What happened to my coolant

[mtarcher1]

I changed out the G-5 coolant in my 2003 Ford Ranger and am baffled by the resulting low concentration of antifreeze. I'm thinking there must be something obvious that I'm not seeing and could use some help.

According to the manual, the cooling system holds 13.2 quarts. I was able to drain out 8-9 qts (measured into gallon containers). I installed a T-fitting in the heater hose, flushed the system, drained, and flushed again. I put 8 qts of new G-5 gold. Not the 50-50 mix but 100% antifreeze. When I check the freeze protection it shows it is good to 10 degrees. I checked with a different hydrometer and get the same results. Bottom line- I don't have a high enough concentration of antifreeze for Montana winters.

My thinking is that after flushing and draining, I added 8 qts of concentrated coolant to the remaining 5.2 qts of clean water in the system which should give me about a 60% concentration....but that's not what I've got. What happened?

 

[Astro14]

Your arithmetic seems sound. How certain are you of the accuracy of your tester?

 

[Donald]

Put some in a Dixie cup in your freezer.

 

[Sayjac]

Originally Posted By: Astro14
Your arithmetic seems sound. How certain are you of the accuracy of your tester?

+1 I bought a new needle type hydrometer from Napa and found it very inaccurate, similar to your description after a flush. Took it back.

Bought an inexpensive 5 ball Chaslyn tester at Wally, found it to be right on.

 

[Donald]

Look on the capacity section on the Amsoil website for your vehicle. Maybe changes were made to your vehicle after the manual was printed. It does happen. Is the radiator the original?

 

[Drew99GT]

Are you absolutely positive you bought antifreeze concentrate and not 50/50? Could be they screwed up in the manufacturing process and put 50/50 in concentrate bottles!

 

[Drew99GT]

http://www.fordparts.com/Products/Chemicals-EngineProducts-Coolants.aspx

According to the Ford website, the GO5 Gold only comes 50/50 premixed.

:edit: It says they have both 50/50 and concentrate, but under the specifications, both are 50/50 premixed.

 

[mtarcher1]

Thanks for quick replies!

The Amsoil capacities website confirms 13.2 qt cooling system.

I think the tester is OK because 2 different units gave similar results. Also, the tester shows straight coolant correctly. But, I will get a third test done to make sure since I don't see how it could not be the correct mix.

Dixie cup in the freezer is something I'll try. We need about -40 protection here which is colder than my freezer, but I'm real curious as to whether I actually screwed up so will try this to compare the measured freezer temp against the fluid in cup.

 

[Sayjac]

Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
http://www.fordparts.com/Products/Chemicals-EngineProducts-Coolants.aspx

According to the Ford website, the GO5 Gold only comes 50/50 premixed.
Look right above it, MC Gold AF concentrate.

Originally Posted By: mtarcher1
...Also, the tester shows straight coolant correctly....

And correct capacity too, that does make it a mystery. I tested mine on new Honda Type 2 premix from the jug.

Let us know what you figure out.

 

[mtarcher1]

Zerex G-5 website says to use a 50-50 mix for -34 protection.

Ford says about the G-5 Gold, "A 50/50 mixture of coolant and distilled water provides freeze protection down to 34°F (-37°C) and boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C)".

So, unless I got a mislabeled pair of jugs that really contained a 50-50 mix, I appear to have mixed appropriately.

 

[Drew99GT]

Are you willing to use Zerex GO5? If so, I'd flush the system again and use Zerex GO5 concentrate and then retest it. That way, you eliminate the possibility of the Ford product being mislabeled.

 

[eljefino]

Take another sample dixie cup but dilute *it* 50/50 and put that in your freezer. Another data point.

 

[JamesBond]

Is the coolant mixed up in your system well?

Rangers have a non-pressurized over flow tank and it can take a while (who knows how long) for straight coolant in the tank to mix with the water/coolant mix in the engine and radiator. So whether you sample from the radiator or the tank both will be off.

If you put in 2 gals of 100% coolant, you're fine.

The coolant was not mislabeled from the factory.

Hydrometers can be in-accurate.

 

[Donald]

Is moving to Florida an option? No worries there.

 

[mtarcher1]

yes, the coolant is well mixed.....did 100 miles of driving after the flush and I'm checking out of the radiator itself where it would be fully mixed.

I didn't have the original jugs anymore since I'd already dropped them off at the recycler, but I went down and did check where I bought the 2 gallons and they were indeed G-05, undiluted.

Moving to Florida is an option but I'm challenged by this and would like to know where I went wrong....if anywhere.

 

[901Memphis]

Send it in for a coolant analysis to confirm. The Dixie cup in the freezer works too.

I am betting the testers just aren't accurate enough. If you added two gallons concentrate you should be over 50/50.

 

[Donald]

Well, if you are willing to buy some additional G-05 for next year, buy another gallon and mix up a cup in the percentage you believe your cooling system is at and test it. Test it pure also.

Undiluted coolant has a thicker look to it.

Pour the cup into your overflow. No need to waste it.

 

[Jiblet]

Originally Posted By: JamesBond


Hydrometers can be in-accurate.


Very true. And they need to be corrected for temperature.

Maybe borrow a coolant refractometer or buy one for $20.