Was I wrong about coolant concentration for years? Here is what tipped me off.

I always ran my coolant at 8% because that is what the old timer who trained me said. Last Tuesday a rep from the chemical company came by and tested my sump. He showed me the refractometer reading 12% because water was evaporating faster than I thought. Now I am wondering if i have been wasting money on concentrate or if higher percentage actually protects better. Has anyone else had a sudden realization about how they mix their coolant?

2 comments

2 Comments

faithb7424d ago

Man that is a brutal gut check right there. I have been there myself with a different fluid mix and it stings when you realize youve been off for so long. The rep coming by with that refractometer reading is like a little dose of reality you didnt ask for. For what its worth 12% is actually pretty standard in a lot of shops so you might have been closer to the sweet spot than you think. Water evaporates way faster than anyone accounts for especially if you run the machine hard or have a dry shop. I wouldnt beat yourself up about it too much just check it weekly with one of those cheap pocket refractometers and adjust as needed.

craig.brian24d ago

Yo @faithb74 that's a solid point about evaporation but nobody ever talks about the opposite problem, if you're in a humid shop you can actually gain water and thin out your mix without even knowing it. I'd toss a note on the machine to check it after any big rain or humid stretch too.