Camco -50 RV Antifreeze SHOULD NOT be diluted. It is a pre-diluted solution that is designed to be used full strength. Additional water dramatically alters the expansion properties of the propylene glycol solution making adequate burst protection difficult to achieve.

No. Propylene glycol antifreezes are designed to provide burst protection to temperatures of -50°F or below. Ice crystals will start to form in -50 RV Antifreeze at temperatures around +10°F and will appear to be solid ice at around -10°F to -15°F. Propylene glycol based antifreezes continue to contract and will not expand until temperatures of -50°F are reached, thus providing burst protection for pipes. If you need a product that flows at the lower temperature, a higher concentrated product such as Winter Ban -100 or our Premium Ban Frost 2000^® should be used.

Most automotive antifreezes are made from ethylene glycol, which is highly toxic. RV antifreezes are made from propylene glycol which is considered GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) by the U.S. Government. Propylene glycol is used in many consumable products such as ice cream, candy and even cosmetics. Therefore, it is the product to use when winterizing potable water systems.

Unfortunately, there is no reliable economical tester on the market for the RV or boat owner to use. The best assurance is to follow the instructions on the label and be careful to remove all water from the system before winterizing to avoid dilution of the antifreeze. Camco offers an instrument called a refractometer which accurately reads both freeze point and burst point of the propylene glycol solution. This instrument is used in all of the Camco facilities to check the quality of our blends at the time of manufacture.

The freeze point is the temperature of the solution where ice crystals will start to form in the solution and it will have difficulty flowing. This temperature is around +10°F with -50 RV Antifreeze. This temperature is not indicative of the winterizing protection. The burst point is the temperature where the solution will begin to expand and thus cause the pipes to burst. A unit winterized properly with -50 RV Antifreeze should show a freeze point of around +10°F which indicates a burst protection of -50°F.

Camco offers a number of different antifreezes for different applications. The primary difference is in the formulations and amount of propylene glycol used. We offer not only the -50 RV antifreezes but also Winter Ban -100 for colder climates and marine engine winterization. Our Ban Frost 2000^® Antifreeze & Coolant is a highly concentrated product that is used to winterize marine engines and is also used as a coolant. Our Boiler Antifreeze -100 (#30027) is designed for use in hydronic heating systems, chillers and solar systems. Boiler antifreeze is recommended for RVs with AquaHot & HydroHot systems.

They are used in much the same manner; however, the rule of thumb is to add about 10% more Ban Frost 2000^® than was used with ethylene glycol. There is a blending chart on the product label for mixing Ban Frost 2000^® as a coolant application and also a chart for mixing it to winterize an engine block for winter storage.

There are several methods used by Marine dealers to winterize. You should refer to your owners manual for winterizing tips and recommendations. Some dealers use a VAT method where the outdrive is lowered into an antifreeze solution and the engine is run for a few minutes at operating temperature, making sure all the water is purged and the antifreeze solution is throughout the system. Another method requires the removal of the thermostat, opening of all petcocks to drain water from the engine block and then pouring the antifreeze into the engine block until the solution runs out of the petcocks. Camco offers the Do-It-Yourself Boat Winterizer which requires approximately 5 gallons of antifreeze for a proper winterization. Instructions for using the Do-It-Yourself Boat Winterizer should be followed closely.

Unlike toxic ethylene glycol, propylene glycol is rated GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) by the FDA. Should you spill small amounts on your driveway or grass, hose the area thoroughly with a good supply of water. Propylene glycol is biodegradable and will dissipate in the water.

Camco Freeze Ban –50 Antifreeze has been used for over 30 years by dealers and customers in the Marine industry for engine and potable water system winterization. It is safe to use for the marine engine application; however, if you are uncertain about getting all of the water purged out of the engine block, we suggest using a more concentrated formulation such as Winter Ban -100 or Ban Frost 2000^® Antifreeze & Coolant.