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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

cheapo antifreeze testers with balls

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Chris Brown

10-03-2004 06:15:02




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I was at the farm and home and there was 2 of those floating ball type antifreeze testers marked down to $.50 ea I got them and tossed them on a shelf. Well I have built 2 tractor engines this summer so I was going through testing antifreeze ,my pickup which I know is at least 50/50 if not 75/25 mix tested at 0 degrees OK. I went through the tractors and the ford which I know for a fact has had no water added this year tested at +10,it was alot colder than that last winter and it never froze. I pitched that tester and got another new one and it tested the same. I put 2.5 gallons in the farmall and ran it for ahour or so and it was only good to +10,now I am getting pissed, thinking about draining tractors, and knocking out freeze plugs.
I went and got the old tester and rechecked everything,everything was good to at least -20,what gives? brand new bad testers. I am going to napa tomorrow and getting a good tester,to heck with a bunch of floating balls. What could be bad with a new ball type tester? I put a sample of the +10 degree stuff in a butter dish last nite in the deep freeze and it is still liquid this morning,so I know something is wrong with the cheapo tester. Maybe I am not holding my mouth right when I squeeze the bulb.

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jeffcat

10-07-2004 20:40:48




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 Re: cheapo antifreeze testers with balls in reply to Chris Brown, 10-03-2004 06:15:02  
Throw a sample in the freezer! It will always work cause most of them go down to -10 or -15. If your freezer ain't holdin that low your ice cream will not hold. The air will slowly go out of it. Ice cream should stay a little "fluffy".
My dad has a 1929 #15 Catapillar. I put Napa pump and anti rust in it. Next is a few gallons of Methel alcohol and then some water. Buy it at the local paint store. If it gets into the engine it will not blow out the bearings. Other than that go with the 50/50 deal. On History channel see if you can catch the story on the ICE TRUCKERS. "O "good LORD!

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Leland

10-03-2004 18:04:41




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 Re: cheapo antifreeze testers with balls in reply to Chris Brown, 10-03-2004 06:15:02  
There is test strips that do a good job, got them at our local KW dealer.



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Nebraska Cowman

10-03-2004 17:10:42




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 Re: cheapo antifreeze testers with balls in reply to Chris Brown, 10-03-2004 06:15:02  
those ball testers are junk.
you are doing the right thing by putting a sample in the freezer overnight. The freezer will be around zero. if it don't freeze solid you won't ever hurt the motor. even if it gets slushey at 20 or 30 below the worst that would happen is it would stop circulating and boil over, but who runs their tractor at 20 below?



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Stickler

10-03-2004 17:56:20




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 Re: cheapo antifreeze testers with balls in reply to Nebraska Cowman, 10-03-2004 17:10:42  
everyone who uses it for clearing snow or cleaning stalls and lives where it gets down to -45, that's who! Mine see more use in the winter than in the summer.



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Nebraska Cowman

10-03-2004 18:13:53




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 Re: cheapo antifreeze testers with balls in reply to Stickler, 10-03-2004 17:56:20  
Oh, I'm sorry it never snows here. must be human nature... we always think that it is the same everywhere.



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Stickler

10-03-2004 23:13:36




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 Re: cheapo antifreeze testers with balls in reply to Nebraska Cowman, 10-03-2004 18:13:53  
yeah, I know what you mean. Try 'splainin' to people in australia why you have CaCl in your tires..... they look at you with a blank stare when you mention the word freeze after the anti part. They understand loaded tires, but not the CaCl stuff.



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T_Bone

10-03-2004 17:03:40




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 Re: cheapo antifreeze testers with balls in reply to Chris Brown, 10-03-2004 06:15:02  
Hi Chris,

What I do is prewash the balls 3 times or so before taking a reading. That seams to help the anit-freeze testers as well as the battery acid testers.

T_Bone



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Ben in KY

10-04-2004 07:57:40




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 Re: cheapo antifreeze testers with balls in reply to T_Bone, 10-03-2004 17:03:40  
Yep pre-washing them gets the little balls wet, I learned this trick when I first starting using those types of testers. I think they have little air bubbles sticking to them or something if you don't get them all wet.
The same thing goes with the pivoting pointer types of testers, but they are not as sensetive to the pre-washing as the floating ball types.



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DickTN

10-03-2004 15:34:35




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 Re: cheapo antifreeze testers with balls in reply to Chris Brown, 10-03-2004 06:15:02  
I'm surprised no one pointed out that there are two different types of these inexpensive testers since there are two different types of anti-freeze available these days. First is the old type that we have been using for years which is poisonous to domestic animals (They like the sweet taste). The newer type is propylene glycol and is more environmentally friendly. The two types have different specific gravities and therefore require different testers. Are you sure you were using the correct unit for the type of anti-freeze solution that you were testing?

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msb

10-03-2004 13:59:07




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 Do yourself a favor in reply to Chris Brown, 10-03-2004 06:15:02  
and spend a little of your money and get one of those testers that use light refraction technology.You put a drop of antifreeze on the glass and fold down a window onto the solution.Look inside the sight and it reads the exact degree of protection.They work on battery acid too.You probably won't be as lucky as I was.I bought one in a trucking business dispersal sale for $7 because I must have been the only one present that knew what is was.That was about 20 yeras ago.I think NAPA sells them but they are a bit salty.So much so, you will always know where it is.Mine is always in the glove compartment of the pick up.

