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BenMTL
11-15-2014, 03:41 AM
So winter is upon us and this year I'd like to make sure I'm ready in advance [:)]

I did a full coolant flush last year when I did my timing belt/water pump (50% Audi G12, 50% distilled water ofcourse) so I want to see how the coolant is holding up and that I'll have protection over the winter. I see those cheap $9-10 plastic "coolant testers" everywhere but they look too cheap and I highly doubt they are accurate at all...Then I see those expensive shop-grade units, but I want something to keep at home so I can periodically check myself. I found the below unit and it's somewhere in the middle....~$20, a different kind of system, doesn't look too cheap, and it sounds like it just may be able to accurate read the coolant in our cars....Thoughts guys? Buy or skip? [:)]


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ethylene-Glycol-Antifreeze-Water-Coolant-Tester-Twin-Rotor-Cooling-System-Tool-/360795655978?

And on that note....When you do a full coolant flush, I guess you should be reading at -40c right away but that reading will degrade over time, is that how it works or?

kegobeer
11-15-2014, 04:47 AM
The cheap testers in auto parts stores work just fine for checking coolant. You did a flush last year, so I bet your coolant concentration is just fine. Over time, the coolant will degrade, but I doubt much will happen in just one year. And yes, after a flush using 50/50 the protection should be right at -34F.