Some boat owners think that it is sufficient to use automotive antifreeze in their marine engines – but there are two reasons to think again. Quality marine coolants are comprehensively designed to protect engines from the particular hazards of the marine environment; automotive antifreeze is not. Secondly, marine coolants are much less harmful to the environment than auto antifreeze as they use  propylene glycol and not ethylene glycol, which is extremely toxic to the environment.

The bottom line: Never use automotive antifreeze in a boat engine.

Why use a marine coolant for your marine engine

  • The open water can be unforgiving on marine equipment, especially boat engines. Fully formulated marine coolants contain the right amounts of propylene glycol, deionised water and coolant additives (also known as supplemental coolant additives, or SCAs), mixed together as an effective solution.They play a key role in maintaining the right balance in an engine’s cooling system year-round, by lubricating components and seals and preventing rust or corrosion. Using automotive antifreeze may actually damage components of the engine and cooling system.
  • Automotive antifreeze is very toxic and environmentally damaging to flora and fauna if it leaks into fresh water or sea water. When ingested by an animal or human it can damage the central nervous system, heart and kidneys – and can even prove fatal if left untreated. By contrast, many marine coolants contain plant-derived materials and are biodegradable and non-toxic.

Volvo Penta coolants
A note before we discuss the two quality coolants we distribute: the two should never be mixed.

 

Volvo Penta coolant for older engines (green colour)

Volvo Penta coolant, which we distribute in Africa and Namibia, provides vastly superior corrosion protection in comparison with non-branded products. It also has excellent antifreeze properties. The coolant is specially tested in Volvo engines and is recommended for fresh-water-cooled engines. It is ideal for modern engines (both diesel and petrol), as it contains additives that protect aluminium and aluminium alloys.

It is suitable for both summer and winter engine protection, as it prevents both overheating and freezing, while providing maximum component protection. It has been especially developed for use in older generation Volvo Penta engines, which many boat owners still use.

The benefits:

  • Optimal antifreeze protection and thermal transfer capacity
  • High boiling point to prevent overheating
  • Maximum protection against corrosion, cavitation, aging, swelling and cracking
  • Powerful additives to prevent internal engine component degradation, optimising engine life
  • Compatible with and protects all materials in the engine cooling system
  • Leaves no deposits in the cooling system
  • Two-year change interval

 

Volvo Penta coolant for newer engines (yellow colour)

This is a high-quality coolant that prevents both freezing and overheating while providing maximum component protection. It is intended for use in newer generation Volvo Penta engines.

The benefits:

  • Organic additive technology (OAT) type of coolant
  • Optimal anti-freeze protection and thermal transfer capacity
  • High boiling point to prevent overheating
  • Maximum protection against corrosion, cavitation, aging, swelling and cracking
  • Powerful additives to prevent internal engine component degradation, optimising engine life
  • Compatible with and protects all materials in the engine cooling system
  • Leaves no deposits in the cooling system
  • Four-year change interval

 

Best practice for using marine coolant

  • While marine coolant is far less toxic than auto antifreeze, it may still not be completely harmless and should never be drained directly into the water. It may still contain substances from inside your engine that could be harmful to the environment, including heavy metals. The best adage to follow is if it never came from the water, it should not be put into the water.
  • Use a bucket to capture the coolant when flushing your engine, to stop it from discharging into the water. Many marinas offer recycling where you can dispose of your coolant safely.
  • Store your coolant bottles near the centre of your boat, so that any accidental spills are more likely to stay on the boat.
  • Keep a log of when you last replaced your marine coolant and take note of the timeframe until the next replacement is needed. Keep ancillary logs of your last saltwater service (usually 3 to 5 years) and your last exhaust elbow inspection.
  • In diesel engines, after-coolers and oil coolers should be inspected every 3 to 5 years, while exhaust elbows and heat exchangers should be replaced every 3 to 7 years. Anode replacement is usually once a year.
  • Finally, always follow the recommendations of your engine’s manufacturer whenever you remove, inspect or change components of a marine engine’s cooling system.

Contact our specialist team at sales@southernpower.co.za to order Volvo Penta marine coolant, the right choice for your engine and the environment, year-round.

Read more on Southern Power’s efforts to further environmental sustainability here.