What precautions should be taken when working with antifreeze?

Good personal hygiene procedures should be implemented. Wash hands and any other contaminated areas of the body with soap and water before leaving the work site. Do not eat, drink or smoke when using the product. Storage precautions Keep away from heat, sparks and open flame.

How do we use antifreeze?

Antifreeze keeps the water in your radiator and engine from freezing in cold temperatures. Antifreeze also keeps that same water from boiling over in hot temperatures. Antifreeze also serves as a lubricant for the moving parts it comes in contact with, such as the water pump.

How do you store ethylene glycol?

Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated, locked store room away from incompatible materials. Use ventilation to keep airborne concentrations below exposure limits. Have approved eyewash facility, safety shower, and fire extinguishers readily available.

Does antifreeze eat through plastic?

It provides protection from rust and corrosion and does not harm rubber hoses and plastics. Antifreeze should not corrode metal parts, attack rubber, become viscous at low temperatures, or evaporate readily at the ordinary engine operating temperature.

Why is antifreeze used?

Antifreeze, or engine coolant, is a colored liquid that is mixed with water to help regulate your engine during extreme temperatures. As the temperature outside changes from hot to cold coolant is pumped throughout the engine block to maintain an even operating temperature.

Where do you get ethylene glycol?

Ethylene glycol is found in many household products, including: Antifreeze. Car wash fluids. De-icing products.

Does ethylene glycol react with plastic?

In the plastics industry, ethylene glycol is an important precursor to polyester fibers and resins. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resins used to make plastic bottles for soft drinks is prepared from the reaction of ethylene glycol with terephthalic acid.

Does ethylene glycol dissolve plastic?

This claim is absurd. Propylene glycol cannot dissolve poly(olefin) polymers especially polypropylene or polyethylene. It is possible for glycols to cause paneling of containers made to such, but not dissolve; and certainly wouldn’t happen in the amount of time it takes to perform an injection.

What do you need to know about antifreeze poisoning?

Antifreeze Poisoning. Overview. Antifreeze is a liquid that prevents the radiator in cars from freezing or overheating. It’s also known as engine coolant. Although water-based, antifreeze also contains liquid alcohols like ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and methanol. Propylene glycol is also an ingredient in some foods and cosmetics.

Is it safe to store coolant and antifreeze?

Coolant/antifreeze is particularly dangerous due to its sweet smell, meanings animals and children can mistake it for something nice, so it’s vital that the fluid is stored safely and handled with care and precaution.

Do you have to drain antifreeze to fill radiator?

Antifreeze is harmful to skin, so make sure you wear a pair of safety gloves for this project. Pop the hood and locate the reservoir that holds the antifreeze. You will need to take off the fill cap to drain the antifreeze. To find the fill cap, check the radiator, pressure tank, engine, or hoses.

Where can I get pre mixed antifreeze for my car?

You can find pre-mixed coolant at your local O’Reilly Auto Parts store. If you want to use full strength antifreeze, you will need to add water to the coolant at a 50/50 ratio. Once the coolant is added, make sure all the caps have been tightened into place.

When do you need to use coolant and antifreeze?

Coolant/antifreeze is an essential fluid which regulates the temperature of your engine to keep it protected. We’d always recommend having a bottle of quality coolant/antifreeze to hand for instances where you need to drain the reservoir to change the fluid, or top up the cooling system when the fluid level is low.

What happens if you put antifreeze in a car radiator?

Antifreeze is a substance that people typically add to the liquid coolant inside car radiators. It contains chemicals that lower the freezing point and raise the boiling point of the engine coolant. Ingesting these chemicals can cause life-threatening symptoms. Antifreeze typically contains ethylene glycol, methanol, and propylene glycol.

What should you do if you get antifreeze poisoning?

A doctor may suggest hemodialysis to treat antifreeze poisoning. Early diagnosis and treatment for antifreeze poisoning is essential to reduce a person’s risk of experiencing permanent organ damage and long-term health complications.

Is it dangerous to eat coolant or antifreeze?

While coolant/antifreeze is poisonous in any form, including new propylene glycol formulas, there are ways to make it less attractive to animals and young children, reducing the threat of ingestion and poisoning. At Prestone, we add a bitter taste to our coolant/antifreeze formula.