Is coolant dry residue on garage floor toxic?

[TERRYDIABLO]

I have a dog, I want to make sure the coolant residue/stain on the garage floor wont harm him.

if its still toxic, whats the best way to clean it?

thanks in advance

 

[Blueskies123]

I would say it is toxic. Can you wipe it up and put into the garbage? If you wash it off and let it run off into the yard it could get into the water supply.

 

[rslifkin]

It should clean off with enough water. It's probably still toxic if he licks it.

 

[Blueskies123]

Or keep the rages and take them to a recycling center.

 

[Eddie]

I think yes. I lost a cat many years ago and the animals death after ingesting coolant was not pretty.

 

[285south]

Yes it is toxic like any other dry/wet chemical. Best bet to do is, get a bucket of steaming hot water with dawn and scrub it with coarse steel wool pads.

 

[TERRYDIABLO]

Originally Posted By: Eddie
I think yes. I lost a cat many years ago and the animals death after ingesting coolant was not pretty.


sry for your loss. I have used 2 rolls of shop towel, hot water and dish washer detergent; hope these would clean the coolant up.

 

[TERRYDIABLO]

Originally Posted By: 285south
Yes it is toxic like any other dry/wet chemical. Best bet to do is, get a bucket of steaming hot water with dawn and scrub it with coarse steel wool pads.


Next time I do any coolant-related job. I will go to a hoist-rent shop.I will be careful not to let my dog step in garage.

 

[LeakySeals]

Ethylene glycol (primary additive in coolant) tastes sweet to animals. Poisoning and death can occur in hours. Why many coolant manufacturers use a "bittering agent" additive. A pressure wash or a scrub with car wash soap, etc. and hose rinse should do it.

Get the cheap $8 100' rolls of poly at home depot in the paint section. Cut off some poly, lay it down. Save cardboard boxes. Use a flattened cardboard box under the drain area for absorption, the poly below that to protect the floor. Throw it away.

 

[nthach]

Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
Ethylene glycol (primary additive in coolant) tastes sweet to animals. Poisoning and death can occur in hours. Why many coolant manufacturers use a "bittering agent" additive. A pressure wash or a scrub with car wash soap, etc. and hose rinse should do it.


Animals will still lick the stuff - cats have a slightly less chance since they don't have taste buds for sweet tastes - which unfortunately ethylene glycol is one of them. A lot of municipalities are now running glycerin-based coolant in their heavy-duty fleet.

For me, I prefer to do my coolant changes outside and rinse off or inside with containment - I don't know about other automakers, but Toyota does provide on their block drains a nipple to slide a piece of tubing to help route coolant into a container.

And in case you or an animal is poisoned with EG, the antidote until a doctor or vet can be seen is vodka or any strong liquor.

 

[eljefino]

It can soak through concrete, something to consider if you or your neighbors have a well. It does break down eventually in nature but try and mop up what you can and not slop everywhere.