Oil, gasoline, diesel, bilge water or coolant. Even when properly maintained, our boat engines, both inboard and outboard, generate their share of pollution and pollutants. If some fluids ( oil or fuel ) cannot be easily replaced, the antifreeze fluid we have in the exchangers at winter time is usually glycol. When the engine is restarted, this glycol is drained from the circuit and discharged into the sea water of our ports.
The toxicity of glycol is not perfectly known, but it is undeniable that, not being present in its natural state in sea water, this contribution is not neutral, either on the aquatic population or on the other users of the water bodies.
If, ideally, no discharge is the best solution to avoid pollution, the low cost of glycol and its rapid loss of effectiveness when diluted mean that few boaters try to recover this antifreeze when they put the engine back in the water.
We have contacted Philippe Chevalier mechanic in the shipyard Chevalier Plaisance in La Ville-es-Nonnais, near Saint-Malo. He has been using Probeol LR MPG for several years and talks about this more environmentally friendly additive.
" It was a heating engineer who introduced me to Probeol. It is used as a heat transfer fluid to keep the walls of agricultural sprayers from freezing. In an environment, therefore, where any spillage of chemical products that are polluting or dangerous for the environment must be avoided "he explains.
Indeed, on paper, Probeol seems to have remarkable environmental qualities. " It is a product manufactured by Igol. In principle, it can be used as a coolant within the engine. We did not use it as such directly, but only in the seawater/coolant exchange circuits during wintering. The principle is the same as with glycol, the circuit is filled with Probeol and, when it is filled, the circuit is closed for the winter ".
Lubricant and anti-salt
The Probeol seems to have nothing but good qualities. In addition to its anti-freeze capacity ( it remains liquid at low temperatures ), it is biodegradable to more than 80 % without dilution. As a lubricant, it also prevents oxidation of the exchange circuits. Finally, created on the basis of synthetic esters, it contributes to the preservation of the environment by reducing the use of fossil fuels.
Philippe specifies " Probeol costs about 5 times more than glycol. This is an incentive for boaters to recover it and reuse it for the next season. It is perfectly stable from one season to the next, the only constraint being to store it in a dark place "says the marine mechanic.
Resistance to very low temperatures
" In terms of frost protection, probeol is given up to -35°C without dilution. It can be used at -20°C diluted to 40% (40% demineralized water - 60% probeol). This is more than satisfactory for our regions and, above all, it reduces the environmental impact. In other words, even if they must necessarily be avoided, the impact of antifreeze liquid leaks in the environment can be reduced without losing efficiency "explains the expert.
The only antifreeze solution used by the site
" We have decided not to give our customers the choice anymore " exposes Philippe " during all the winterizations that are entrusted to us, we replace the antifreeze by probeol, in the sea water part of the circuit. And we tell the customer how to get the product back when they put it back in the water, so that they don't have to buy it again the following winter he continues.
Can also be used on outboard motors
Although the cooling system for outboard motors is not the same, it is important to remember to keep it frost-free in winter. " Most of the time, the antifreeze for outboard engines is the same as for cars, even more polluting than the one for inboard engines. Probeol is even simpler to handle, so just flush the system with Probeol and rinse ears. Or fill a rinse tank with it and recycle the product. Here again, when you put it back in the water, you have to remember to take the first few liters of liquid, so as not to throw anything back into the sea" .
Winterization of heating circuits
The low-pollution Probeol can be used for purposes other than keeping the engine cool. This is what Philippe " finishes explaining to us It can be used in the hot water tanks of boats, it is much less harmful to the skin than glycol, even if a little remains in the circuit. Or in heating systems during the winter ".
Why not use it as a heat transfer fluid on the engine side?
Philippe explains " Engine manufacturers all have recommendations for coolants, and we don't yet have any experience of using Probeol in exchangers in the engine section. We plan to test it on our engines before offering it to our customers, but in principle, it could work and offer a more ecological solution for the entire engine cooling chain. "
A truly ecological solution?
It is indisputable that the best solution to avoid pollution is to avoid dumping polluting products at sea. The same is true for the Probeol. Nevertheless, we went to question the NGO Greenpeace about the veracity of the lesser danger of Probeol. Unfortunately, whether it is on the side of this organization or that of other structures consulted, no one is able to confirm or deny the true harmlessness of Probeol on the marine environment.
Let's hope that the manufacturer's announcements and the boaters' prudence will be combined to preserve the environment that is so important to us!