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Gary in TX

10-03-2004 12:00:32




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 Re: cheapo antifreeze testers with balls in reply to Chris Brown, 10-03-2004 06:15:02  
Get ya a Prestone tester, have a arrow type guage in them.



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MAC,IL

10-03-2004 08:33:42




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 Re: cheapo antifreeze testers with balls in reply to Chris Brown, 10-03-2004 06:15:02  
chris: I used to always use the old ball type, got tired of having to flick the things with my finger. Found one 3 yrs ago for about 3 bucks, seems at walmart? Anyhow it has an arrow inside. The unit is about 1/2" thick and probably 3" across. I like it a lot more.



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Chris Brown

10-03-2004 10:27:41




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 Re: cheapo antifreeze testers with balls in reply to MAC,IL, 10-03-2004 08:33:42  
I used to have one that looked like a battery hydrometer,it worked good and lasted for years It was about an inch round tube with a glass tube that floated inside with stuff in it,as I remember my little boy opened it up to see what was inside and that was all she wrote. And on the cheapo testers, I flicked till my finger hurt but the balls still sunk, I think you get what you pay for and my engines are too important to trust to something that cost $.50

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Allan in NE

10-03-2004 06:54:41




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 Re: cheapo antifreeze testers with balls in reply to Chris Brown, 10-03-2004 06:15:02  
Hi Chris,

I always have to "tap" the glass of those little testers with my fingernail to make sure everybody is "floating" as they should.

They have a nasty habit of "sticking" to the inside of the glass tube.

Just for what it is worth,

Allan



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Mark - IN.

10-03-2004 08:01:56




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 Re: cheapo antifreeze testers with balls in reply to Allan in NE, 10-03-2004 06:54:41  
Good morning Allen, I think that you're correct. It's been years since I used one of the little testers that are typically found in the "good deal" racks or tubs at auto parts or hardware stores, but as I recall the tubes are kind've a small fit, and the balls have a tendency to stick unless tapped.

I have a couple of those somewhere, but haven't used in years because I never knew whether or not to trust them. Bought a larger glass one years ago, holds a cup or so, I'd guess. The manufacturer is/was Lisle Tools and got from a now long gone Fleener Auto Parts. Guess the thing's about 25 - 30 years old.

The little "cheapies" just might work fine.

Cooled off to 35 degress here last night in Bristol, IN. Was goooood sleepin'.

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rustyfarmall

10-03-2004 11:46:46




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 Re: cheapo antifreeze testers with balls in reply to Mark - IN., 10-03-2004 08:01:56  
A word to the wise. I have found that nearly all of the items in those bargain bins at the local farm store are nothing more than cheap imported Chinese or Taiwan junk. This stuff never even gets tested by the manufacturer to see if it works, and what's more, they don't care if it works. Just send it over to America, some sucker will buy it. I will admit, I have been that "sucker" several times.

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Harryhoodwrench

10-03-2004 07:59:02




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 Re: cheapo antifreeze testers with balls in reply to Allan in NE, 10-03-2004 06:54:41  
Gotta remember that pure anti freeze has to be mixed to properly lower the freeze point. In general a 60% antifreeze, 40% water mix brings to freeze protection to about -60 degrees Farenheit, if memory serves. Most just use a 50/50 mix which is also very close, about -40F. Pure antifreeze will freeze at a higher temp say -20F than mixed. Its a chemical reaction. This is one of those situations that more is not better.

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Stickler

10-03-2004 15:35:01




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 Re: cheapo antifreeze testers with balls in reply to Harryhoodwrench, 10-03-2004 07:59:02  
We usually use 70/30 up here, though 60/40 would probably do, like you said, it's good for about -60. Funny thing is, here in the cold country, you seldom hear of a cracked block. Everyone's known all about antifreeze and dilution strengths since about the time the vikings invented mead. A total no-brainer to us, like block heaters and trickle chargers, and 0W30 oils, but then we grow up with the cold. I use an arrow type tester like was mentioned.

My 12V converted '44 Ford 2N starts in -45�C at the touch of the starter button, not plugged in. I'll find out what the IH 666 gasser is like this winter. My case 1030 is a BEAR to get started in the winter, plugged in or not! I don't even THINK about trying to start that puppy if it's below about -10�C. Not much good for snow clearing! LOL!

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Mark - IN.

10-03-2004 08:18:21




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 Re: cheapo antifreeze testers with balls in reply to Harryhoodwrench, 10-03-2004 07:59:02  
Good morning Harry. I was thinking about that before posted. Didn't know that water to antifreeze ratio, but as recalled, "all" or "pure" antifreeze is as bad as no antifreeze. Gels, doesn't it? Something like that. Am sure ratio must be on the jug somewhere. Guess that's why can buy "pre-mixed" antifreeze these days - can't mess up there, I guess, in theory.



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Harrygoodwrench

10-03-2004 10:50:47




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 Re: cheapo antifreeze testers with balls in reply to Mark - IN., 10-03-2004 08:18:21  
Mark, you are absolutely correct! There is "usually" a chart on the anti freeze container that tells the mix. Some never read instructions(I've been guilty of that too). Anyways pure will freeze at a higher temp than the proper mix and give poorer cooling in warm weather. I've had jugs of pure out in the garage and when it got real cold here in the Northeast I could see slush inside the jug. The proper mixed stuff was still liquid. Its all chemistry.

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