Antifreeze mixture

[Beasley907]

So I got a couple antifreeze testers from the store. The one with floating balls gave me wild readings. So I got a Preston one and that says I’m good until -7. So if this is accurate that’s obviously an issue in Alaska. My cooling system is just over 4 gallons so I was thinking about draining a gallon and adding a gallon of concentrate to bring it to or close to the minus 34 rating of 50/50. Will the system mix all that concentrate good enough to not cause problems?

2015 ram 1500 5.7

 

[tidefan1967]

Yeah it will mix just fine but I probably wouldn’t expect your numbers to drop more than another 5 to 10 degrees lower. Why not just do a complete drain and fill and not have to worry about it…….

 

[Beasley907]

Yeah it will mix just fine but I probably wouldn’t expect your numbers to drop more than another 5 to 10 degrees lower. Why not just do a complete drain and fill and not have to worry about it…….

I just did that last summer. But of course not all the coolant comes out so I do a bunch of flushes with distilled water so when I refilled after that last flush with 50/50 pre mix there must have been distilled water still in the block, heater core and lines and such. I could live with a 10 degree drop. If it still doesn’t give me what I want after running it and mixing it for a while I’ll repeat. Just wanted to make sure it will mix all that concentrate without issues.

I’m also gonna test the antifreeze tester on a new jug of 50/50 to make sure it’s at least close to the -34 rating it says it is. If it is I’ll know it’s somewhat accurate.

 

[srv1]

Get a " refractometer".Around 20 bucks at amazon.After I did my flush and fill every reading I got with my prestone (floating balls) was different.I just did not trust it so I did some homework and discovered the refractometer,very cool tool and way more accurate than floating balls.That prestone guage was a min. of 20 deg. off (weak).The refractometer I got checks propylene and ethylene anti freeze,winshield fluid,battery and urea.

 

[Beasley907]

Get a " refractometer".Around 20 bucks at amazon.After I did my flush and fill every reading I got with my prestone (floating balls) was different.I just did not trust it so I did some homework and discovered the refractometer,very cool tool and way more accurate than floating balls.That prestone guage was a min. of 20 deg. off (weak).The refractometer I got checks propylene and ethylene anti freeze,winshield fluid,battery and urea.

I’ll look into it but I’m gonna test the Preston’s on a new 50/50 pre mix and see how close it is

 

[srv1]

I have also used the prestone tester with the floating arrow in the past. Not even close to accurate.How could it be,it costs like 2 dollars.

 

[Beasley907]

I just tested the 50/50 premix with the prestone tester and it’s right on…. Says it’s good tell -35 so I think it’s pretty accurate for this situation

 

[Burla]

You just staying with the mopar coolant it came with?

 

[Beasley907]

You just staying with the mopar coolant it came with?

Yes sir