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What is the voltage .... of your antifreeze?

Posted: Sun May 17, 2015 2:11 pm
by Chiadog
Anyone heard of this before? Checking antifreeze condition by measuring its voltage differential from ground?
I saw this on PBS MOTORWEEK today: http://www.motorweek.org/features/goss_ ... lant-check

Re: What is the voltage .... of your antifreeze?

Posted: Sun May 17, 2015 5:36 pm
by vibrologist
That's cool Chiadog! I will try that soon.

Re: What is the voltage .... of your antifreeze?

Posted: Sun May 17, 2015 6:07 pm
by ctgottapee
Yeah I've done that before on an older car with the old school green antifreeze

not sure how useful the number is which diff fluids and different makes

Re: What is the voltage .... of your antifreeze?

Posted: Mon May 18, 2015 8:25 pm
by Chiadog
ctgottapee wrote:Yeah I've done that before on an older car with the old school green antifreeze

not sure how useful the number is which diff fluids and different makes
Good question! Type of antifreeze was never mentioned in the segment on TV, so I've got to guess this would work on all types. Plus the link has a picture of Dexcool and Peak Long Life.
http://www.motorweek.org/images/goss_ga ... goss_3.jpg

Re: What is the voltage .... of your antifreeze?

Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 2:32 am
by lannvouivre
Not surprising, pH is related to the concentration of ions! Unless I'm forgetting my college chem II course.

Re: What is the voltage .... of your antifreeze?

Posted: Wed May 20, 2015 7:39 am
by circuitsmith
The chemical makeup of the antifreeze doesn't make much difference, except of course the pH.
For the best accuracy the dipping probe should be copper.
That can be a short piece of bare red copper wire or copper tubing held on a multimeter probe.
Voltage should be checked with the engine off as well as on.
A significant difference is evidence of a poor ground connection in the car's electrical system.

Re: What is the voltage .... of your antifreeze?

Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2015 6:06 pm
by Jbenrod
My research lead me to believe the test is NOT valid unless you use a neutral platinum test lead in the coolant.