Our team put seven leading RV antifreeze products to the test, with top honors to the excellent -100°F SplashCity RV Antifreeze.
If your RV spends winter hibernating in sub-zero temperatures, treating your mobile home’s plumbing system with the correct type of RV antifreeze is essential. A significant part of winterizing an RV is draining the entire plumbing system of water and refilling it with RV antifreeze to prevent freezing weather from turning the residual water in the pipes and tanks to ice, causing them to rupture.
Your RV’s precious plumbing components will suffer costly damage in freezing weather without a proper antifreeze regimen. Thankfully, there are several RV antifreeze products, brands suitable for mild +15°F winters down to -100°F arctic conditions.
Your options for a non-toxic RV water system freeze buster are broad. The main ingredient in RV antifreeze, propylene glycol (an FDA-approved food-grade chemical), is also used in household cosmetics and to winterize swimming pool pipes, boats, and vacation homes. We tracked down the best RV antifreeze options from diverse propylene glycol antifreeze suppliers.
1.SplashCity -100 -Best Overall RV Antifreeze |
2. Camco Easy Going -50 -Best Bulk RV Antifreeze
3. ChemWorld -40 -Best RV Antifreeze Concentrate
4. Champion Pool Antifreeze -Best Value RV Antifreeze
5. Super Tech -50 -Best Budget RV Antifreeze
6. Bluewater PG -Best Eco-Wise RV Antifreeze
7. TrueGard -100 -Best Entrepreneur’s RV Antifreeze
Demand for RVs has exploded since 2020. As a result, so has demand for RV antifreeze. The laws of supply and demand being what they are, RV antifreeze prices have skyrocketed, and it’s the price issue that gives SplashCity -100 our podium #1 – a premium RV antifreeze formulation from a trusted manufacturer at a fair price (all things considered).
And, SplashCity -100 prevents RV water system pipes from bursting in temperatures as low as -100°F. Furthermore, SplashCity is 100% biodegradable, non-toxic, and poses no serious health threats to humans, animals, birds, or fish.
Along with high demand for RVs and RV products comes the eventual lack of supply – the dreaded out-of-stock message. We cast our net far and wide to include quality RV antifreeze options from non-RV suppliers. Read on to learn more about propylene glycol RV antifreeze and how much your RV needs to keep its plumbing safe during winter.
1. Best Overall RV Antifreeze | SplashCity -100
If you store your RV in an area that experiences winter temperatures below -75°F, SplashCity -100 RV antifreeze will ensure the water system in your mobile home doesn’t freeze. Prevent piping ruptures, pump corrosion, and seal failure with SplashCity -100.
SplashCity antifreeze is purple and packaged in an easy-to-handle one-gallon bottle. Manufactured by Splash to the highest standards from FDA-approved food-grade propylene glycol and biodegradable additives, you can rest assured SplashCity -100 won’t harm the environment.
When ambient temperatures reach -20°F, Splash -100 will turn slushy or freeze but don’t be alarmed. SplashCity propylene glycol RV antifreeze continues to provide burst protection to -100°F even when it turns to ice.
Price: $21,99
Quantity: 1 Gallon
Pros:
- Industry-best burst protection
- Reputable manufacturer
- Fair price
Cons:
- May cause eye and skin irritation on contact
2. Best Bulk RV Antifreeze | Camco Easy Going -50
Class A, most Class C, large travel trailers, and fifth-wheels will need a few gallons of antifreeze to execute a safe winterization procedure. Camco Easy Going -50 is available in a six-pack – that’s 6 x 1-gallon jugs of propylene glycol antifreeze from America’s stalwart RV supplier, Camco.
- You don’t want to run out of antifreeze while winterizing your rig.
- Never mix your antifreeze with another brand (sound familiar?).
Camco Easy Going -50 will prevent your RV’s water pipes from bursting in temperatures as low as -50°F. The red-colored antifreeze will get slushy at temperatures between +20°F – +16°F without its -50°F burst protection being affected.
Easy Going -50 is tasteless, non-toxic, and prevents corrosion and algae formation. The solution also lubricates valves, pumps, and seals/washers for added water system protection. The one-gallon jug is ready to use; no premixing required.
