Antifreeze/Coolant Testers

As winter approaches I want to check over the car to ensure continued, trouble-free motoring.

This is my first winter with the e39 and I have no idea of what ratio of antifreeze is in the coolant.

Are the turkey-baster type antifreeze testers any good? Are they reasonably accurate?

They're only about a fiver so seem worth it for the peace of mind at least.

Is there a better tool? Would a garage have a more accurate tool?

i tested mine on some 50% mixed stuff, it said 50%

i test it on water, it said 0% so it seems like a good enough tool!

anything from 30%-50% should be sufficient for our country

Been happy with mine so i would say yes

Cyphon some out and put it in the freezer?

Tesla said:

Are the turkey-baster type antifreeze testers any good? Are they reasonably accurate?

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'Hydrometer' is the word you are after, and yes they can be perfectly good tools. However, different coolant types have different specific gravities (.e.g Propylene Glycol vs Ethylene Glycol/OAT) so using the wrong device will give inaccurate results.

The best tool is a Refractometer which works for both types of coolant, but it would be an expensive purchase for very infrequent use.

olivercamos said:

Cyphon some out and put it in the freezer?

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Cyphon



Syphon

I have one somewhere if its at home you can borrow it

Thanks ever so much for the spelling correction. It has been duly noted for next time.

I have one but the hose has snapped off. Cheers Sam will take you up on that.

If you don't know when it was last changed I would just drain it and refill with fresh stuff.

Corrosion inhibitors deplete over time and you can't really test that at home.

I do a coolant change every October as a matter of course, cost sod all and doesn't take long.

Bit of a waste isn't it?

25% Propylene Glycol will protect you down to about -15c