Today, there are safer propylene glycol (PG) based antifreeze-coolants that provide excellent protection for vehicle cooling systems and afford an additional margin of safety for pets and people. They are also comparably priced to EG-based antifreeze.
With a freeze point of -26F and a boiling point of 221F in the typical 50-50 solution with water, PG-based antifreeze provides comparable protection to EG-based antifreeze. Even greater protection can be obtained by using a higher concentration of antifreeze to water.
Before safer PG antifreeze was introduced, all antifreezes contained approximately 95 percent ethylene glycol, a highly toxic chemical that if accidentally ingested, attacks the kidneys and can cause irreversiable damage.
Two ounces of EG antifreeze, which can be appealing to animals because of its sweet smell and taste, can kill a dog; one teaspoon can be lethal to a cat; and two tablespoons can be harmful or even fatal to a child.
Many manufacturers recommend changing antifreeze every year. When converting to PG antifreeze, all EG must be drained entirely and the cooling system flushed, since mixing PG and EG would negate the added safety.
Changing antifreeze, whether performed by a do-it-yourselfer or at a professional garage, should always be done with great care to avoid leakage. Used antifreeze, which also contains metal contaminants, always should be disposed of properly to avoid accidental ingestion, seepage into underground streams or other water sources. Many automotive parts stores will accept used antifreeze for recycling.
REDUCING RISKS OF PET POISONINGS
*Use a PG-based instead of and EG-based antifreeze in your vehicles. *Watch for leaks, accidental spillage and boilovers and clean them immediately. *Walk dogs on leashes and supervise them closely when they are outdoors. *If you know or suspect your pet has ingested EG antifreeze, take the animal to a veterinarian immediately. *Do NOT wait for signs of toxicity to appear - immediate treatment is necessary to prevent a painful death. *Keep the phone number of your veterinarian near your phone.
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