Antifreeze tester & Dexcool

[Dominic]

Besides guessing based on how slick my coolant is, I was curious if there were any good antifreeze mixture testers for dexcool? I know of the old little one with the float balls that Sears sells - will those work ok?

 

[Matt_S]

I know this has been discussed before, but the answer is that a normal tester is fine for Dexcool. Except for the "safe" propylene glycol antifreezes, like Sierra or Prestone Low-Tox, all antifreeze is 90%+ ethylene glycol, which is what provides the freeze and boil over protection and is what those testers are actually measuring. They sell separate testers for the propylene glycol antifreeze.

 

[Ray H]

Agree with Matt_S. An alternative to the float ball type would be the Prestone and Victor pivoted pointer type. (not necessarily better for casual use, but they are more substantially built {no glass} and give some numerical indication of percentage concentration and protection level against freeze-up and boil-over points.) Note, ALL hydrometers are temperature sensitive because the density of liquids changes proportionately to temperature. Antifreeze/coolant hydrometers are calibrated to reflect coolant concentration only at ambient temperature, NOT when the coolant is warmed to engine operating temperature.

 

[Dominic]

Thanks I should have realized that

d'oh

 

[Stinky Peterson]

For the most accurate results use a refractometer. They are expensive though at about $100.