Do people buy the dirty coolant gallons sold at junkyards?

[MaD]

They're like $3 dollars, you can buy a gallon of distilled water for $1.30 at Walmart. They're always brown and gunky too, who buys em? Not judging, just curious

 

[JoshT]

I wouldn't, but gallon jug of "dirty coolant" does not equal a gallon jug of distilled water. Gallon jug of reclaimed coolant is presumably somewhere around 50% antifreeze. Antifreeze is $10-15/gallon for concentrate depending on what kind you get.

You're looking at $12-17 for 2 gallons of 50/50 antifreeze mixed from concentrate(1g concentrate + 1g distilled). About the same per gallon for new ready to run 50/50 pre-mixed, but you're buying to gallons of it to do the same job. Compare that to $6 for two gallons of reclaimed coolant, especially if you're on a tight budget, with a beater vehicle, and just need a gallon to top off.

Of course there's a risk involved. Do you think they identify and separate types of coolant? I don't think they do. It all goes into a big catch pan then gets dumped into what ever jug is available. Some coolat types shouldn't be mixed, and some engines require special types.

I wish I could get away with that on some of mine. The F-250 has a 8 gallon coolant capacity. I'm in the middle of a cooling system flush. Using conventional coolant it's about $12/gallon for concentrate, but that also requires an additional addative that's about $30/bottle, and it's got to be tested and recharged with the addative periodically. Switching to nitrate-free extended life coolant that is silicate free so better for the engine, does not require recharge, and good for 600+ thousand miles with no additional maintenance. Looking at about $100 worth of coolant concentrate there.

Oh, I also think that some machine shops use recycled coolant as cutting fluid for their equipment. Almost everything in a machine shop uses cutting fluid for both part/bit cooling and chip clearing. At a minimum, many industrial lathes and mills use it.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I know guys that would run old antifreeze in their sprayers at the end of the season to keep them from freezing over winter.

About as far as I would "trust" unknown used coolant.

 

[SenorNoob]

It's great for Buy Here Pay Here lots that repair "totaled" cars. They usually need a radiator and don't care about the fluid as long as it doesn't freeze before it gets off the lot.

 

[901wd#2]

Nope, but I do have a 5 gallon bucket of green liquid from random cooling system repairs that I use as needed in certain vehicles.

 

[Curious Hound]

I've never heard of that until now. I would never buy it for use in a vehicle. You don't know what you're getting. Even to use for winterizing sprayers like 85 mentioned, I would try to filter it so it doesn't clog nozzles.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I've never heard of that until now. I would never buy it for use in a vehicle. You don't know what you're getting. Even to use for winterizing sprayers like 85 mentioned, I would try to filter it so it doesn't clog nozzles.

We kinda graded it too.

Everything was green and tested above a certain temp. Nasty stuff with oil in it or whatever went into a different tank.

 

[gaz]

@MaD
My local yard sells it. It is only from trucker's diesel rigs. It is up to par 50/50 coolant.

If I were to use it I would run it through a filter because it is nothing less than "CAPTURED" used coolant from semi haulers.

 

[ShhhhhDougsHere]

I didn't even know junkyards sold it.
Now that I do I already know I wouldn't buy it.

 

[arse_sidewards]

At my junkyard the coolant isn't obviously dirty and they give it away for free. I don't use it for cars though. I use it for keeping other stuff from freezing and weed control around the concrete seams on my property.

 

[19Walt93]

Coolant needs to be changed periodically to prevent corrosion, buying it used makes no sense. If you've got a leak just fix it.
I'll add coolant to my list of things that shouldn't be bought used, along with tooth brushes and condoms.

 

[Shran]

No way would I pay anything for that. I wouldn't even pay for clean used coolant.

I keep old coolant for weed control, works great for that. If I have a junker vehicle that needs some coolant I will strain it and use it there too... usually vehicles I care about get new stuff.

 

[sgtsandman]

The only use I can see for used coolant is as an emergency where you have no other option. Even for breaks on the trail, I would rather have a bottle or two of new 50/50 pre-mix than used, questionable quality coolant.

 

[arse_sidewards]

For applications that go through a lot of coolant for whatever reasons it's not uncommon to buy used (filtered) automotive coolant because it's cheap add glycol to bring it up to the right % and then add anti-corrosion additives (usually the seller will do this for you if you provide your specs).

Those turning their nose up at it are just ignorant. It makes sense, just not for "home use" quantities.