How do you dispose of old coolant from loop?

TonyTurbo78 · 25 Aug 2017 at 16:02

Hi guys.

Just took apart my old loop, drained out coolant and put in new Vega64 with EK FC and backplate. I redid all the PETG tubing and refilled with new coolant but I have a question regarding the old coolant. Where do you dispose of it? It's obviously a no no pouring away down the drain, so where can I get rid of it?

Thanks.

LePhuronn · 25 Aug 2017 at 16:08

Unless you're using some kind of exotic cooling, isn't everything organic, non-toxic and biodegradable? I've not heard anything about not pouring coolant down the drain.

Edit: depends on the coolant it seems. Mayhems Pastel, for instance, contains Zinc Oxide and that stuff doesn't go down the drain.

Glanza · 25 Aug 2017 at 16:50

What fluid were you using?

new boy · 25 Aug 2017 at 17:09

I'd just stick it down the toilet :/

TonyTurbo78 · 25 Aug 2017 at 21:24

using Mayhems Pastle Ice White

Deleted member 66701 · 25 Aug 2017 at 22:39

down the tip with used engine oil and antifreeze.

andy_mk3 · 25 Aug 2017 at 22:42

Drink it.

Dont.

But unless there's anything particularly harmful in it, I can't see an issue.

LePhuronn · 26 Aug 2017 at 12:16

Mayhems Pastel uses Zinc Oxide, that doesn't go down the drains. Take it to a garage or the tip with other automotive fluids. It is, after all, radiator fluid.

red eye · 4 Sep 2017 at 17:22

Bonfire or just leave it in the sun till it drys out and put the solids in the bin

ubersonic · 7 Sep 2017 at 12:12

Pour it down the sink, it's not engine oil lol.

LePhuronn · 7 Sep 2017 at 13:32

ubersonic said:
Pour it down the sink, it's not engine oil lol.

And yet Mayhems Pastel contains Zinc Oxide which is toxic...

ubersonic · 7 Sep 2017 at 14:24

LePhuronn said:
And yet Mayhems Pastel contains Zinc Oxide which is toxic...

No it isn't hence why it's used in food lol.

The whole point of (most) of the recent PC cooling fluids is that they are a non-toxic/harmful alternative to traditional glycol based PC coolants.

LePhuronn · 7 Sep 2017 at 15:14

OK, rephrase in the form of a question: doesn't Zinc Oxide become toxic in the water treatment plant when the waste water is processed? All the extra chemical reactions turns out some nasty stuff.

Plus Mayhems are still putting the toxicity warning on their bottles...

Ultimately though you're agreeing with the point/question I asked further up the thread: aren't fluids biodegradable now? Answer: check your specific coolant because you'll still get some weird ingredients.

ttaskmaster · 7 Sep 2017 at 15:25

LePhuronn said:
OK, rephrase in the form of a question: doesn't Zinc Oxide become toxic in the water treatment plant when the waste water is processed?

If you like, I'll pop next door and ask if Zinc Oxide at less than 0.1% concentration causes them any problems...?
I assume you're not dumping hundreds of gallons down the sewer?

LePhuronn · 8 Sep 2017 at 16:10

ttaskmaster said:
If you like, I'll pop next door and ask if Zinc Oxide at less than 0.1% concentration causes them any problems...??

If you're gonna be an ass about it then I'd appreciate any efforts you'd make...

NoNameNoNumber · 8 Sep 2017 at 16:26

Yet another reason to use deionised water from halfords.

ttaskmaster · 8 Sep 2017 at 17:22

LePhuronn said:
If you're gonna be an ass about it then I'd appreciate any efforts you'd make...

If I am gonna...??

Not sure if you're being sarcastic or not... but I do actually work for a water utilities company and a large sewage treatment works is indeed right next door....

ttaskmaster · 8 Sep 2017 at 17:36

Just went and ssked them anyways, cuz I wanna know...

It's apparently a principle component of calamine lotion, which obviously does get washed down the drains... but the less of this stuff they get in the system, the better.

I can tell you it's no major risk to the treatment works or any assets themselves unless it's over 2.5%, for which you'll need either a Trade Effluent discharge consent or a lot of money to pay the fine... but since a number of sewers outfall to waterways and Zinc Oxide carries a serious pollution risk to aquatic life, we would STRONGLY advise against tipping even a 0.1% solution down the drain.

In short, not down the sewers or drains, please!
You're probably best off looking at your local council's policy/solution on disposing of paints, solvents and the like. Chuck it back into the original container and put the whole lot into whatever bin the council designate for it.

ubersonic · 10 Sep 2017 at 16:59

ttaskmaster said:
In short, not down the sewers or drains, please!
You're probably best off looking at your local council's policy/solution on disposing of paints, solvents and the like.

This nonsense is getting ridiculous, it's a FOOD ADDITIVE. The entire reason companies like Mayhems, EK, etc make PC specific coolants is to provide a safe non toxic/dangerous alternative to the glycol based regular coolants PC water coolers used previously.

new boy · 11 Sep 2017 at 02:12

So, did you put it down the toilet yet OP?

How do you dispose of old coolant from loop?

Deleted member 66701

Deleted member 66701