What Type of Coolant Should I Use an a Generac Liquid-Cooled Standby Generator?

Use only Peak Fleet-Charge® 50/50 ethylene glycol type coolant (available from any authorized dealer). Ethylene Glycol has desirable thermal properties, including a high boiling point, low freezing point, stability over a wide range of temperatures, and high specific heat and thermal conductivity.

  • Oct 31, 2023
  • Knowledge

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What Type of Coolant Should I Use an a Generac Liquid-Cooled Standby Generator?
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What-Type-of-Coolant-Should-I-Use-an-a-Generac-Liquid-Cooled-Standby-Generator

Public Answer

Generator Coolant Maintenance

Use only Peak Fleet-Charge® 50/50 ethylene glycol type coolant (available from any authorized dealer). Ethylene Glycol has desirable thermal properties, including a high boiling point, low freezing point, stability over a wide range of temperatures, and high specific heat and thermal conductivity. Ethylene glycol is listed as a toxic chemical requiring care in handling and disposal.
 
Note: Always consult your generator's user manual to determine the proper coolant and maintenance required by your generator model: How Do I Find a Copy of My Home Standby Generator Owner's Manual and Spec Sheets?

 

Diluting With Water

Water can be used to dilute your coolant depending on your climate. Use distilled water for the best results. Hard water causes scale deposits, which reduces cooling efficiency and raises internal temperatures, possibly leading to engine damage. Use an anti-corrosive to prevent rot in summer and an anti-freeze to prevent freezing in winter. Dilute the anti-freeze based on a theoretical temperature that is 9-18 ⁰F (5-10 ⁰C) below the lowest temperature expected in the area. A ratio of 40-60% is the most common range.
 
Freezing Point ⁰F (⁰C)-13 (-25)-31 (-35)-58 (-50)
Coolant (% Volume)405060
Water (% Volume)605040

Caution: Do not use propylene glycol-type coolant. Using the wrong coolant, mixing different types of coolant, or even mixing different brands of the correct type of coolant, can produce unsatisfactory results, possibly leading to engine damage. 


Does the color of the antifreeze matter? 

  • Use whatever is listed in the manual for your generator
  • The required coolant is usually Peak Fleet Charge 50/50
  • All new generators ship with coolant and oil
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