|
|
antifreeze types and floating balls
|
|
|
| |
|
fat-katie
User
Oct 8, 2023, 3:42 PM
Post #1 of 4
(2270 views)
|
antifreeze types and floating balls
|
|
|
I have an old floating balls antifreeze tester. Very common. You draw the fluid up into a clear pipette and count the number of balls that float in the liquid sample. I bought some 'green' coolant (says is good for all cars) last fall and I swear I diluted it 50/50. I needed some today and tested it. Only 2 balls float. That's only good to +5F. I don't believe this is right. Do all types of antifreeze work in these floating ball tools? Thank you.
|
|
| |
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 8, 2023, 4:21 PM
Post #2 of 4
(2212 views)
|
Re: antifreeze types and floating balls
|
|
|
Yes, the tester works the same for all coolants but I would disagree with the one size fits all on the green coolant. That's just not true. They may make a color that blends in with the other colors but the chemical properties are very different. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
|
|
| |
|
fat-katie
User
Oct 12, 2023, 2:11 PM
Post #3 of 4
(2070 views)
|
Re: antifreeze types and floating balls
|
|
|
Well, it appears that the balls in my old tester have a shelf life. The thing is over 30 years old. I didn't believe what I was reading so I popped out the balls and put them in a highball glass half filled with water. Then I added antifreeze in small steps. I got two balls to float but the other 3 never left the bottom. I went out and purchased a new tester and now all is well. It reads as it should. Just thought I share this. Thank you.
|
|
| |
|
Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 12, 2023, 2:14 PM
Post #4 of 4
(2067 views)
|
Re: antifreeze types and floating balls
|
|
|
OK, thanks for reporting back. Closing this now as solved. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
|
|
| |
|