Anti Freeze Tester's

[Marty Dolomite]

Originally Posted by akita

I bought a tester from Halfords, but I buy my antifreeze ready mixed.

Why, surely it is more expensive buying it premixed?

Personal I use the taste test method.
If in doubt drain the system and refill with the correct mixture which is something I always do when I buy a car.

[Marty Dolomite]

Oh and one very important point NEVER MIX DIFFERENT COLOURED ANTIFREEZE TOGETHER.

[Ninja59]

Originally Posted by Marty Dolomite

Oh and one very important point NEVER MIX DIFFERENT COLOURED ANTIFREEZE TOGETHER.

Technically you can mix HOAT and "normal" coolants together. You cannot mix however standard normal coolant and OAT tech ones together. Best advice simply is not to mix them at all as you have said.

[gatos]

I have a refractometer. Paid about £60 for it many many years ago, but you can get them for much less these days


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sealey-Por...item2579f63f5d

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Samsung-He...item3cce475913

[silvicontact]

I have bought a cheap one of e-bay. it does the job , i would not invest in something that you use once a year for 2 minutes. You only use it when you are preparing your car for winter. A cheap and basic one will help you as much as a expensive refractometer.

[Ninja59]

Originally Posted by silvicontact

I have bought a cheap one of e-bay. it does the job , i would not invest in something that you use once a year for 2 minutes. You only use it when you are preparing your car for winter. A cheap and basic one will help you as much as a expensive refractometer.

Not really some cheap ones based on the colour balls etc are no where near as accurate, plus a refractometer can be used for other tests as well not just testing coolant.

[wimorrison]

Originally Posted by Ninja59

...plus a refractometer can be used for other tests as well not just testing coolant.

Struggling to think what other useful use I could put it to, other than testing coolant - and for that I would use a simple cheap hydrometer

[Ninja59]

Originally Posted by wimorrison

Struggling to think what other useful use I could put it to, other than testing coolant - and for that I would use a simple cheap hydrometer

Quite easy if you looked and had the sensibility to check the links above before passing sarcastic comments surprisingly...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Samsung-He...item3cce475913

but just to save you from having to click further (oh the heartache) - oh and also some can check brake fluid.



Oh and .

[Bushellj]

Looks like a useful tool if you live in sub zero regions.

Here in the UK, just replacing the cooling fluid every so often should provide adequate protection for the engine.

[wimorrison]

Originally Posted by Ninja59

Quite easy if you looked and had the sensibility to check the links above before passing sarcastic comments surprisingly...

...

but just to save you from having to click further (oh the heartache) - oh and also some can check brake fluid.

...
Oh and .

I don't doubt that you could find other uses if you try, however as I said I cannot see other uses that I could usefully put it to. I also fail to see the point in spending £25 for functions that I dont need or would want to use when for £3 I can get a hydrometer that will test the antfreeze to the accuracy required.

This is the same point made by several others.