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       I am in the middle of changing the radiator on my bus.  The guy who runs the shop here has a drum of industrial (pure) ethylene glycol and he says that I should use that as new radiator coolant (50/50 mix with water).  I'm thinking that the stuff that's sold commercially as radiator coolant has chemicals to prevent corrosion of metals and avoid damage to rubber/plastic parts, etc.  I think it would be crazy to just dump industrial stuff in a radiator.  Thoughts?   Thanks!!

probably for boilers, heating systems.

http://inspectapedia.com/heat/Boiler_Antifreeze.php (http://inspectapedia.com/heat/Boiler_Antifreeze.php)

Be sure you are buying the right antifreeze product: an anti-freeze intended for use in heating boilers, not automobiles or trucks - the chemicals are different, and as we explained above, automotive antifreeze (ethylene glycol) is toxic (poisonous). Not only is the care and handling of toxic chemicals more demanding, on some heating systems there can be a risk of accidentally introducing toxic antifreeze into the home water supply system.

https://www.google.com/search?espv=2&q=boiler+hydronic+glycol+vs+automotive+antifreeze&oq=boiler+hydronic+glycol+vs+automotive+antifreeze&gs_l=serp.12...3776.18585.0.21353.25.25.0.0.0.0.243.3570.0j24j1.25.0....0...1c.1.56.serp..15.10.1379.GPNIPRDRShg (https://www.google.com/search?espv=2&q=boiler+hydronic+glycol+vs+automotive+antifreeze&oq=boiler+hydronic+glycol+vs+automotive+antifreeze&gs_l=serp.12...3776.18585.0.21353.25.25.0.0.0.0.243.3570.0j24j1.25.0....0...1c.1.56.serp..15.10.1379.GPNIPRDRShg)

Quote from: Oonrahnjay on October 20, 2014, 09:16:42 AM
I'm thinking that the stuff that's sold commercially as radiator coolant has chemicals to prevent corrosion of metals and avoid damage to rubber/plastic parts, etc.

You are exactly right.  Vehicle antifreeze includes chemistry to lubricate the water pump, prevent corrosion, etc.  Also, those approved for HD use are designed to help prevent cavitation of cylinder liners.

I would nicely look on the 50 gal drum its just possible he purchases in quantity, no matter there should be a label or listing somewhere close by.
I believe the type you mention is the standard in its basic makeup.
The newer stuff as we been seeing for 10 years or a bit more "might" be an HOAT: hybrid organic acid technology, some brands of this has a bit of ethylene it to.
In any they brag to have something and all claim the super newest tecnolectalon da-ta-da.
On a side note if that's his business truck shop its likely ok, just my opinion and we all know everybody has one.
how much$
Have a better day and wish ya best of luck getting going on down the road.

For Oonrahnjay whose bus has a Leyland 4-stroke engine, there isn't as much information out there on approved coolants.  But here are the coolant specifications for the engine:

https://www.bestetender.com/Specification%5CTechnical_Specification.pdf (https://www.bestetender.com/Specification%5CTechnical_Specification.pdf)

The vast majority of bus conversions here in the forum have Detroit Diesel 71 or 92 series 2 stroke engines and some have the 60 series 4 stroke engines. Here is the Detroit Diesel specs document for coolants:

http://www.mtu-online.com/fileadmin/fm-dam/mtu-global/technical-info/fluids_and_lubricants_specifications/A001061_35E.pdf (http://www.mtu-online.com/fileadmin/fm-dam/mtu-global/technical-info/fluids_and_lubricants_specifications/A001061_35E.pdf)

Pages 121-123 have a pretty good list of Detroit Diesel approved coolants for 2-strokes.  The pages right before that list the approved coolants for 60-series.

It is especially important to use appropriate coolants in 92 series engines because they have "wet" liners and cavitation kills them pretty quickly.