Potassium Phosphate.
Some brands may add different ingredients depending on the formula they use for their products. These ingredients come from the RV antifreeze that combines both ethanol and propylene glycol.
Prestone RV Antifreeze Ingredients
As you would expect, the exact concentrations of the following ingredients are a trade secret. But this company uses water, ethanol, propylene glycol, and glycerin. There is no mention of the coloring being used or fragrance on the company’s data sheet for this product.
The company places a flammable warning on their RV antifreeze, so keep it away from heat, flames, and other heat sources. You also do not want to create any sparks when working around this liquid. Water can put any flames out that this product causes.
Splash RV Antifreeze Ingredients
The -50 degree F RV antifreeze made by this company only uses Ethyl alcohol and Glycerin as their ingredients. Their premium version only uses Glycerol according to the data sheet for this product.
The data sheet for the premium also states “This chemical does not meet the hazardous criteria set forth by the 2012 OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200)”
Both products are said to keep your tanks and pipes from freezing up to a -50 degree F level.
Super Tech RV & Marine Antifreeze Ingredients
The best that can be found out about this Walmart product is that it contains, water, ethyl alcohol, glycerin, and propylene glycol. There is little information on this product as even the Walmart internet store does not provide any ingredients or links to ingredients.
However, it is said to be a very good RV antifreeze to use. You can buy this in the concentrated format and just add water to it. The concentrate is more expensive than the ready to use version, which is understandable.
Absolute Zero RV Antifreeze Ingredients
According to the data sheet on this brand and product, this is a pure propylene glycol antifreeze. There are no other ingredients that we know of and the container does state it is alcohol-free.
This brand is made by Recochem which is a global company making all sorts of different automotive and household products. Some of their more famous brands include Armor All and STP.
The company also produces industrial products for those big, tough jobs some people encounter.
Champion RV Antifreeze Ingredients
This is another brand of RV antifreeze that is alcohol-free and made from only propylene glycol. This brand’s RV antifreeze states that it is burst proof down to -50 degrees F.
It is also safe for copper, brass, plastic, and other metal pipes. Unlike other companies and like other companies, Champion does not put a fragrance inside its antifreeze. It is an odorless product that won’t offend your nose.
Plus, it comes in a ready to use jug with no mixing needed. Then it does not contain denaturants and is considered non-toxic when used properly.
Peak RV Antifreeze Ingredients
This company uses only propylene glycol and water as its ingredients. They do a 70 to 75 to 25 to 30 split by weight with the water being the lesser ingredient.
Then for this and all other RV types of antifreeze on this list, here is what you need to do in these situations:
Not expected to present a significant hazard under anticipated conditions of normal use.
Symptoms/effects after skin contact : Contact during a long period may cause light irritation.
Symptoms/effects after eye contact : May cause slight irritation.
Symptoms/effects after ingestion : Excessive ingestion may cause central nervous system
Camco RV Antifreeze Ingredients
If you can get this product still, it is said to be a propylene glycol-based RV antifreeze. It also states that it comes without inhibitors. Currently, the Arctic Ban version seems to be out of stock or no longer available.
This company also makes Full Timers Antifreeze - 50 and it contains Ethanol Alcohol, Glycol, denaturants, colorants, and water. This product is available at Camping World and sells for about $6.00 per gallon when it is on sale.
Prime Guard RV Antifreeze Ingredients
This RV antifreeze option is made with ethyl alcohol and blended with propylene glycol. There may be some other ingredients as well but glycerin is not one of them.
Plus, it is supposed to be non-toxic, non-flammable, and safe for contact with humans, animals, and plant life. Then it is suitable to use with all vehicles as well as electric ones.
Also, it should be safe to use in all pipes no matter what construction material they are made from except acetate.
Is RV Antifreeze Safe To Drink?
To make an obvious point, you are not to drink RV antifreeze like you would Coke or some other beverage. That is just not a smart move to make and while it should not harm you, it is antifreeze, not a cooling beverage.
With that said, if by chance you do not flush your pipes thoroughly, consuming a small amount of RV antifreeze is not going to harm you. RV antifreeze is supposed to be non-toxic and not poisonous but that does not make it a liquid you should drink in large quantities.
The antifreeze made with ethylene glycol is very toxic and poisonous to drink. Check the label of your RV antifreeze container to make sure your brand does not use this chemical in its formula.
Even drinking small amounts of this liquid can cause some very serious health issues.
Can Bacteria Grow in RV Antifreeze?
This will depend on the ingredients inside your version of RV antifreeze. The ethanol-based product is an alcohol and it has the right properties to stop bacteria growth.
However, if you are using the propylene glycol-only version, then this product has no properties to resist or kill bacteria. It is possible for those germs to grow on this version of RV antifreeze.
When you buy the later version, make sure to either use it all or store it in a sealed container so bacteria do not get the opportunity to grow on that Antifreeze version.
What is The Difference Between RV Antifreeze And Regular Antifreeze?
The biggest difference between these two products is that the RV antifreeze is non-toxic and safe to use in your RV or trailer’s water system. If you happen to drink a little of it, nothing should happen to you.
The regular or engine antifreeze is not so people or pet friendly. It is very toxic to both and if you drink a little you can expect to have health issues. Both products do the same job but the regular antifreeze is for motors only.
You also want to avoid any antifreeze that contains methanol as one of its ingredients. That is a harmful chemical and should not be used in RV water systems.
Some Final Words
If you are unsure of the brand you should use, just say ‘ I need the pink stuff’ and the clerk knows, or should know, exactly what product you are referring to. The pink is RV antifreeze.
There is some blue-colored RV antifreeze and it should not be toxic but check the ingredients first before you buy. Check the price before you buy as well as some antifreeze products that can be very expensive.
