Junk Yard "Recycled" Coolant

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I went to Pull-A Part last week. I noticed they had a rack of "Recycled" anti freeze for sale. They were in milk jug containers with a Pull-A-Part label on them. I was just curious, what do they do to "Recycle" this stuff? From the various shades of colors, I reckon they just drain it out of the junk cars and sell it. Anybody know?
 
That sounds like U.S.E.D. Coolant.
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They may also sell U.S.E.D. Oil and other fluids.
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I think you cracked their scheme.
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I don't know who in their right mind would use the stuff, unless they're trying to flush the peanut butter out from a head gasket job in the middle of winter.
 
Originally Posted By: EricF
and it's cheaper for them to resell it vs. having to pay to have it picked up for proper recycling


Probably this, but you could probably also use it for things like winterizing a home (pour in the toilet, floor drains... etc).
 
A lot of shade tree mechanics would use this . A lot out there just want something that doesn't freeze , they are not concerned about any long term issues used AF might cause .
 
Why would anyone bother?
Why would anyone use a bottle of mix of unknown properties and age with unknown contaminants?
A typical cooling system won't need more than a gallon of full strengh anti-tfreeze when diluted 1:1.
It just doesn't cost that much to buy new.
 
Broke people will do anything to save a buck. If you haven't done it, you haven't been that broke. A leaky system will work better with used AF than none.
 
When I worked in the motor pool on a marine base we used recycled coolant, but it came in a 55gal drum.
 
Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
Broke people will do anything to save a buck. If you haven't done it, you haven't been that broke. A leaky system will work better with used AF than none.


Maybe a leaky system in the winter where you don't want it to freeze. I also wouldn't use it to winterize a home, they have different stuff for that. I believe auto antifreeze is toxic and used antifreeze is probably more toxic than new.
 
Originally Posted By: AVB
When I worked in the motor pool on a marine base we used recycled coolant, but it came in a 55gal drum.


Yeah but someone went through the chemistry and got it non-corrosive before they sent it off.

18 wheelers add supplemental coolant adds for example to counteract normal depletion.

The AF part doesn't wear out, just the water pump lube and anti-oxidants.

I could see someone maybe, maybe, getting a junkyard radiator and having them comp a couple gallons of free AF that isn't cloudy when held up to the light. Otherwise, yuck!
 
There must be a market if they have it on the shelf. Maybe those leaky $500 beaters for sale on CL?
 
Hello, Years ago I made friends with an auto dismantler. He drained cars of their fluids. He had a drum of used green coolant. It was all green back then. I was given all I could carry. It was in much better condition than that in many cars I worked on.

Today, with all the "mixing caveats", I wouldn't touch it except to Winterize a toilet.

How much this guy charges for the used coolant would be a barometer of his character in my book. Kira
 
I think the key factor is the word "recycled"...that implies it's been processed in some fashion to remove contaminants and replenish additives.

"Used" is...well...used. No processing of any kind.
 
Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
Broke people will do anything to save a buck. If you haven't done it, you haven't been that broke. A leaky system will work better with used AF than none.


You're right, I've never been that broke.
When we were young and poor, we had vehicles we'd bought either new or young and then cared for, so we never had any expensive to fix coolant leaks.
Things were much cheaper back in the early 'eighties, including coolant (all old-school green), coolant hoses and water pumps.
 
Originally Posted By: fdcg27
Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
Broke people will do anything to save a buck. If you haven't done it, you haven't been that broke. A leaky system will work better with used AF than none.


You're right, I've never been that broke.
When we were young and poor, we had vehicles we'd bought either new or young and then cared for, so we never had any expensive to fix coolant leaks.
Things were much cheaper back in the early 'eighties, including coolant (all old-school green), coolant hoses and water pumps.

That, and back in the early 80s, few engines located the water pump in a stupid location. VW was the only major manufacturer I could think of that had timing belt driven water pumps in the early 80s. At least, major manufacturers with a presence in the USA.
 
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