Price: $119,00
Quantity: 6 x 1 Gallon
Pros:
- Great value for a trusted product
- Ensures a comprehensive RV winterization
- Fair price
Cons:
- May cause eye and skin irritation on contact
3. Best RV Antifreeze Concentrate | ChemWorld -40
A concentrated RV antifreeze offers a means to save a few dollars on your winterization job. ChemWorld -40 comes packaged in twin one-gallon jugs. Each is filled to 50% capacity with non-toxic propylene glycol RV antifreeze.
You’ll need to fill each bottle with distilled water and mix well to get the formulation working optimally to keep your RV’s plumbing intact in -40°F weather conditions.
You’ll get a gallon of choice-grade RV antifreeze at around $15, which isn’t bad in today’s RV pricing mania. ChemWorld -40 prevents corrosion of steel and brass fittings too.
Price: $28,99
Quantity: 2 x 1/2 Gallon
Pros:
- Good quality
- Easy preparation
- Fair price
Cons:
- Needs distilled water
- Less burst protection than competitor products
- May cause eye and skin irritation on contact
4. Best Value RV Antifreeze | Champion Pool Antifreeze
Here is where our testing got interesting – finding alternative sources of propylene glycol antifreeze amidst the dearth and overpricing in the RV industry. Enter the pool pump system antifreeze from Champion!
For a winterization task on a large RV, this bulk offer from Champion includes 4 x 1-gallon bottles of premium propylene glycol antifreeze. Yes, the same pink stuff the RV suppliers make! Champion antifreeze is non-toxic and costs less than most premium RV antifreeze brands (Wondering why? Well, swimming pools aren’t trending right now).
Champion -50 pool antifreeze will keep your RV’s pipes (PVC and brass) from bursting in temperatures down to -50°F. It will turn slushy at around +20°F as the RV brands do but will continue to protect your water system.
Price: $77,96
Quantity: 4 x 1 Gallon
Pros:
- Premium quality
- Ready to use
- Fair price
Cons:
- Slightly combustible
- May cause eye and skin irritation on contact
5. Best Budget RV Antifreeze | Super Tech -50
Finding a gallon of RV antifreeze under $10 is nigh impossible, but if you’re on a tight budget, you might want to consider Super Tech -50 RV antifreeze. It’s a propylene glycol-based formulation that contains ethyl alcohol, which could be why it’s so cheap – ethyl alcohol can dry out pipe seals and washers, causing leaks when the RV water system is operational.
Denatured alcohol in RV and marine antifreeze products is common. While it may present a minor threat to rubber seals in closed systems, the odds of it compromising pipe seals and washers during a cold winter are limited.
Super Tech -50 has a -50°F burst-proof rating and is odorless and non-staining.
Price: $3,58
Quantity: 1 Gallon
Pros:
- Low price
- Ready to use
- Walmart approved
Cons:
- Contains ethyl alcohol
- May cause eye and skin irritation on contact
6. Best Food Grade RV Antifreeze | Bluewater PG
For a 99,7% pure propylene glycol RV antifreeze, Bluewater Chemgroup has a product for you. With no additives, Bluewater PG is used to make lotions, soaps, cosmetics, and household craft items, so it’s as safe as propylene glycol gets. And it’s marketed as an RV antifreeze alternative too.
Bluewater PG comes in a one-gallon jug and can be diluted with distilled water to achieve optimum viscosity and efficacy. We recommend adding just enough distilled water to dilute the propylene glycol until it reaches a water-like consistency.
Ethylene/ethanol-free RV antifreeze, which uses propylene glycol only, will have a 20-40% propylene glycol content. The rest of the fluid mix will contain water and various non-hazardous substances that are often kept secret by the manufacturer.
You can mix additive-free Bluewater PG according to your specific winter temperatures:
- A 90 parts propyl glycol to 10 parts water (90/10) ratio will give you antifreeze with an approximate -100°F burst protection factor.
- A 50/50 mix will produce an approximate -50°F burst protection factor.
Bluewater contains zero alcohol and is virtually odorless and dye-free. It won’t taint your RV.
What’s more, Bluewater PG is rated a kosher product!
