By switching their fleets to extended-life antifreeze, shops can greatly reduce their needs for both new product and waste management. Many newer cars and trucks, in fact, are now factory-filled with extended-life antifreeze.
Minnesota law restricts disposal of used antifreeze. Check with your hazardous waste permitting agency and your sewer regulatory agency for details on restrictions. Antifreeze should never be put into a septic system. On-site recycling provides you with new product to replace your old, eliminating the waste disposal problem and avoiding unnecessary purchases.
Extensive testing indicates that when properly formulated, recycled coolants meet or exceed nationally recognized performance specifications from the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).
According to federal EPA guidelines, recycled antifreeze might actually be purer than virgin products because the recycling process reduces chloride content in the product.
Auto makers are embracing recycled coolants. General Motors (GM) endorses several coolant recycling systems; it also stipulates that the engine warranty will be unaffected if engine coolant recycling is performed as described by the manufacturer and with GM-approved recycling equipment. Ford expressly authorizes the use of certain engine coolant recycling processes and chemicals that meet its specifications. Chrysler allows any coolant to be used as long as it meets Chrysler's and ASTM's specifications. Check with your vehicle manufacturer or dealer to see which coolant recycling equipment or process is appropriate.
Extended-Life Antifreeze
The service life of antifreeze is limited by the protection
ability of the corrosion inhibitors. Extended-life coolants have
been shown to retain over 95% of their corrosion inhibitors after
five years/150,000 miles in automobiles. In addition, most
extended-life coolants do not contain silicates and phosphates -
common in conventional antifreeze -
which tend to be abrasive to
water pump seals.
On-site and off-site recycling are two choices available for managing used and acquiring recycled antifreeze. On-site recycling equipment can be leased or purchased through several Minnesota distributors. For a list of over one dozen Minnesota companies that provide recycling services, see the Automotive Recycling Centers table in the Resourceful Waste Management Guide.
Extended-Life Antifreeze
Extended-life antifreeze has been factory filled in virtually
all new General Motors cars and light duty trucks since 1996. Ford
and Chrysler use extended-life antifreeze in some vehicles, and most
truck builders offer extended-life coolants in new vehicles.
Extended-life antifreeze is widely available in Minnesota primarily
through truck and automotive fuel and fluid distributors.
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Purchasing virgin antifreeze compared to recycled and extended-life (five year/150,000 mile);
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Shipping used antifreeze off-site for recycling;
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Buying or leasing on-site recycling equipment and replacement filters;
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Contracting with a service to recycle used antifreeze on-site and reformulate the recycled product;
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Labor to use and maintain on-site recycling equipment; and
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Disposal costs not related to recycling.
Recycled Antifreeze
Depending on your volume, the cost of using an on-site recycling
service, or using your own equipment to recycle your antifreeze,
should be cheaper than purchasing virgin product and hiring a
separate service to handle the used antifreeze. Some shops prefer to
use an off-site recycling service; they buy back recycled antifreeze
from the same company. This approach saves money compared to disposal of
used and purchase of new antifreeze. Disposal without buying back
recycled antifreeze is the most expensive choice.
Extended-Life Antifreeze
Although
the initial cost of extended-life is higher than conventional
antifreeze, the extra cost is insignificant because the antifreeze may
never have to be changed. Many extended-life coolants are designed to
last the life of the vehicle, saving labor costs that would otherwise
occur to flush and fill the cooling system with conventional product.
Extended-life antifreeze also decreases or eliminates the costs of
managing used antifreeze.
If you are converting your fleet to extended-life antifreeze, contact your equipment dealer or the engine manufacturer to see which extended-life product is best for each vehicle. All coolants should meet the ASTM standards for gasoline or diesel service engines.
Recycool
Hugo, MN
651/ 653-5074
fax: 651/ 653-6778
Products: Recycled antifreeze, pre-mixed 50/50. Meets ASTM standards.
Recycling Antifreeze
To
locate companies that offer on-site and off-site antifreeze
recycling services, contact your county hazardous waste office (See Resources
and Web Sites) or visit the Resourceful
Waste Management Guide web site for a comprehensive listing of
automotive product recyclers.
Extended-Life Antifreeze
Extended-life antifreeze is available throughout Minnesota from
distributors of automotive and heavy-duty equipment fluids.
Extended-life antifreeze can also be purchased off the shelf at many
retailers.
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Guide published by the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board, 4/00. The SWMCB includes members from the Minnesota metropolitan counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Washington, with ex-officio members from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Last Revised April 18, 2008 - 10:43am