Should I reuse coolant or replace it?

[belfert]

I need to dump a lot of coolant to remove my radiator and replace the water pump.  This coolant was replaced last year.

Should I try to reuse the coolant or should I just replace it?  I'm a little bit leery of keeping 10 gallons or so of coolant clean enough to reuse.

[Busted Knuckle]

Brian get a 3 or 4 of big rubbermade (or simular type) totes that have lids, drain the coolant in to these (or use smaller easier to handle buckets and pour into the totes so you don't have to drag full totes out of the way), when you are done draining put the lids on and save them for reuse. Then when the radiator is back in scoop the coolant out of the totes untillight enought to pour it in the smaller bucket!
  BK 

[gumpy]

I agree with BK.  And, in addition, if you do get some dirt in it, run it through a dish cloth or silk cloth to filter it. You can use coffee filters, but it will be very slow as they clog up quite quickly. Cheese cloth will work, too, if you bunch it up in multiple layers.
Just put the cloth over, or bunch it up in a large funnel and pour the coolant through it into another bucket or milk jug.

Unless your coolant is an off color, or shows signs of having been contaminated with oil or such, I'd reuse it till it about 5 years old.

[Busted Knuckle]

Also Brian you might wanna get some antifreeze test strips and test it, to see if it needs any additives or not! FWIW
  BK 

[maria-n-skip]

Brian,

     I use (snitch) my wifes pantyhose to filter out any debri. Also I have my spare water pump set-up with
garden house and use it as a tranfer pump. (pantyhose on the intake side) I make sure I clean the pump
out real good before putting away. Water then purex.

   Just my thoughts

Skip

[grantgoold]

"My wife's pantyhose" right

How about a few paint strainers you can get from your local auto paint supply for free.


Grant

[belfert]

The Rubbermaid storage container is a great idea!  They even have lids unlike my cut off 55 gallon drum.  They will be fine as long as the sides don't bow from the weight of the coolant.  I have some light weight 18 gallon ones from Home Depot and some more robust 18 gallon ones from Target.  The HD ones look the same, but they sell for 1/3 less and are not as thick.

I'm not exactly sure how I will get the coolant filtered before it goes back in.  I do have a little pump I can use to pump the coolant.

[maria-n-skip]

 Grant,


    Don't laugh it really works.

   There is a book out there that is like one of those 1001 uses for pantyhose.
   I just can't bring myself to go into a bookstore and buy it maybe I'll ask one of my daughters
   to get it, read it for me and let me know some of the better ideas.


    Skip

[jjrbus]

To ansewer your question yes, reuse the collant.
I put 2 trash can liners into the container, one inside the other. less chance of contamination. If one leaks it leaks into the second one. Then I put container on scaffold and siphoned back into system. If doing again or should I say next time? I would use 2 small containers, eaiser to handle.
I also did this when I drained the fuel tank.
                                                              HTH Jim

[JohnEd]

Guys,

Where is the mention of the need to have our coolant analyzed anually?  That test is far far cheaper than recharging the cooling system and it yields really nifty stuff like....no exhaust present in the coolant, whew!  They also tell you what additives are depleted or missing and you can add the appropriate chems to make it like new.  Bad coolant can cost you as much as bad oil.  5 years seems like a stretch, and I am not questioning it, but I would leave it in there 10 years and reuse it if the analysis said the stuff was "A OK".

Any bad comments about the analysis or the name of a BAD lab?

John

[Busted Knuckle]

Guys,

Where is the mention of the need to have our coolant analyzed anually?  That test is far far cheaper than recharging the cooling system and it yields really nifty stuff like....no exhaust present in the coolant, whew!  They also tell you what additives are depleted or missing and you can add the appropriate chems to make it like new.  Bad coolant can cost you as much as bad oil.  5 years seems like a stretch, and I am not questioning it, but I would leave it in there 10 years and reuse it if the analysis said the stuff was "A OK".

Any bad comments about the analysis or the name of a BAD lab?

John

Also Brian you might wanna get some antifreeze test strips and test it, to see if it needs any additives or not! FWIW
  BK 

Ahhh I guess I missed something! NOT!

[rdbishop]

Brian,

While you have the water drained you might consider putting a ball valve with a hose fitting in case you have to drain again. Be sure to put a cap on the hose fitting.

Richard

[belfert]

While you have the water drained you might consider putting a ball valve with a hose fitting in case you have to drain again. Be sure to put a cap on the hose fitting.

I'm not sure where I would put a fitting.  I'm not aware on my Series 60 of any way to dump the coolant without removing a hose and letting it run out.

[rdbishop]

Brain,

I don't know about the 60, but on my MC-7 the return line from the heater(1 1/2"), I sodered a 1/2" female adpt. . It doesn't make a big mess and I've used it many times over the years. Someone with a 60 must have done this.

Richard

[JohnEd]

BK,

I wasn't aware that the strips checked everything, including CO.  Do you have a mfr info site for that info?  Thanks for the info.

John

Oh, a freind of mine used to operate the analysis lab for CAT and the info and analysis he produced was extraordinary.  He was a good guy and that was long ago and I hope he is still in business.  Three cheers for progress though.

Just visited the Peterbuilt site section for collant.  They recomend using the strips at every oil change.  They also call for a LAB ANALYSIS using a refractometer every 100K miles.  They wanted specific content of SCA's (special coolant additives) measured and the additives replenished either by simply adding them or by installing a "filter" that automatically released them as they are needed.  Given we put on fewer miles and our rigs sit for extended periods, it may follow that we need the analysis more often.  Don't know....yet.  You inspired me BK, thanks.