Lets talk Antifreeze and Testers

Well, were having first major real cold snap here of the season. Last night forcasted -12F and hit her pretty close. Tonight forcast -25F and tommrow night -28F. Took a last quick check of anti freeze yesterday afternoon in tractor, dozer, and 3 vechicles. Bout soiled my bibs when I tested antifreeze in pick-up...good for -2 degrees. Wondered how in the h3ll I did that. Anyway, siphened a couple gallons out of the system through the neck and added some anti freeze to get back to -35F and ran her. Question I left the covered container I drained into outside last night to see if I was losing it. Sure enough at -13F it hadn't froze. Do testers go bad? Just a cheap Prestone brand with a floating arrow, but it's always worked pretty well or so I thought. How cold do you WAY Northern guys go with the mix. I always winterized our I/O boat engine to -45F and wondered if at -46 does it freeze solid, get slushy, what exactly happens? Finally, what kind of tester do you folks recommend for use hydrometer or refractory? Brand specific model ect. Thanks, Tom B.
 
I agree with Retired Farmer if you adding or putting new 50/50 is what is used in this part of the country. As long as it checks -10 to -15 and it is not used it probably would get by.
 
I usually will settle for a 50/50 mix. It won't expand and break anything if it gets colder than that. I think it just gets kind of slushy. If it is colder than that, you probably don't need much cooling anyway. The oil in the pan can probably about take care of cooling needs at that point.
 
I just mix it 50/50 and ALWAYS USE THAT MIX. I never add water. I forget what that's good for in terms of minimum temp but it's more than sufficient 'here'.
If I do use a hydrometer it's just the basic plastic type one from NAPA that has a plumb float and a level line. Fill to the level line, hold plumb... and look at the main float for the value.

Rod
 
I always mixed 50/50 also. I think it's good for -40. Now I usually buy the premix at NAPA cause I like the distilled water in it. Our well water has a lot of minerals in it that can cause scaly buildup in the cooling system.
 
Like what a couple of other guys said. If you aren't covered to -20 the water antifreeze doesn't freeze just gets slushy. You can't be too light on the antifreeze though. Drive it down the road before it gets warmed up and you have a problem. It doesn't want to circulate through the radiator.
 
This is a very accurate tester. Good for antifreeze and battery testing the specific gravity. Hal
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ethelyne glycol anti freeze can be checked with floating ball or needle type testers for an approximate indication. proper tester is as el toro says, refractrometer. however do not try to test propoleyne glycol with a ball tester or arrow tester for ethelyne glycol, premixed bobcat antifreeze will check 5 or 10 above with the above testers, proper refractometer must be used for propelene glycol as i understand it. let me know if this is incorrect. leroy
 
I"vehad the same thing happen with those flaotaing tester. I bought a refractomer tester o ebay for $25 and it pretty repeatable.
 
My two cents. Always go for the 50/50. The little ball testers I have need to be as full as possible and then turn them upside down. NOW the balls float up one at a time. The pointer type is a prestone and it also must be as full as you can make it. Never had any trouble.
 

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