Antifreeze Test

[HSpiering]

Had my antifreeze D&R with flush. I got home and a few days later tested it with my $2 tester. It said good to only -10. I went back to complain it should be -35 for a 50% solution. The shop had a strip of paper with some fussy stuff on the end . They held it up to a color chart on the bottle and said it was registering good to -30. Anyone use or trust these paper strips? My little tester has done pretty good before. Now not sure what I have.

 

[The patriot]

I've worked with PH test strips in a waste water treatment plant that sounds like the paper strips you mentioned.

I've never heard of something like this used for antifreeze... ... but then again I went to mechanic school 30 years ago.

There's a lot of "new stuff" I havent heard of.

eric

 

[amsoilman]

Had my antifreeze D&R with flush. I got home and a few days later tested it with my $2 tester. It said good to only -10. I went back to complain it should be -35 for a 50% solution. The shop had a strip of paper with some fussy stuff on the end . They held it up to a color chart on the bottle and said it was registering good to -30. Anyone use or trust these paper strips? My little tester has done pretty good before. Now not sure what I have.

I use this type of test strip for my antifreeze, which is a "propylene glycol" type rather than the "Ethylene glycol" type. If the atifreeze you are using is Ethylene glycol, then these test strips will not give you the correct reading.



Wayne

 

[HSpiering]

It is the yellow 5 year stuff. Not sure the brand. I thought the antifreeze tester would work the same on both types of antifreeze.

 

[Skydiver]

PH is very important for metal protection. SG (specific gravity / floating balls) will indicate the freeze protection.

 

[Joe Mc]

See if the shop has a refractometer like this one Refractometer - Best Means for Testing Ethylene Glycol & Propylene Glyc
Note on page: Refractometers represent the most accurate conventional testing method available for determining freeze point and concentration of engine coolants and antifreeze solutions. Don't be misled by hydrometers or freeze-point test strips, which are not accurate enough to be useful.

I consider myself lucky, I was given one when I left a job going to another one time.

 

[HSpiering]

Joe Mc



Saw an add for one something like that. Not sure the cost but maybe best to get somehting like that. I was thinking of a new more $ than my $2 one.

 

[Joe Mc]

The one I have reads two types of coolant and battery liquid too.

 

[HSpiering]

I cheeked with at Napa store. The refractometer type start at $100 plus. They informed me they had a ball floating tester for Propylene Glycol and one for Ethylene Glycol. For about $7. So to answer my own question it appears you need a tester for the type of antifreeze you have. After I got the right tester, my antifreeze was -35 not the -10 as first tested.

 

[flyby night]

The test strips are crap for any coolant in my opinion. You dip them in the coolant and check them at 3 different times for 3 different tests. That part I don't have a problem with. When I do it, when I get to the time to check the specific test on the strip, the color keeps changing before I can figure out the range as compared to the color chart. They can't be accurate at least when I use them.

 

[DieselDoghouse]

I've done mine in the past on the optical refractometer we use for urine, serum at the clinic - BUT you need a chart to convert from the specific gravity to temperature depression - and I DON'T know where mine IS!!!

 

[Shadrach]

Fleetguard makes test strips that have 3 "pads" on them. One if for freeze point. We have used them for years at work. There is an expiry date on them and they need to be kept sealed so no moisture gets at them. Shadrach

 

[BKneeland]

pH for HOAT antifreeze?

At 150,000 miles (2004. 5 4x4 5. 9L) I replaced my OEM antifreeze with ZEREX G 05 (Cummins 14603 approved and DaimlerChysler MS 9769 approved) ethylene glycol-based HOAT inhibitor antifreeze.

Checked the pH and it read 8. 5 very basic.

WHAT IS THE CORRECT pH RANGE?

IN OTHER WORDS WHAT IS THE LOWEST ACCEPTABLE pH?

Test strips I used measure in . 5 increments from 4. 5 to 9. 0. They (pHION) are intended for checking urine and saliva. That is what I had so I figured I'd give it a try... ... ... ... .....

 

[WalterJ]

BKNEELAND:

http://www.consulab.com/files/zerexg05TechBulletin.pdf

is the technical spec sheet for Xerex G 05 antifreeze/coolant. It specs 7.5-11.0 for Ph range.

They also specify that 70% max. concentration yields -90 deg F and 277 deg F protection! Interesting, eh.

Now a question: Since this is Ethylene Glycol based, is special tester required for this, or just the same ol' Ethylene Glycol tester of yester year?

 

[Wayne M.]

I use this type of test strip for my antifreeze, which is a "propylene glycol" type rather than the "Ethylene glycol" type. If the atifreeze you are using is Ethylene glycol, then these test strips will not give you the correct reading.



Wayne

I agree with the Amzoilman. Also this thread is good and true. The various types of coolants operate at different PH levels. You don't want to mix a base with an acid, right?