Is the glycol used by T@b compatible with automotive antifreeze?

Diego
Diego Member Posts: 4
in Heating/Plumbing & Winterizing
I am leaving for an extended trip on Monday. I found the glycol reservoir thanks to this forum. The fluid level is slightly low and I want to add glycol, but I do not have time to get it shipped in. Can I use a high quality auto antifreeze to top off the reservoir? I can not find what the Century Transfer Fluid is made of to determine compatibility.

Comments

  • FishDoctor
    FishDoctor Member Posts: 79
    Don't add antifreeze to the glycol tank.

    Downers Grove, IL
    2017 T@B 320S Max, Blue and Silver -- "The Blueb@rry"

    2026 States Visited Map-small.jpg
  • Michigan_Mike
    Michigan_Mike Member Posts: 2,858
    Diego said:
    Can I use a high quality auto antifreeze to top off the reservoir? 
    No
    Mike - Elmira, Mi / 2019 T@B 400 / 2021 Chevy Silverado LTZ
  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,035
    @Diego, please use the forum Search area and enter “ Prestone Low Tox”.  
    Sierra brand proprylene glycol works also.

    Read 2017 entries here:
    https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/comment/60583#Comment_60583
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
  • jgram2
    jgram2 Member Posts: 1,522
    @Diego You might Call Elsie Miller in parts at NüCamp 844.823.9112 x 304 and see if she can get some of their glycol overnighted to you, Or at least how quickly you could get it 
    John, Judi, Guinness & OD in PDX
    T@Bit@t 2015 S Max Outback, ‘18 V6 4Runner 


  • N7SHG_Ham
    N7SHG_Ham Member Posts: 1,261
    edited October 2018
    You don't want to mix incompatible "antifreeze" fluid rather it is your vehicle or Alde. Maybe the more important reason to ONLY use the recommended glycol is the toxicity of most auto antifreeze, in case of a leak in the heater circuit which uses the same boiler as the hot water heater, a leak could poison your hot water in the trailer.
    2019 T@B 400 Boondock Lite
  • Diego
    Diego Member Posts: 4
    Thanks for all the replies.
    I think I shall wait until I can find it while on the road.
  • gregandpatty
    gregandpatty Member Posts: 5
    I need to add some glycol to my system and just talked to nuCamp and Alde and they both said to use Century TF-1 Heat Transfer fluid from Amazon. It was $25/gal and free 2-day shipping with Prime...
  • Tabaz
    Tabaz Member Posts: 2,420

    Any anti-freeze that is safe for aluminum components should work.

    2016 Outback 320
    2024 Ford F150 Supercrew short bed.
  • N7SHG_Ham
    N7SHG_Ham Member Posts: 1,261
    Tabaz said:

    Any anti-freeze that is safe for aluminum components should work.

    The recommended fluid is non toxic (or less toxic), lots of auto antifreeze is OK for aluminum, but most are toxic. The danger is contamination of the potable hot water if there was a malfunction.
    2019 T@B 400 Boondock Lite
  • Tabaz
    Tabaz Member Posts: 2,420
    Good to know _Ham.  When I was trying to find the Sierra brand others had recommended (without success), I could only find two brands that were safe for aluminum and both were Low-tox.  I incorrectly assumed they were inseverable attributes.
    2016 Outback 320
    2024 Ford F150 Supercrew short bed.
  • ScottG
    ScottG Administrator Posts: 5,687
    IIRC, Spencer from Alde talks about this in the uCamp18 Q&A session. Something about low/no-tox glycol being legally required for the North American market. Apparently it breaks down more quickly that the hi-test stuff and that's why it's recommended to change it out at least every few years.
    2015 T@B Max S (320)
    2015 Nissan Frontier SV V6 4x4
  • dsfdogs
    dsfdogs Member Posts: 641
    @ScottG I thought that section of the video was so enlightening and helpful.
    Debbie in Oregon
    Sold 2023 Tab 400
    Sold 2018 T@B 320S

  • dhauf
    dhauf Member Posts: 199
    I was told by ALDE when I called them, that in the states they recommend the Century TF-1 Fluid which can be found on Amazon.  Since it is a GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) fluid it needs to be flushed every two years.  I asked also about other types of Glycol and he told me that in Europe they use G13 which incidentally is what they use in most German cars like VW etc for the radiator fluid.  They recommend using the Century fluid due to it being non toxic if for some unforeseen occurrence it mixes with your drinking water.  He said it was up to me if I wanted to switch to it, but it cannot be mixed with the GRAS Glycol and it would have to be flushed fully before converting to G13 Glycol. The upside to G13 is that it only needs to be flushed every 5 years instead of 2 for the GRAS Century fluid.  As for me, I will stick with Century and just flush every 2 years.  However, I don't really see a problem with running G13 as I doubt it will ever mix with the drinking water somehow unless the glycol pipes leak into the water holding tank on the boiler.

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