Jim Becker
Well-known Member
Brian,
In the other thread, you hit on several points I've been wrestling with. I've been using one of the floating ball testers and recently decided to throw it away and get a refractometer (although I haven't found one for $25). A year or so ago, I was moving to a considerably cooler climate so was testing coolant in everything. Some I was sure I had refilled with 50/50 mix were testing -10 or so, rather than the expected -34. My weakest mixture tested at +5, so I drained it into a couple plastic jugs. I set them outside during some of the -15 and colder weather this winter. They never froze. Also, the floating balls give no indication of too strong a mix. Using a cheap tester is just a path to wasting money on unneeded antifreeze.
I have seen multiple recommendations of the voltmeter test. Is it a useful test?
I've been trying to only buy extended life antifreeze that is labeled as compatible with all types of antifreeze. I'm not yet convinced whether such a thing exists and have yet to mix any into a Dex-Cool system. But I have been adding it to anything else. Are the "mix with anything" types really universal? Mostly I have been using Walmart's Super Tech, which is about as inexpensive as any full strength antifreeze.
Why does a Diesel have any special coolant requirements? It isn't like the fuel and coolant should ever touch each other. You mentioned wet cylinder liners. But there are plenty of wet sleeve gasoline engines out there. What is the difference?
In the other thread, you hit on several points I've been wrestling with. I've been using one of the floating ball testers and recently decided to throw it away and get a refractometer (although I haven't found one for $25). A year or so ago, I was moving to a considerably cooler climate so was testing coolant in everything. Some I was sure I had refilled with 50/50 mix were testing -10 or so, rather than the expected -34. My weakest mixture tested at +5, so I drained it into a couple plastic jugs. I set them outside during some of the -15 and colder weather this winter. They never froze. Also, the floating balls give no indication of too strong a mix. Using a cheap tester is just a path to wasting money on unneeded antifreeze.
I have seen multiple recommendations of the voltmeter test. Is it a useful test?
I've been trying to only buy extended life antifreeze that is labeled as compatible with all types of antifreeze. I'm not yet convinced whether such a thing exists and have yet to mix any into a Dex-Cool system. But I have been adding it to anything else. Are the "mix with anything" types really universal? Mostly I have been using Walmart's Super Tech, which is about as inexpensive as any full strength antifreeze.
Why does a Diesel have any special coolant requirements? It isn't like the fuel and coolant should ever touch each other. You mentioned wet cylinder liners. But there are plenty of wet sleeve gasoline engines out there. What is the difference?