Are anti-freeze testers accurate?
You know, those little bulb testers with floating balls or a moving arrow configuration made to test anti-freeze condition. Do they work? I have two kinds of testers and I am just wondering if I should just change the antifreeze in the cars and toss the testers? My 2007 kia has 69k and the factory antifreeze looks and tests pefectly. I am itching to change it, but should I?? As I understand...the testers are just checking the specific gravity of the mix. This tells you about freeze protection only...nothing about the corrosion inhibitors and other things that antifreeze is designed for and that eventually wear out. Follow the recommended change interval for your vehicle and make sure to use the right type of coolant. I agree with GunGuy If you want to change then change it. On ships we were constantly testing the coolant and making adjustments for the proper protection. At the power plant I work at now the same happens. But I dont do it anymore. The only problem area would be to make sure it is properly bled of air (Question) Do they work? No. Click on the first link below. (Question) I am itching to change it, but should I?? No. Not till at least 100.000 miles. Letting it go slightly over 100.000 is ok. When you do change it, use only the product in the second link below. Radiator Test Strips PEAK GLOBAL® LIFETIME® Antifreeze Coolant Sam, you being an old school guy I was waiting for you to say every 2 or 3 years. I also agree with the 100k and or possibly a 5 year interval depending on time verses mileage in most cases, but it depends on what product is in there also I think. In this case it is a recent OEM fill so leaving it and saving money makes sense to me. When it comes to fluid change intervals everyone has their own opinion. The newer GM's for example show brake fluid in the manual as a life time fill. Yeah right! Not sure how well Kia's run after 100k so I hope that changing the coolant isn't the least of his problems then. I never had much faith in the ball type testers. I have seen them vary wildly. Get a good tester that has a thermometer, I know they are expensive but so are blocks. Keep the purchase quiet or the first 20 degree night you will be out checking your brother in laws AF. (retired wrench said) Get a good tester that has a thermometer Cbuddy2005, There really is no such thing as an antifreeze tester with a thermometer. What retired wrench is referring too? is a “REFRACTOMETER”. Appears in link below An accurate one should cost around $250.00. Strips (link I posted) are far less expensive and just as accurate. CAMCO MANUFACTURING, INC. | REFRACTOMETER for Antifreeze | 65401 from the ShipStore.com ™ on-line catalog. No such thing as a tester with a thermometer? You better tell the Edelman company then cause they made a bunch of them. I have one of the Edelman's in the bottom of my rollaround; think it cost about $10 when it was new.
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