Keep those fluids off me.....and my driveway.

Sadly, summer is starting to wind down here in Michigan, and with that my vehicle prep for winter driving ramps up. The wifes 09 Ford escape hasn't ever had its coolant changed, and with 126k miles on it, its time. Where can I get rid of the old stuff? I don't want it on the ground obviously. Do auto parts stores take used coolant like they do oil?

I plan to coat the underside of both my vehicles with fluid film this fall. I've got the gallon spray kit off amazon, and a compressor, so I should be able to go to town. I've already done all the nooks and tight areas with the spray cans and a small hose, so this will only be under-body and inside the frame. I assume this will be a messy job with the car only on jack stands, its only going to give me a couple foot at most of clearance. I will have it all over myself, and my driveway. suggestions from those who have done it and stayed remotely clean? I accept any tips tricks, or failures.

And a final...wtf do I do with this. I have 3/4 a gallon of muratic acid in my garage. No idea why, or where it came from. Where does one get rid of this evil stuff?

TGMF wrote: I have 3/4 a gallon of muratic acid in my garage. No idea why, or where it came from. Where does one get rid of this evil stuff?

Give it to someone who has a pool?

Its all yours. I dont own, or want a pool and all of it's involved work. I don't even know people with pools...come to think of it, .....I've been meaning to change that, as I need a nice location to drink beer. I should have some sort of friend interview process setup.

As for the driveway mess from spraying, get one of those heavy gauge plastic drop cloth sheets laid out and simply drive the car onto it. When you get the car jacked, the jack stands will then keep it in place.

For the coolant check with your municipality. Ours says dump it in the toilets and their system cleans it out. If you are on septic obviously this does not apply to you.

Coolant is one of those odd fluids that is either a toxic pollutant or not, depending on your municipality. Weird.

Streetwiseguy wrote: Coolant is one of those odd fluids that is either a toxic pollutant or not, depending on your municipality. Weird.

Coolant is a weird one. It's biodegradable, but toxic to animals until it does. Most sewage treatment plants will break it down pretty well though, so a lot of towns recommend sending it down the toilet if it's not more than a few gallons.

I live out in the country, so I've got a septic...and well water, as do all my neighbors.(albeit very spread out neighbors.) Intentionally dumping it on the ground, aside from being an environmentally poor choice, would be stupid for my own well being.

I've never heard of dumping coolant in the municipality water system, that seems very odd to me.** But there you go, explained it while I was typing this.

In reply to WildScotsRacing:

good thinking. That leaves me only a cheap painters suit away from no mess for me or the driveway. I can already taste the fun.

The fire department can take it most times and call your township they have drop off locations.

My area has a hazardous waste drop off days. You should probably see with them or the local dump to see if something exists like that in your area.

Some of the auto parts stores take it near me. I live in a rural area and don't have trash pick up. My county's dump takes oil for recycling as well as coolant.

Is windshield washer fluid not just diluted antifreeze? How many million gallons of that do we squirt into the environment every year without a single thought?

Most parts stores that take used oil take coolant as well. They even dump it into the same tank from what I've seen.

I wouldn't flush it.

NOHOME wrote: Is windshield washer fluid not just diluted antifreeze? How many million gallons of that do we squirt into the environment every year without a single thought?

Nope. Washer fluid usually uses methanol as the anti-freeze and sometimes a little bit of propylene glycol. Ethylene glycol would turn your windshield into a smeary, slimy mess.

KyAllroad wrote: Most parts stores that take used oil take coolant as well. They even dump it into the same tank from what I've seen. I wouldn't flush it.

It's hit or miss on what stores take it. Most I've been to don't, they only take oil (and some of the employees have a hard time believing trans fluid is oil).

In reply to TGMF:

The county recycling center takes used coolant here in South Carolina. You might want to check with your local recycling center.

Check with your local Advance. I knkw they take oil and some are now taking coolant.

Isn't muriatic acid what you use to clean oil off concrete prior to painting or epoxy coating?

TGMF wrote: I've never heard of dumping coolant in the municipality water system, that seems very odd to me.** But there you go, explained it while I was typing this.

Here, I was told that it's fine to dump down the sewers (not storm drains) but if you dump more than 12 gallons at a time, call the water department so they can adjust for it.

We store and recycle, which is a guy comes around every now and then and takes it.

oldopelguy wrote: Isn't muriatic acid what you use to clean oil off concrete prior to painting or epoxy coating?

Muriatic acid is hydrochloric acid, HCl.

TGMF wrote: good thinking. That leaves me only a cheap painters suit away from no mess for me or the driveway. I can already taste the fun.

Remove the driver's side undertray/spash shield (a bunch of 10mm-headed bolts and one pushclip) and if your arms aren't completely stubby, you should be able to reach down to the drain plug from under the hood.

Deep sided pans (buckets) are best to reduce splash. I use the heck out of those big metal trays that the auto parts stores sell, too. I like a clean working environment...

^^^Painters suit is for the spraying of fluid film while on my back under my cars on jack stands. Its my latest weapon in the never ending war on rust here in Michigan.

Draining the coolant is easy, and mostly clean as you noted.