
Best RV Antifreeze To Keep Your RV In Great Condition
Publushed by:
George CummingsLast updated:
November 14, 2021
EDITOR’S CHOICE
Zerex Antifreeze/Coolant
- Easily mixed with water
- Versatile
- Phosphate-free
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EDITOR’S CHOICE
Renowned Trading Antifreeze Coolant
- 98% ethylene glycol
- Anti-foam properties
- Also prevents boil-overs
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EDITOR’S CHOICE
PEAK OET Antifreeze/Coolant
- Advance formula
- User-friendly
- Improves the lifespan of water pumps
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The last thing you need before your next camping trip is for your RV pipes to freeze. Frozen pipes are a big problem as they prevent you from using your water supply and sinks, while they can also damage the RV’s water lines.
RV antifreeze is a non-toxic substance that protects your vehicle’s plumbing system.
Can’t you just use car antifreeze in your RV? While you might be wondering this, RV antifreeze is different from car antifreeze. It’s non-toxic and has more uses than the antifreeze that’s used in your car’s engine.
Therefore, if you own an RV, you’re going to have to purchase the correct RV antifreeze to protect your vehicle. Which product is best? Don’t worry – we’ve done the hard work for you in our reviews of the best RV antifreeze to keep your RV in great condition.
Best Overall: Zerex Antifreeze/Coolant
Short summary
This versatile RV coolant and antifreeze for gasoline and diesel engines is phosphate-free, has reduced PH, and lower silicate levels to protect your RV’s components against corrosion.
Since this antifreeze contains nitrite, it protects the engine from cavitation, hard water, and scale. It also contains a high-quality defoamer.
This prevents damage to hoses, vehicle finishes, and plastics. This all-round best RV antifreeze product will protect all types of cooling system metals, including aluminum.
When using this RV antifreeze, the recommended dilution is 50/50 for temperatures between -34 to 265 degrees Fahrenheit, 60/40 for -62 to 270 degrees Fahrenheit, and 70/30 for temperatures between -84 and 267 degrees Fahrenheit.
Therefore, this product gives you a variety of applications depending on your needs, and it’s easy to use.
Quick Facts
- Volume: 1 gallon
- Weight: 5 pounds
- Type of engine: Diesel, Gasoline
Pros
- By diluting it with 50 percent water, this concentrate protects engines from freezing in the winter as well as boiling temperatures in the summer.
- This antifreeze concentrate will protect your vehicle for up to five years or 150,000 miles in light-duty applications as well as three years or 300,000 miles in heavy-duty applications.
- Since it makes use of Hybrid Organic Acid Technology (HOAT), this RV antifreeze combines conventional and organic acid-based chemistry to better protect your vehicle against rust.
- It’s in a concentrate formula so it can easily be mixed with water to achieve the correct ratio depending on the temperature.
- This best RV antifreeze is a long-life ethylene glycol fluid that can be used on a variety of vehicles, such as light trucks, heavy-duty vehicles, and passenger cars. This makes it highly practical.
Cons
- Some people who have purchased this antifreeze have said that it actually comes as a pre-diluted liquid, so that’s something to check before using it on your vehicle. Make sure you order the correct one, too.
- It’s not as affordable as other antifreeze products on the market.
- Some people have said that they received this antifreeze product with poor packaging quality.
Runner-Up: Renowned Trading Antifreeze Coolant
Short summary
This antifreeze coolant also protects your RV pipes and water system from freezing up and it also prevents boil-overs in the hot months. All year round you’ll be able to enjoy rust and corrosion prevention by using this product.
It’s an essential item to have in your RV so you can do regular maintenance with ease.
This bright green liquid product is 100 percent concentrated so you have to use one gallon of water with one gallon of the product in order for it to be used effectively.
The bottle of this antifreeze has a convenient protection chart displayed on it so you can be sure that you’re using the correct dosage depending on the temperature.
