Use a 50% solution of glycol based antifreeze solution to water for a system that must operate at very low temperatures. If only freeze protection is needed, a 20-25% solution is usually adequate because the more dilute solution forms a non rigid slush that will not flow well but will not damage the tubing.

If there is any possibility that a rupture of the tubing could contaminate the potable water, use non-toxic propylene glycol. If contamination is impossible, automotive type ethylene glycol may be used.

If your furnace is installed correctly, there is no reason to use antifreeze. Save the high cost of antifreeze.

Antifreeze by itself has an insufficient boil over and freeze protection ability. Mixture with water provides the Freeze protection and boil over protection.

Antifreeze should be changed based on original equipment engine manufacturer's recommendations or with the use of full laboratory coolant analysis.

Though small amounts of antifreeze can be successfully neutralized by sewage treatment plants, too much antifreeze can overload those systems. You should never attempt this disposal method without first obtaining the permission of the sewage treatment plant involved. In any case, recycling the material is a more environmentally beneficial practice, and antifreeze recycling is available on a regular basis in most Washington counties.

Over a period of time, rust and corrosion will appear in the cooling system. Long term, this will reduce the life of cooling system components such as the radiator, water pump and coolant hoses.

Most manufacturers recommend a two-year interval. Some vehicles now have a long life coolant, which can last for four years.

A scant two ounces of any ethylene glycol-type antifreeze can kill a small animal (dog), one teaspoon can be lethal to a cat, and two tablespoons can be hazardous to children resulting in painful internal/intestinal problems possibly leading to coma and even death. Ethylene glycol is also harmful to plant life.

Ethylene glycol (EG) is the base ingredient of all of the well-known antifreeze brands, it has long been known to be poisonous. When ingested, ethylene glycol converts to oxalic acid, which damages the kidneys and can cause kidney failure and death.

In a survey conducted among veterinarians by a national research firm, 95% indicated that they have warned clients about the dangers of antifreeze, 96% of the vets surveyed felt that antifreeze poses a serious risk to pets, and 66% had encountered at least one confirmed or suspected antifreeze poisoning within the prior year. Animal experts estimate that tens of thousands of pets and wild animals die each year from regular ethylene glycol antifreeze poisonings.

Assuming you've checked the radiator cap and main hoses, it's possible your water pump is leaking. There's a small (2 mm) weep hole on the bottom of the pump. Black stains surrounding the hole indicate coolant seepage, which is an early warning sign of pump failure. Another indication of a pump leak is if there's green-black staining on the small rubber hose that plugs into the engine block (just behind the main crank belt pulley).

Finally yearly I would also, clean out the EGR (instruction below), and clean or replace the PCV, and Some have also reported a diesel/exhaust sound coming from the engine bay, caused by the nut on the bottom of the EGR valve coming loose or free. If this nut is loose, use a 22 mm "stubby" wrench to tighten as tight as you can get it. Remove the EGR valve there are 2 holes the larger one is the one that supplies exhaust, flow don't worry about it.

No. The only O.E. approved method for effective anti-freeze recycling is the use of vacuum distillation. This method requires the anti-freeze be removed from the vehicle.

Worldwide, over 400 million gallons of antifreeze concentrate is sold each year. After the typical 50% dilution with water, this yields about 800 million gallons of engine coolant. Between 25 and 50% of this volume ends up improperly in the environment, and dumping by consumers is a major cause of this pollution. Approximately 90+% of the remainder is mixed with wastewater, treated, then discarded to surface waters.