- Thread starter Old560
- Start date
Determined
Well-known Member
Never tried it myself.
I am guessing that because antifreeze contains surfactants to reduce surface tension of the water to improve cooling, somebody may have decided that because commercial crop control products often have or come with a surfactant then lets try adding some antifreeze to increase the performance of their own spray concoction.
If you want to try being a home chemist dish soap or alcohol could functionally do the same.
I am guessing that because antifreeze contains surfactants to reduce surface tension of the water to improve cooling, somebody may have decided that because commercial crop control products often have or come with a surfactant then lets try adding some antifreeze to increase the performance of their own spray concoction.
If you want to try being a home chemist dish soap or alcohol could functionally do the same.
Tom in TN
Well-known Member
- Location
- Southern Middle Tennessee
Old560,
I have no idea what the quantity would have to be to do harm, but I do know that antifreeze is poisonous to man and beast. Out of an abundance of caution, I would not want to have weed spray in an area that one of my dogs could lick it. That's probably not a real problem, but it's just my way of thinking.
Tom in TN
I have no idea what the quantity would have to be to do harm, but I do know that antifreeze is poisonous to man and beast. Out of an abundance of caution, I would not want to have weed spray in an area that one of my dogs could lick it. That's probably not a real problem, but it's just my way of thinking.
Tom in TN
Richard G.
Well-known Member
I just use some Dawn dish detergent.
fixerupper
Well-known Member
Why would antifreeze residue be any more dangerous than the residue from the pesticide it is mixed with? We have herbicides that sterilize the soil for a year or two already. I do not know what the life of antifreeze is after it is sprayed on plants and exposed to the elements. Does soil bacteria break up antifreeze like normal herbicides? I dont have an answer. I can see where enough antifreeze in the mix might make the plant leaves taste sweet enough for animals to eat them but Maybe the herbicide part of the mix would have a nasty enough tase to negate the tase of antifreeze. I usually winterize my field sprayer with ten gallons of regular automotive anti freeze. Expensive, yes but cheaper than a frozen sprayer. I run it through the 60 foot boom and onto the ground till it runs out. I have not seen the cats or any other animal try to lick it off the ground yet.
This post was edited by fixerupper on 07/11/2021 at 10:47 am.
This post was edited by fixerupper on 07/11/2021 at 10:47 am.
Let's contact the EPA and find out. Stuff like this is why we have to be certified. The more questions I read like this, the more I believe everybody should have to be, before they can even think about using a sprayer, under threat of some serious jail time.
Read the label on a jug of antifreeze and see what the disposal instructions are. Those aren't just suggestions.
Read the label on a jug of antifreeze and see what the disposal instructions are. Those aren't just suggestions.
Timmycornpicker
Member
- Location
- Almost Pennsylvania, New Jersey.
My research says polyethylene glycol has been used in premixes as an adjuvant for years.
Timmycornpicker
Member
- Location
- Almost Pennsylvania, New Jersey.
In New Jersey, all agricultural applications are required to be done by a licensed applicator, even non-restricted caution label stuff. I myself hire a certified custom applicator to do my spraying. The extra $ cost to me is worth the reduction in aggravation, especially since I don't need to have chemical storage facilities on the farm that would be subject to DEP inspections. Got enough bureaucracy to deal with.
Timmycornpicker
Member
- Location
- Almost Pennsylvania, New Jersey.
I somehow cut off the rest of my thought on the subject.
The thing is, how much is in it vs. active ingredient? Probably nothing near like mixing a quart of glyphosate with two gallons of antifreeze.
The thing is, how much is in it vs. active ingredient? Probably nothing near like mixing a quart of glyphosate with two gallons of antifreeze.
fixerupper
Well-known Member
I have used RV anti freeze for the past three years with fairly good results. The sprayer hasn't frozen if that is the only goal. Automotive anti freeze has more anti corrosion properties. We all know how corrosive farm chemicals are especially 28 and 32 percent nitrogen. Maybe there is something I can add to the RV anti freeze to help keep the corrosion down? It's the pump and valving I am concerned with. everything else is plastic.