This RV antifreeze has been designed for use in light industrial and automotive applications, but you might be wondering why it’s green in color.
This is because it was made from a formula that uses Inorganic Additive Technology.
Green antifreeze contains adjustments that have been made to the formula to prevent it from causing metal corrosion.
Quick Facts
- Volume: 1 gallon
- Weight: 9.17 pounds
- Type of engine: N/A
Pros
- This antifreeze contains 98 percent ethylene glycol, which means it’s not just useful as an antifreeze but can be used as coolant.
- In the winter, this product will prevent your RV from freezing, while in the summer the coolant element of it will prevent it from overheating, giving you all-year round protection.
- The ethylene glycol in this antifreeze product enables high heat transfer capabilities, without causing boiling.
- This best RV antifreeze provides anti-foam properties. This makes the product easier to use.
- It has been formulated especially for use in extreme conditions to give your RV better protection.
Cons
- There isn’t a lot of information or customer reviews available about this product so you might feel a bit in the dark before purchasing it.
Alternative: PEAK OET Antifreeze/Coolant
Short summary
This is a user-friendly engine coolant that you can use for a variety of applications, such as if you need to flush, fill, or top off your cooling system, thanks to its concentrated formula.
It comes in a bright red/pink color. This means it’s a hybrid of inorganic acid technology (IAT) and organic acid technology (OAT), which ensures that it is more stable and it also improves the lifespan of water pumps, therefore maintaining your RV’s good condition.
This antifreeze comes with color cues on its packaging and a list of compatible vehicles on the front so you can ensure that you use this on your vehicle safely.
You can get this product in both concentrate and 50/50 prediluted liquid.
Quick Facts
- Volume: 1 gallon
- Weight: 10.17 pounds
- Type of engine: N/A
Pros
- This antifreeze/coolant will protect your engine for up to five years or 150,000 miles.
- It has an advanced formula that prevents rust as well as corrosion, so you can safely protect all your RV’s cooling system components.
- You can protect your vehicle against a variety of temperatures by adjusting the concentration of this product. For example, by using a coolant/water ratio of 50-50 ratio, you can protect against freezing temperatures of -34 all the way up to boiling temperatures of around 365 degrees.
- This red/pink formula contains phosphate-enhanced organic acid technology that’s free of borate, nitrates, and silicate to ensure that your engine won’t be harmed.
- This antifreeze is compatible with other extended life coolant or antifreeze products, which reduces the stress associated with using an antifreeze for the first time.
Cons
- This antifreeze has been designed specifically for Asian vehicles that require a pink/red coolant. Specifically, it’s suitable for Lexus (1990 and later models), Scion (2004 and later models), and Toyota (1990 and later models).
- Some people have said that they battle to find this product in many stores.
Alternative: PEAK OET Extended Antifreeze
Short summary
This antifreeze conveniently comes in a 50/50 prediluted liquid so you can quickly top off your RV whenever that’s required. This is especially beneficial for when you’re on long road trips.
It’s been made for North American vehicles that need to run on an orange organic acid technology coolant, and it’s been specifically designed for the following car makes and models: Chrysler 2013 and later, Ford 2011 to 2019, and GM 1995 and later.
It can be combined with DEX-COOL formulations in new GM, Daewoo, Opel, and Saab vehicles, and with coolant or antifreeze in Chrysler or Ford vehicles that require an orange product.
You’re guaranteed of a quality product by choosing this antifreeze as it’s been formulated with the same organic acid technology that was given to your vehicle in the factory.
This also makes it easy to select against other antifreeze products on the market, therefore taking the hassle out of buying antifreeze.
This antifreeze has been pre-diluted, but you can also use it to flush your engine. It meets all the performance requirements of ASTM D3306 and D4985 specifications.
It can also be used in combination with other extended life coolants or antifreeze products without a problem.
