Coolant shelf life

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Well, if left opened it would depend upon how dusty the environment is, etc. Just kidding. If tightly resealed, it should last several years.

Is this a curiosity question or directed at some current particular situation?
 
Is this a curiosity question or directed at some current particular situation? [/quote]


with the long interval between coolant changes with a Honda I will have leftover coolant between changes.
 
Originally Posted By: posty
Whats the shelf life of a opened jug of coolant?

Non-silicated coolant is supposedly about 8 years as long as the coolant isn't diluted with water. I don't think it matters if it's been opened or not; it's not going to oxidize at room temps. At least that's what Havoline Dex-Cool info used to be. I won't go into what you guys think of that particular product. Various silicated coolants have a shorter shelf life because the silicates will eventually gel out.

http://www.havoline.com/products/na/antifreeze_01_tech.html
http://www.prestone.com/carcare/faq.php
https://www.cbest.chevron.com/generated/MSDS/PDS7660388.PDF
 
A few years ago I did a coolant change with a jug of traditional green that'd been in the garage about 10 years. Looked as green as ever and I didn't notice dropout of any additives in the bottle, though I admit I wasn't particularly looking for that. Seemed to work just fine until I changed it again a few months ago.
 
so you guys are saying premixed long life coolants with water has a decreased shelf life? I think I have some open Peak green 50/50 coolant from 2003. I was thinking of dumping it in my dad's sentra.
 
The Peak should be fine. Peak seems to hold up longer than other coolants if kept in decent climate.

I had two jugs open that sat for about eight years. What I usually do is get a full strength gallon, and pour half into an empty gallon and fill the rest of the way up with distilled water; hence two 50/50 mixes for the price of one. As such, I always have an extra full jug put away in storage.

Well, I found these two gallons of 50/50 mix that I had forgotten about over the years. One was Peak, the other Prestone. The peak was still a deep hue of green, the Prestone had turned rather cloudy and milky. I threw the Prestone out and used the Peak. I know it's not a scientific process for determining the shelf life, but it shore were a pretty green!
 
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