View Full Version : Coolant strength test?
Could anyone tell me if there is a way to test coolant strength? The stuff I drained from my bike tonight looks like mildly dark green coloured water. Certainly doesn't look like any coolant I've ever seen and it was just replaced by a shop.
Any help woud be great!
Usarka
23rd June 2008, 22:50
Bike stuff is diluted, 50% from memory.
The stuff i put in my bike according to manufacturers specs recently was reminiscant of my man mike plato ^H^H^H^H sorry, it looked like a lime flavoured ice block.
"dark green coloured water" doesn't sound too bad....
I just wondered if I could test this stuff. I mean this is really transperent!
Usarka
23rd June 2008, 23:05
I just wondered if I could test this stuff. I mean this is really transperent!
If it was really transparent it would be "like light green water"!
:lol:
BTW - why you draining recently serviced coolant? Do you have trust issues :innocent:
Shadows
23rd June 2008, 23:06
If you drink it and don't get pissed then it probably isn't strong enough.
sinfull
23rd June 2008, 23:11
I just wondered if I could test this stuff. I mean this is really transperent!
The word madori rings a bell here ! Any of ya mates pissed at the mo ?
Was interesting to hear Marcus (mechanic) tell me to bring the bike back to him to replace the coolant after 3000 k (just gone over) since i road it down from auck and had him check it out ! He was worried cause it was a brown colour (he was worried ?) Didn't want me doing it, something to do with bleeding airlocks out mmmm google is my friend ! lol mind you, so is this bloke , TOP tech IMOP, aint met anyone who can program a tune into a bike without a pc till i took the 1050 to him !
sinfull
23rd June 2008, 23:12
I just wondered if I could test this stuff. I mean this is really transperent!
Have ya got it hot yet ?
Shadows
23rd June 2008, 23:17
Tried freezing it?
sinfull
23rd June 2008, 23:18
Tried freezing it?
With a thermometer could get results sort of test !
Tried freezing it?
Good point!:niceone:
Shadows
23rd June 2008, 23:56
I'm not just a pretty face ^
Have ya got it hot yet ?
That's the problem! I downloaded a new fuel map tonight and thought I'd run it through a heat cycle while still connected to the PC. Temp reached 98 degrees then started dropping without fan. I checked the other side of the bike and noticed a puddle forming and coolant leaking from a hose. The hose is fine but not done up tight, so did it up, let it cool and checked level. Not much lost but it looks like water with a few drops of palmolive! I've drained and replaced, but wondered if I could test the shit before I do my :angry2:
sinfull
24th June 2008, 00:11
That's the problem! I downloaded a new fuel map tonight and thought I'd run it through a heat cycle while still connected to the PC. Temp reached 98 degrees then started dropping without fan. I checked the other side of the bike and noticed a puddle forming and coolant leaking from a hose. The hose is fine but not done up tight, so did it up, let it cool and checked level. Not much lost but it looks like water with a few drops of palmolive! I've drained and replaced, but wondered if I could test the shit before I do my :angry2:
Ya done a few maps now aint ya ? How ya finding the tune boy ? Ok retraction been a few weeks now huh ? Will go here again in a few weeks ! Is it that easy to change ya tunes and do ya notice it ? found on the track that i was lacking ! Not just in skills either lol top end was not happening (dont tell cowboyz but i was only just reeling in adrian on his 10 yr old kwaka 9 on the back straight, be interested if you've tapped yours out and what to ?)
Lose hose speaks volumnes with the service ?
Ya done a few maps now aint ya ? How ya finding the tune boy ? Ok retraction been a few weeks now huh ? Will go here again in a few weeks ! Is it that easy to change ya tunes and do ya notice it ? found on the track that i was lacking ! Not just in skills either lol top end was not happening (dont tell cowboyz but i was only just reeling in adrian on his 10 yr old kwaka 9 on the back straight, be interested if you've tapped yours out and what to ?)
Lose hose speaks volumnes with the service ?
TuneBoy is awesome, but I had a couple of "pinking" issues which should be sorted with this new tune. I've still got a big HP tune I haven't tried yet, but one tune at a time!:headbang:
Usarka
24th June 2008, 10:24
Heres a photo of a pre-mix bottle. The flash made it a little greener than what it looks in reality, but prettty close (it's a dark miserable day here).
The stuff I took out of the bike looked like it was darker - i think it's reasonably common for mechs to do over strength.....
[Edit:] Supposedly to test the coolant strength you need to use a hydrometer or refractometer. But I guess you'd need to understand the operating margins etc......
