Anti Freeze Tester-What Coolants Does It Test?

[crazyoildude]

What coolants does the prestone anti-freeze tester test?
They say it works with all ethylene glycol coolants...What about GO-5 and some of the others like Hyundai?
What about if there is a mix of coolants from top offs and such?

 

[Donald]

Its tests the base anti-freeze, not the additive chemistry. But you will need another tester for any low-tox or non-toxic anti-freeze. They are not ethylene glycol.

 

[TrevorS]

Get test strips instead.

 

[Garak]

Test strips don't help a lot if you're trying to verify freeze protection.

 

[redbone3]

Those testers with the little balls inside test the specific gravity of the antifreeze solution. That works with ethylene glycol based antifreeze. To test propylene glycol antifreeze you really need a refractometer. A refractometer tests the refractive index of the antifreeze and is usable on either ethylene glycol or propylene glycol antifreeze. A refractometer is more accurate and easier to use than other types.

 

[JR]

Thanks redbone3.

ken

 

[TrevorS]

Originally Posted By: Garak
Test strips don't help a lot if you're trying to verify freeze protection.


Some of them tell you that also.

 

[Jiblet]

Originally Posted By: redbone3
Those testers with the little balls inside test the specific gravity of the antifreeze solution. That works with ethylene glycol based antifreeze. To test propylene glycol antifreeze you really need a refractometer. A refractometer tests the refractive index of the antifreeze and is usable on either ethylene glycol or propylene glycol antifreeze. A refractometer is more accurate and easier to use than other types.


+1 for a refractometer.

Additionally, many automatically correct for temperature unlike the specific gravity testers.

Cheap, too. I have an RHA-100/ATC that I bought for about $20.

 

[turtlevette]

you don't need an expensive refractometer to test Sierra antifreeze. Autozone sells a specific gravity tester calibrated for propylene for around $12.