Quick Facts
- Volume: 1 gallon
- Weight: 9.31 pounds
- Type of engine: N/A
Pros
- This RV antifreeze makes use of an advanced formulation that prevents corrosion and rust so all the cooling system requirements are protected.
- It gives your vehicle a service life of up to five years/150,000 miles.
- It can protect your engine in temperatures below 34 degrees and up to 265 degrees Fahrenheit.
- People who have purchased this product have said it works very well on high-mileage vehicles.
- This antifreeze doesn’t contain harmful ingredients such as amines, phosphates, and 2-ethyl hexanoic acid.
Cons
- If you want to use this on a European vehicle, you will have to buy a different product from Peak.
Alternative: Star Brite Antifreeze
Short summary
This is a slightly different product that you can use in a variety of ways. It can be used on your RV, drinking water systems, and pools! It’s especially designed to protect against cold temperatures.
While it’s strong enough to use on a variety of materials, it is also considered safe for use on hose materials, rubber, and seals.
This versatile RV antifreeze is going to be used in a lot of applications, and it’s ready for use right away as it doesn’t need to be diluted.
It provides protection against temperatures as low as -50 degrees Fahrenheit and also offers burst protection against temperatures as low as that.
Freeze protection is achieved at temperatures between +14 degrees Fahrenheit and +18 degrees Fahrenheit.
What’s noteworthy about this product is that it contains no alcohol in its formula.
This is important because it reduces evaporation so that the antifreeze preserves its concentration and will protect your RV during its storage season.
You might wonder why this RV antifreeze is in a bubblegum pink color. The bright color makes it visible through water lines and engine cooling systems.
Quick Facts
- Volume: 1 gallon
- Weight: 55 pounds
- Type of engine: N/A
Pros
- This antifreeze is in a gel formula that’s safe for brass, copper, and all types of plastic.
- This is non-toxic RV antifreeze. It contains propylene glycol, which is safe and useful for sensitive applications.
- It protects engines as well as water systems from freezing temperatures when they are stored.
- This best type of RV antifreeze contains corrosion inhibitors so that all its metal engine components will remain protected.
- It has 3X pink dye that provides a good amount of blow-through visibility. It also works as an indicator when flushing systems during the warmer months.
Cons
- If you need to winterize water systems with plastic pipes in a region where temperatures can drop to below -10 degrees Fahrenheit, you will need to choose Star Brite -100 degrees Fahrenheit instead of this pink RV antifreeze.
RV Antifreeze FAQ
RV antifreeze helps your mobile home remain protected when exposed to high or low temperatures, but sometimes these products can also have many other uses. With that in mind, let’s explore some important things you should know about RV antifreeze.
What is different about RV antifreeze?
At the start of this article, we looked at how RV antifreeze differs from antifreeze you’ll use in your car. But let’s explore that a bit deeper.
RV antifreeze is designed to be non-toxic, whereas car antifreeze is highly toxic. RV antifreeze can be put directly into the plumbing system of your mobile home.
That said, both car and RV antifreeze essentially do the same thing. They decrease the liquid’s freezing point and increase its boiling point so that the antifreeze will maintain its liquid consistency even in high or low temperatures.
You should be using RV antifreeze to winterize your RV every year so that you protect it against freezing temperatures. RV antifreeze products have many uses. Here are three main ones that are important to protect your mobile home.
- Antifreeze can protect your fixtures and freshwater pipes so that they can’t expand so much that they become damaged or burst. However, when using antifreeze on your RV’s freshwater system, always flush it thoroughly to prevent any unpleasant odors or tastes from lingering in the water.
- Antifreeze can be poured in the P-traps of showers and sinks. This prevents them from freezing and becoming damaged.
- Antifreeze can be applied to your gray and black water tanks to prevent them from freezing solid.
Based on the above points, it’s clear to see that it’s not safe to use car antifreeze in your RV. Car antifreeze is highly toxic so never use it instead of RV antifreeze, even if it looks the same.
