Bacteria and its Effects on Coolant Shelf Life Page 9
KEEPING COOLANT ‘HEALTHY’
Complete fill style radiator coolants are a haven for bacteria of all kinds. Some
airborne yeast bacteria are attracted to coolants, but this can be dependent
on the inhibitor chemicals used. A different inhibitor base can attract different
bacteria.
If the products on your shelf have any of the
following signs they most likely have a form
of bacterial growth taking place and should
be returned to the manufacturer or disposed
of.
1) The container is showing signs of
swelling, this is a sign that gasses are
being produced as a by-product of the
bacteria's activities.
2) Any forms of growth in the coolant,
usually they will take the form of a fluffy
looking floating growth resembling
cotton wool in structure. The second
form appears in the form of a slimy
creamy coloured skin on top of the
product.
3) A putrid odour (this is a hard one to
describe) similar to an ammonia/fishy
smell. Put it this way, if it's there you
will know about it!
4) Any unexplainable colour change,
especially if the products have not been
exposed to strong sunlight.
The coolants that have a bacterial problem
should not be used; to survive, most of the
bacteria have to feed on one or more of the
components within the coolant. A product
that has been subjected to a reasonable
period of bacterial attack can have its
structure totally altered as a result and may
not perform as a corrosion inhibitor.
How can bacteria get into a sealed bottle?
The major reason is poor, or no, control at
the point of manufacture. Secondly some
packagers of coolant fail to see the need for
any form of effective biocides to ensure the
product is bacteria free at the point of
packaging. Tectaloy coolants and inhibitors
all contain one of the most effective sterilizing
agents available, it has a kill rate exceeding
99.5%
The last way for a bacteria to get into a
coolant is through prolonged air contact.
For example take a 205L drum, once it's
opened it usually never gets re-sealed and
is left sitting with the bung undone until it's
empty. These drums stand a high chance
of picking up one of the airborne yeast
from here http://www.tectaloy.com/images/documents/Tecinfo Book4.pdf
I questioned on a recent thread how 'air' could pose a problem to OAT inhibitor coolants in the formation of 'sludge'.
These last three sentences may be one way of it occurring.
While this article is aimed more at the retailer and unused coolant, it would appear it could happen in use too.
It appears to be not dissimilar to diesel 'bug' which is a collection of bacteria, yeasts and moulds.
I'm guessing a vehicle not driven very often and with long periods of the coolant exposed to air may be at risk, depending on the area and inhibitor package.
I'm also guessing that vehicles that are driven daily and whose running temps get near 100*C would kill any bacteria or yeast present and so prevent this form of sludge formation if the coolant is ok and not contaminated before use.
Can anyone document a correlation between intermittent use and coolant 'sludge' ?
KEEPING COOLANT ‘HEALTHY’
Complete fill style radiator coolants are a haven for bacteria of all kinds. Some
airborne yeast bacteria are attracted to coolants, but this can be dependent
on the inhibitor chemicals used. A different inhibitor base can attract different
bacteria.
If the products on your shelf have any of the
following signs they most likely have a form
of bacterial growth taking place and should
be returned to the manufacturer or disposed
of.
1) The container is showing signs of
swelling, this is a sign that gasses are
being produced as a by-product of the
bacteria's activities.
2) Any forms of growth in the coolant,
usually they will take the form of a fluffy
looking floating growth resembling
cotton wool in structure. The second
form appears in the form of a slimy
creamy coloured skin on top of the
product.
3) A putrid odour (this is a hard one to
describe) similar to an ammonia/fishy
smell. Put it this way, if it's there you
will know about it!
4) Any unexplainable colour change,
especially if the products have not been
exposed to strong sunlight.
The coolants that have a bacterial problem
should not be used; to survive, most of the
bacteria have to feed on one or more of the
components within the coolant. A product
that has been subjected to a reasonable
period of bacterial attack can have its
structure totally altered as a result and may
not perform as a corrosion inhibitor.
How can bacteria get into a sealed bottle?
The major reason is poor, or no, control at
the point of manufacture. Secondly some
packagers of coolant fail to see the need for
any form of effective biocides to ensure the
product is bacteria free at the point of
packaging. Tectaloy coolants and inhibitors
all contain one of the most effective sterilizing
agents available, it has a kill rate exceeding
99.5%
The last way for a bacteria to get into a
coolant is through prolonged air contact.
For example take a 205L drum, once it's
opened it usually never gets re-sealed and
is left sitting with the bung undone until it's
empty. These drums stand a high chance
of picking up one of the airborne yeast
from here http://www.tectaloy.com/images/documents/Tecinfo Book4.pdf
I questioned on a recent thread how 'air' could pose a problem to OAT inhibitor coolants in the formation of 'sludge'.
These last three sentences may be one way of it occurring.
While this article is aimed more at the retailer and unused coolant, it would appear it could happen in use too.
It appears to be not dissimilar to diesel 'bug' which is a collection of bacteria, yeasts and moulds.
I'm guessing a vehicle not driven very often and with long periods of the coolant exposed to air may be at risk, depending on the area and inhibitor package.
I'm also guessing that vehicles that are driven daily and whose running temps get near 100*C would kill any bacteria or yeast present and so prevent this form of sludge formation if the coolant is ok and not contaminated before use.
Can anyone document a correlation between intermittent use and coolant 'sludge' ?
