Car kit snafu and antifreeze storage

Car kits.

I put fluids and fix-it stuff in a red Action Packers (one in each of our cars). I found a couple of black ones and decided to put food supplies and a FAK in the red ones and the tools and fluids in the black ones.

When I opened one from the first car I had a revelation: one should not store a jug of partially used antifreeze on its side.

Not all of it leaked out, but a fair amount of things got antifreeze on them...mostly things I can just wash off and be good to go again.

To alleviate this problem in the future, I thought about storing antifreeze and possibly washer fluid in Nalgene type bottles. So, a few questions:

Will the antifreeze break down the Lexan or the plastic in the lid and leak anyway?

Are the bottles I get at the local sporting goods store going to work for such an application, or should I look into the lab quality bottles?

Side note: the Action Packers are not tall enough for the gallon jugs to stand upright...or I guess I wouldn't be making this post.

Why not but a sealed jug? Prestone I think makes it premixed so you don't have to open the jug and mix then close it back.

If you're going to place toxic materials in what is normally for human consumption it would be a good thing if you make sure it's labeled correctly and prominently.

The still sealed jug of washer fluid didn't leak, so I would guess a still sealed jug of antifreeze would (hopefully) not leak either. I put the partially used jug in there (pre-mixed) because it was leftover from several months ago when I had a leaky coolant system. I could carry a sealed jug, but if I had to open it to top off the overflow, then I wouldn't want to carry in the Action Packer. But I would still want to carry it, so I'd buy another sealed jug and leave the open one at home. Since under normal usage I wouldn't expect to use much antifreeze, then I'd have a lot of something sitting around. The van (container that leaked) uses Dex-Cool and the other car uses regular antifreeze, so they aren't interchangable.

That's why I'm trying to figure out another, non-leaking alternative. Plus, I'll save some room in the container and be able to fit more into it if I can get those gallon jugs out of there <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I carried an unopened jug of antifreeze in my truck box. It stayed there for 7 years in the upright position. Eventually it leaked and soaked all the contents of the truckbox. I was pretty mad but it was my fault, it was there for too long and went unchecked. I packed it tight with other gear so it couldn't tip or rattle too much. But I think the other gear may have rubbed a hole through the container after all those miles. Just a FYI, even a sealed jug can lead to another SNAFU.

Had the same problem.Remedy was to pick up a small square bucket from a bakery,the kind that the creame filing come's in and put all the car's fluid's in it.Plus add any other stuff for the road that will fit in,as an added bonus it give's me a seat and step stool <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Think of it as the car's PSK

Big scary label, and NEVER, EVER use it for anything else again.

I might go with a bottle that is different from what you normally use. Say, an aluminum bottle if you normally use lexan.

Hi Ors, I use a milk crate with antifreeze, fluids (brake, tranny, washer fluid, power steering, dry gas), a cheapo tire repair kit from KMart, paper towels, can of hand cleaner, tire foam, duct & vinyl tape, tire gauge, radiator stop leak, a few simple tools and a tow strap. Fits nice and sure has been handy!!!

I forgot to mention, just carry water. Water is what actually provides the heat transfer, antifreeze is just that, antifreeze with a few other chemicals mixed in. Water will get you where your going.