Similarly, you should never use RV antifreeze in your car. They are not interchangeable! Before purchasing an antifreeze product, make sure it specifies where and how it can be safely used so you know you’re getting the right one.
Is RV antifreeze safe to dump on the ground?
We’ve already mentioned that RV antifreeze contains non-toxic ingredients. This might make you assume that it’s safe to dump on the ground when you’re on the road. However, this is something you should never do.
RV antifreeze might be listed as non-toxic and biodegradable, but it still contains chemicals. Dumping it can be harmful and toxic to the environment, such as if it gets into the soil or water sources.
In the home environment, antifreeze is dangerous to pets if ingested. In addition, it’s worth mentioning that some ingredients found in RV antifreeze can be flammable, so you don’t want to dump antifreeze on the ground and risk it getting ignited.
You can safely dispose of RV antifreeze in other ways. You could send it to a facility that accepts antifreeze or recycles it, for example.
If you’re not sure how to go about doing that, check with your RV manufacturer, local auto service stations, or local auto parts stores for suggestions of how to safely get rid of RV antifreeze.
When getting rid of antifreeze, make sure you drain it into a bucket so that you can dispose of it properly later.
Will RV pipes freeze in one night?
While your RV pipes might not freeze overnight, if you’re staying in an area where the temperature has decreased a lot and you’re experiencing freezing temperatures, this can cause your pipes to freeze very quickly.
It will generally take around 24 hours for your RV pipes to freeze up. It’s also worth noting that the temperature has to get below freezing (which is 32 degrees Fahrenheit) during this time for your pipes to freeze.
To prevent your RV from freezing, you should insulate its water tanks. You should also take other preventative measures, such as heating its underbelly where hoses and valves are usually found.
You can do this with foam board insulation. Using a quality antifreeze product is also recommended.
If you think you can dump antifreeze at an RV dumping station, it’s worth bearing in mind that you’re usually not allowed to dump regular antifreeze there. Your best bet would be to check with your local RV dumping station before going ahead.
Will RV antifreeze hurt a septic system?
Whether or not RV antifreeze is safe for a septic system will depend on its main ingredient. RV antifreeze products usually contain propylene glycol or ethylene glycol, or a combination of both.
If your RV antifreeze has propylene glycol in it, this is safe for your septic system. It won’t damage it or cause it other problems. The same goes for propylene ethanol. So, it is fine for you to flush this type of RV antifreeze into the water system.
If ethylene glycol is an ingredient in your RV antifreeze, this is toxic! It can cause harm to your septic system. It kills the system’s good bacteria that’s required to keep it working properly, so never allow this product to come into contact with it.
Conclusion
You should always have a bottle of high-quality RV antifreeze in your motorhome. This product can be used in your RV’s plumbing system to prevent it from being damaged by extreme temperatures.
The last thing you want is for your RV pipes and tanks to freeze over, resulting in expensive repairs.
Before reading this article, you might have wondered what is the best RV antifreeze to buy. We’ve featured the best RV antifreeze and four competing products to keep your RV safe and protected all year round.
Before purchasing RV antifreeze, though, always make sure that you’ve checked (and double-checked!) that it’s compatible with your specific RV or camper van.
We’ve also featured some questions you might have about RV antifreeze, such as if it’s the same thing as car antifreeze and if you can use RV antifreeze in a septic system.
Let your outdoor adventures begin, and make them last longer by keeping your RV protected against extreme temperatures and damage.
Resources:
Zerex Antifreeze/Coolant
Easily mixed with water
Versatile
Phosphate-free
George Cummings
George Cummings enjoys connecting with nature, meeting new people, and making friends from all over the world. RVing and camping create the perfect opportunity for [him/her] to take part in these activities. After spending several years on the road and exploring the great outdoors, George Cummings shares some of his best pieces of advice on how to make the most of your time while camping. TourTheOutdoors is his way of helping outdoorsy individuals like [him/her] start on a right footing with amazing recommendations and buying guides.