Anti Freeze Check Reveals Surprise
Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 1:58 pm
I started making my rounds with my anti freeze tester while it is still pleasant working weather outside.
The antifreeze in my equipment degraded itself by my tester indicating only 3 of the usual 5 balls floating, and it has only been two or three years since the antifreeze was changed.
I have added a few ounces of pure water on occasion, but not enough to dilute it by 2 balls I thought.
I got to thinking maybe my antifreeze tester was giving a false reading so I grabbed my spare which also floated only 3 of the 5 balls.
With recent discussion about gasoline going stale very rapidly in multiple forum discussions, I wondered to myself if the antifreeze manufacturers haven't found a way to cheapen the production cost of AF by blending the freeze protection elements of the mixture with something that evaporates instead of lasting a zillion years like the old stuff.
Still not convinced my antifreeze was only good to 10 below, I uncorked a brand new jug which claimed protection to 40 below diluted by as much as 50% by water. Same reading... 3 of 5 floating balls.
Down to the auto parts joint I went bringing home a new tester, which not to my surprise, indicated by floating all 5 balls that my coolant was indeed protected to well below temperatures experienced in my region.
Lesson learned: Both my testers probably date back to the mid seventies. One I bought new, one was given to me. I was not aware anti freeze testers have a shelf life but apparently they do. They probably count on the glass being broken and the balls rolling away long before they go out of calibration.
If your antifreeze tester dates back to when Jimmy Hoffa was still around, you may want to double check its accuracy. I am thankful my testers reported my coolant was on the weak side and didn't go the other way floating all 5 balls in pure water.
On a side note, a couple weeks ago I was in the antifreeze isle and noticed an end cap display of probably the most popular brand of antifreeze known to man had a "newly formulated mixture" that is "premixed for your convenience. No messy mixing needed for full protection".
A price check revealed the gallon of pre mixed anti freeze and water was the exact same price as the gallon of their pure formula which can be mixed 50% with water and still provide maximum temperature protection.
Whether your preference is to dump it in straight or dilute it, be careful what you grab... You could be laying down about 5 bucks for a half gallon of water if you aren't careful.
The antifreeze in my equipment degraded itself by my tester indicating only 3 of the usual 5 balls floating, and it has only been two or three years since the antifreeze was changed.
I have added a few ounces of pure water on occasion, but not enough to dilute it by 2 balls I thought.
I got to thinking maybe my antifreeze tester was giving a false reading so I grabbed my spare which also floated only 3 of the 5 balls.
With recent discussion about gasoline going stale very rapidly in multiple forum discussions, I wondered to myself if the antifreeze manufacturers haven't found a way to cheapen the production cost of AF by blending the freeze protection elements of the mixture with something that evaporates instead of lasting a zillion years like the old stuff.
Still not convinced my antifreeze was only good to 10 below, I uncorked a brand new jug which claimed protection to 40 below diluted by as much as 50% by water. Same reading... 3 of 5 floating balls.
Down to the auto parts joint I went bringing home a new tester, which not to my surprise, indicated by floating all 5 balls that my coolant was indeed protected to well below temperatures experienced in my region.
Lesson learned: Both my testers probably date back to the mid seventies. One I bought new, one was given to me. I was not aware anti freeze testers have a shelf life but apparently they do. They probably count on the glass being broken and the balls rolling away long before they go out of calibration.
If your antifreeze tester dates back to when Jimmy Hoffa was still around, you may want to double check its accuracy. I am thankful my testers reported my coolant was on the weak side and didn't go the other way floating all 5 balls in pure water.
On a side note, a couple weeks ago I was in the antifreeze isle and noticed an end cap display of probably the most popular brand of antifreeze known to man had a "newly formulated mixture" that is "premixed for your convenience. No messy mixing needed for full protection".
A price check revealed the gallon of pre mixed anti freeze and water was the exact same price as the gallon of their pure formula which can be mixed 50% with water and still provide maximum temperature protection.
Whether your preference is to dump it in straight or dilute it, be careful what you grab... You could be laying down about 5 bucks for a half gallon of water if you aren't careful.