F5 Dave
24th June 2008, 10:30
ok coming in late here, but 'coolant' is generally primarily concerned with two functions. Antifreeze & anti corrosion properties. Both of these tend to fall off after a while hence replacing the coolant every couple of years is a good idea.
So if your bike gets hot it isn't really the coolant's fault. If it was showing 98deg then there could have been some localised boiling so expansion is likely. Most fans won't come on till after 100 degrees for some crazy reason.
If it gets really foul from corrosion then heat transfer will suffer.
Some coolants contain 'water wetter' to thin viscosity that helps cooling, but typical gycol ones won't.
CB ARGH
24th June 2008, 10:39
Coolant in it's pure form is usually Green to Dark Green. Now different types may already be pre-mixed so you pour it straight in... perhaps they diluted a pre-mixed solution :p
I hate science. :confused:
Motu
24th June 2008, 17:59
To test coolant you use test strips (litmus paper) to find the Ph,or you use a hydrometer.Another way is to test the voltage.Colour will tell you nothing - it only an added for customers to look at.If you have any doubts,get it tested and come back with your findings.
To test coolant you use test strips (litmus paper) to find the Ph,or you use a hydrometer.Another way is to test the voltage.Colour will tell you nothing - it only an added for customers to look at.If you have any doubts,get it tested and come back with your findings.
Yeah, I'll get some test strips and try that. I'll be sure to report my findings. Cheers!
GSVR
25th June 2008, 09:39
Since this threads full of coolant experts and pedantics at the moment I was wondering what is the diffence between the expensive coolant and the cheap stuff? I always use the cheap shit and dilute it with water if I don't have enough.
Water actually cools better than glycol but if your taking your bike up the mountain skiing or live to far south you will definately need it.
The anticorrosion additives you definately need.
cheviot
25th June 2008, 18:49
If you know anyone at a transport company the may be able to get you some of the strip they test the DCA in the coolant with. You can also buy them from Transport Wholesale or similar transport suppliers. The strips will let you know the ph and antifreeze %in you bike. I think Paccar or fleetgaurd make the test kits.
TKDSKIP
25th June 2008, 21:52
The colour is coolant is just a dye to show that it is in there and help identify any cooling system leaks. In this part of the world it is green, in the States its yellow and the Japs like it red.
The different colours wont help determine the quality or mix of antifreeze. If in doubt check with whoever did the service they should proudly tell you that it was filled with a quality product.
The colour is coolant is just a dye to show that it is in there and help identify any cooling system leaks. In this part of the world it is green, in the States its yellow and the Japs like it red.
The different colours wont help determine the quality or mix of antifreeze. If in doubt check with whoever did the service they should proudly tell you that it was filled with a quality product.
Unfortunately, I no longer trust them to tell the truth. I've already caught them out telling porkies. They made a point of telling me they didn't have to remove my tank, but then I discovered the front tank mount missing. I found it sitting on the splash guard in front of the airbox and I know damn well I didn't leave it like that.
The coolant is just one issue, but I want to have my facts straight before I tackle them!:argh:
Buddha#81
26th June 2008, 07:13
Yeah, I'll get some test strips and try that. I'll be sure to report my findings. Cheers!
You can get a test kit from Gough Gough and Hamer, it goes to our Oil Lab in Christchurch (free post) and they will test it, you will have results, on line within 24 hrs. http://www.oillab.co.nz/products/_details/id_1/single_coolant_kit.html
You can get a test kit from Gough Gough and Hamer, it goes to our Oil Lab in Christchurch (free post) and they will test it, you will have results, on line within 24 hrs. http://www.oillab.co.nz/products/_details/id_1/single_coolant_kit.html
Cheers Buddha, but that's a little over the top. I don't think this will have to be 100% accurate.
slopster
26th June 2008, 17:30
just see if it tastes the same as the stuff in your car. Should be a strong sickly sweet flavour. Make sure you spit and don't swallow - its quite bad for the kidneys apparantly.
BMW_RACER
26th June 2008, 18:13
Lol - that shit can kill you if you digest it.
I’ll purchase a test weapon tomorrow. Gone are the days of drinking meths, siphoning petrol and taste testing coolant!:laugh:
denill
1st July 2008, 13:34
What is the *best* coolant to use for touring (ST1100) - and what ratios are suggested?
TIA :niceone:
Bill
Right, I finally got hold of a tester from Repco and checked the coolant. All good, so there wasn't a drama after all! Cheers everyone for your help.:msn-wink:
munterk6
16th July 2008, 22:08
bloody hell, 30 posts to find that out....phewww! We use test strips at the dealership I work at....standard procedure for testing coolant concentration.
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