Coolant: Testing and Inspection
TESTING COOLANT CONCENTRATIONAll these vehicles are produced with coolant that can be accurately measured with a hydrometer; however, when the type and quality of coolant being measured is unknown, such as in a customer vehicle that has accumulated mileage, use of a refractometer is recommended.
^ Tools Required:
- J 26568 Coolant Tester (Centigrade Scale)
- J 23688 Coolant Tester (Fahrenheit Scale)
- Or Equivalents
NOTE:
^ Before each use, swing the plastic cover at the slanted end of a coolant tester, exposing the measuring window and the bottom of the plastic cover.
^ Wipe dry with a tissue or a clean, soft cloth.
^ Close the plastic cover.
^ Do not remove the clear plastic pump from the coolant tester.
1. Release the tip of the pump from tester.
2. Insert the tip of the pump into the radiator filler neck. Make certain that the tip of the pump is below the level of the coolant.
3. Press the release bulb to get a sample.
4. Insert the tip of the pump into the cover plate opening.
5. Press the bulb and allow a few drops to fall onto the measuring surface.
NOTE: Do not open the plastic cover when taking readings because water evaporation can change the readings.
6. Point the coolant tester toward any light and look into the eyepiece.
7. Coolant protection reading is at the point where the dividing line-between light and dark crosses the scale (antifreeze protection is the scale on the right).
8. Temperature scale is reversed from a standard thermometer scale; below zero readings are on the upper half of the scale.
9. If the readings are not clear, the measuring surfaces were not wiped and properly dried. Wipe dry and conduct test again.