Price: $45,99
Quantity: 1 Gallon
Pros:
- Zero alcohol
- 99,7% pure
- Scalable for optimum burst protection
Cons:
- Pricey
- May require non-specified dilution
7. Best Entrepreneur’s RV Antifreeze | TrueGard -100
With demand for propylene glycol RV antifreeze being at an all-time high, you can buy a 55-gallon drum of TrueGard -100 RV antifreeze to last you a decade or more. Or, if you have an entrepreneurial streak, you could bottle TrueGard -100 in one-gallon jugs and sell it to your RV tribe!
- RV antifreeze doesn’t have a shelf life.
TrueGard -100 is a premium RV propylene glycol RV and marine antifreeze with a -100°F burst protection factor. The manufacturer, Keller-Heartt, uses proprietary blends and computerized manufacturing to ensure optimum safety and performance from TrueGard products.
TrueGard -100 is 100% FDA and USP compliant.
Price: $989,00
Quantity: 55-Gallon Drum
Pros:
- Premium blend
- Reputable manufacturer
- Revenue generating possibilities
- No seasonal supply issues
Cons:
- Large capital outlay
- Needs storage space
- May cause eye and skin irritation on contact
How Much RV Antifreeze Does My RV Need?
A mid-size, four-sleeper RV will need two to three gallons of RV antifreeze to winterize the fresh water and wastewater plumbing. A small camper or van will require one to two gallons of RV antifreeze, while a large Class A RV or fifth-wheel trailer will need three to six gallons of antifreeze.
The amount of RV antifreeze you consume during the winterization procedure will depend on the technique you use to fill the various components of the water system with antifreeze.
Ideally, you should fill all the pipes and p-traps with RV antifreeze and ensure the seals and washers have sufficient lubrication to prevent cracking in freezing weather.
Lubricate your RV’s water pump, faucet washers, toilet flush valve and waste tank valves with RV antifreeze.
- Tip – Don’t pour RV antifreeze into your RV fresh water tank and then pump it through your plumbing system. You’ll need to pour several gallons of antifreeze in the tank to allow the pump to work effectively – a waste of money.
How Do I Use RV Antifreeze?
Drain the entire RV water system, including the water heater, fresh water, greywater, and black water tanks. Fill the empty cold and hot water lines with RV antifreeze using a funnel or a pump. Open all the faucets for a few seconds until RV antifreeze flows out, and then close all the taps.
To use RV antifreeze cost-effectively, use a hand-operated or electric pump to introduce RV antifreeze into the RV at the city water inlet, bypassing the freshwater tank.
- Remember – your freshwater tank will be empty and doesn’t need antifreeze.
Treat the inlet and outlet pipes of the fresh water tank separately:
- Disconnect both pipes from the tank and pour RV antifreeze into them using a funnel.
- Seal each open pipe end with a suitable cap.
Introduce antifreeze into the water pump line at the water pump inlet (having disconnected the freshwater tank line). If your RV doesn’t have a winterization bypass valve and hose at the water pump, use a pump adapter with a hose feeding the antifreeze into the pump from the one-gallon antifreeze jug.
Turn on the pump and allow the antifreeze to fill the line to the water heater junction. The pump will shut down when the pipes are pressurized.
- Remember to run all interior faucets and outside faucets and ports for a few seconds until antifreeze runs out. Close the faucets tightly.
- Leave a few inches of antifreeze in the toilet bowl to cover and protect the flush valve.
- Important – Always wear rubber gloves.
- Always consult your owner’s manual for antifreeze recommendations and how to follow the correct winterization procedures.
Watch videos on RV winterization for hacks and standard techniques for antifreeze treatment. Here’s a good one.
Conclusion
The fact that propylene glycol is a generic and widely available non-toxic antifreeze with a burst-proof capability equal to that of toxic ethyl glycol RV antifreeze is a great relief with RV consumables prices running amok.
Our quest to find the best RV antifreeze options was a virtual investigative road trip! Our seven propylene glycol RV antifreeze products are the cream of the crop in their respective applications. To strike a resonant chord between price and optimum protection, get SplashCity -100.
Each RV antifreeze product reviewed in this article has a distinct advantage. Click on our links above to buy your ultimate winterizing RV antifreeze!
Good luck, and happy camping!
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