Billy Shafer
Well-known Member
As someone with Agent Orange problems. I would be very careful mixing any spray.
As they told us. It will kill bugs,plants,animals and trees. But it won't hurt you.
They lied.
As they told us. It will kill bugs,plants,animals and trees. But it won't hurt you.
They lied.
You are right about that! I don't know about other states, but here in VA, us private applicators have to be recertified every two years. Somebody always asks a question of the instructor about whether or not something is legal. The answer is always the same, Read the label, the label is the law!
Janicholson
Well-known Member
This pretty much says it all. Packaging glue can be modified using it, but not in the product. I would not risk either the contamination of my field, or the hazzard associated with handling. Remember the Prestone also has a variety of corrosion inhibitors, stabilizers, colorants, and more in them for use as coolant. Not on my rye bread. Jim
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jimg.allentown
Well-known Member
Polyethylene glycol is the stuff they make you drink prior to a colonoscopy. Basically non-toxic, but it will sure clean out your insides.
Ethylene glycol, on the other hand is apparently a different chemical, and is highly toxic. It is also the active ingredient in automotive anti-freeze.
Ethylene glycol, on the other hand is apparently a different chemical, and is highly toxic. It is also the active ingredient in automotive anti-freeze.
Hobo,NC
Well-known Member
- Location
- Sanford, NC
It just may stick better and for sure take longer to evaporate.
fixerupper
Well-known Member
Doesn't ethyl glycol make crystals in the kidneys? I heard a vet talking on the radio about that. To treat the animal it needs to be taken to the vet immediately. The vet gives the animal grain alcohol like the stuff we drink only in this case it is through an IV. The animal is kept drunk out of it's mind for a certain period, maybe a day or two to dissolve the crystals. It is under 24 hour care. It doesn't sound like much fun for the animal after it wakes up.
MarkB_MI
Well-known Member
- Location
- Motown USA
Antifreeze is going to kill everything. The other day, without thinking, I dumped out a bucket that had a bit of 50/50 antifreeze-water mix in it on the grass. Left a big dead spot.
Well that is your Surfectant which makes the leaves of the plant absorb the chemicals better. I buy the 80/20 (80 killer 20 surf.).....its printed on the label and hands down, it makes a whopping big difference in the results and the quantity of spray needed per plant is greatly reduced....so you essentially get your money back. TSC and farm stores carry it. I have used dish detergent before (elcheapo) but results not as good.
Russ from MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- Bemidji MN
We use dish soap with glyphosate and 2,4-D, sounds safer to me! When I put the sprayer away in the fall I run some RV antifreeze through it, has worked well for 25 years.
BarnyardEngineering
Well-known Member
- Location
- Rochester, NY
This "animals will lick at antifreeze because it is sweet, and it will kill them" is a myth.
Animals won't touch antifreeze. Trying to get rid of a woodchuck that had burrowed under my shed, out of desperation, I left him a nice bowl of tasty fresh antifreeze to drink. It sat there until it evaporated away.
The woodchuck finally died of old age.
Animals won't touch antifreeze. Trying to get rid of a woodchuck that had burrowed under my shed, out of desperation, I left him a nice bowl of tasty fresh antifreeze to drink. It sat there until it evaporated away.
The woodchuck finally died of old age.
caterpillar guy
Well-known Member
You mean I've been doing this all wrong all these years. I just drain my booms into a pail then save in one of the labeled jugs till the next year. The rest of the lines/hoses I just flush with water spry on the field and then after that a couple times I Drain and let set till the next year. I also pull the plug on the bottom of the pump. No oil antifreeze nor snake oils. Been doing this for several years with no pump problems and no wasted spray. The drain spray is used the next year. If there is any after rinsing and spraying the rinse water.
Timmycornpicker
Member
- Location
- Almost Pennsylvania, New Jersey.
In New Jersey, failures are issued. Used to be open-book. Not anymore. A neighbor failed hers. Had to wait until the next test session 3 months later to try again.
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