LIQUID TIRE BALLAST - WHAT FLUID TO CHOOSE

[fried1765]

Ford850:
Oops !!
I said propylene glycol in my earlier post, when I meant ethylene glycol.
Ethylene glycol is the automotive antifreeze, and should NOT be used in anything but an engine cooling system.
RV antifreeze is propylene glycol.
Sorry to add confusion to this discussion.
Just did a bit of enquiring about a methanol/water mix.
From a graph, it shows that I would need 24 gallons of methanol to bring the total gallons required down to my desired 0F freezing point.
At $5+ per gal. for methanol (and difficult to find) I don't think I'll be trying that.
Methanol is also highly flammable.

 

[AxleHub]

Ford850:
Oops !!
I said propylene glycol in my earlier post, when I meant ethylene glycol.
Ethylene glycol is the automotive antifreeze, and should NOT be used in anything but an engine cooling system.
RV antifreeze is propylene glycol.
Sorry to add confusion to this discussion.
Just did a bit of enquiring about a methanol/water mix.
From a graph, it shows that I would need 24 gallons of methanol to bring the total gallons required down to my desired 0F freezing point.
At $5+ per gal. for methanol (and difficult to find) I don't think I'll be trying that.
Methanol is also highly flammable.

Isn't methanol a no-good item for hands and ground ??

 

[joea99]

There is something called propylene glycol. Similar anti freeze properties but is "non toxic" at least in small quantities. It is GRAS by FDA for use in foods stuff.

I used it years ago with Borax to make an anti insect soak for wood.

No idea of current prices.

 

[fried1765]

Here are my home freezer sample results:

At 0F, undiluted RV antifreeze makes slush, 3 parts RV to 1 part water = slushy flakes, 2 RV to one part water = icy flakes, 1 to one ratio = very icy flakes -semi solid.
Undiluted -20F windshield washer fluid is 100% liquid at 0F.
I do not know what beet juice does, as I have none to experiment with.
RV antifreeze is 3 times more expensive than washer fluid. Beet juice is 5 times more expensive than washer fluid.
Yes; windshield washer fluid has a methanol component, that may be somewhat detrimental to the environment, but that only becomes an issue if a filled tire should go flat.
I have had at least one tractor for 45 years, (currently have 3) and have never had a rear tire go flat.
I pay close attention to equipment condition.

For the 80 gal. I need: -20F Washer fluid ..... $90
Beet juice ..... $450+
RV antifreeze ..... $270
calcium chloride ..... NEVER !!!

I will pick up 80 gal. of -20F windshield washer fluid next week.

If we are concerned about the environmental impact of a POSSIBLE leaky tire filled with washer fluid, perhaps we should instead direct our attention to the gasoline and/or diesel fumes that emit from that tractor every single minute that it operates.
The BEST way to avoid any environmental impact from a tractor just may be to leave it in the barn ..... (and with NO FLUID in the tires)!

 

[fried1765]

Here are my home freezer sample results:

At 0F, undiluted RV antifreeze makes slush, 3 parts RV to 1 part water = slushy flakes, 2 RV to one part water = icy flakes, 1 to one ratio = very icy flakes -semi solid.
Undiluted -20F windshield washer fluid is 100% liquid at 0F.
I do not know what beet juice does, as I have none to experiment with.
RV antifreeze is 3 times more expensive than washer fluid. Beet juice is 5 times more expensive than washer fluid.
Yes; windshield washer fluid has a methanol component, that may be somewhat detrimental to the environment, but that only becomes an issue if a filled tire should go flat.
I have had at least one tractor for 45 years, (currently have 3) and have never had a rear tire go flat.
I pay close attention to equipment condition.

For the 80 gal. I need: -20F Washer fluid ..... $90
Beet juice ..... $450+
RV antifreeze ..... $270
calcium chloride ..... NEVER !!!

I will pick up 80 gal. of -20F windshield washer fluid next week.

If we are concerned about the environmental impact of a POSSIBLE leaky tire filled with washer fluid, perhaps we should instead direct our attention to the gasoline and/or diesel fumes that emit from that tractor every single minute that it operates.
The BEST way to avoid any environmental impact from a tractor just may be to leave it in the barn ..... (and with NO FLUID in the tires)!

 

[Ford850]

Great test! I appreciate you doing this and posting results.
As for WWF and the environment... I think anyone with filled tires has a responsibility to monitor them the best they can. I feel comfortable doing that. Afterall, WWF is made to be sprayed directly into the environment and that is ok. But if you intend to retain it in a tube, it's thought of as dangerous because some day it could leak out.

 

[Garycw]

Great test! I appreciate you doing this and posting results. As for WWF and the environment... I think anyone with filled tires has a responsibility to monitor them the best they can. I feel comfortable doing that. Afterall, WWF made to be sprayed directly into the environment and that is ok. But if you intend to retain it in a tube, it's thought of as dangerous because some day it could leak out.

My thoughts exactly. If WWF is such a concern in tires, what about the potentially millions of gallons sprayed on the roadways every year. This all goes directly into the streams and water supply ???

 

[joea99]

My thoughts exactly. If WWF is such a concern in tires, what about the potentially millions of gallons sprayed on the roadways every year. This all goes directly into the streams and water supply ???

Darn. Thought I was gonna be first to note that. Rats.

 

[oldpilgrim]

CaCl is dumped all over our roads by the millions of tons by our highway departments every year but I hear of the environmental dangers from tire leaks constantly.

With my past history of tubes and cacl usage with no problems, I'll stick with it.

 

[AxleHub]

2 points:

1. Environmental issues is always a measurement of degree. I might use a half gallon of www flyid in my truck each year. But a leaking or loss of fluid in just one tractor tire could be an 80 year equivalent (40 gallons). I can control that lianility by choosing my fluid in the tractor. But diesel exhaust is something I can NOT control in my use as long as I use ultra low sulphur fuel and keep it tuned. Point is . . What we can control us our responsibility imo . . what we can't control is a different situation. And by the way . . Methanol is not only hard on the environment . . it can make you really sick too (like hospital sick). A friend working on a hydronic system had a minor spill at work and off to rhe hospital he went.

2. Appreciate fried's testing efforts. However on the cost comparisons I'd say there is some debatw to be had. Rimguard was 450 for 80 gallons ??? In our area I could getit for 2.50 a gallon to 3.69 is the mostvexpensuve chouce. So 80 gallons at 2.50 is 200.00 plus tax plus labor. My point is don't compare one product with labor versus another product without labor or one product on sale vs. Another product currently not on sale unless you've checked 4 or 5 rimguard locations for the best prices also and also include the fact if 30% weight improvenent as well. Just my opinion.