How To Test Your Coolant/Antifreeze

Using this coolant tester is an easy way to test both freezing and boiling points of your coolant. If the needle drops below the suggested “ideal” readout on the tester then you need to replace your coolant. It’s super easy and cheap
#prestone
#antifreeze
#equinox

[@caiden621]

Thanks for demonstrating! I appreciate the tip on getting the bubbles out after leveling. Thumbs up from me! Cheers!

[@BillOfAllTrades2016]

Thanks for the positive feedback. Take care.

[@Stunna_ECN]

That’s the tool I need I knew it existed but forgot lol thanks bro

[@BillOfAllTrades2016]

You’re welcome. Glad you found the video. It is a helpful tool. Thanks for watching. Please like and subscribe

[@NhatNguyen-xs7kl]

Thanks man! Gotta flush out my coolant using 50/50 but afraid it’s might not be totally 50/50 since when you flush it, the water might still be in other parts of the engine so this will help. Worse come to worse I’ll get a another bottle but a concentrate one to balance it out.

[@BillOfAllTrades2016]

Ya that’s a good idea. It shouldn’t throw the balance off too much. But you got the right idea. I’ll be doing a flush in summer as well. Let me know how yours goes. Thanks for watching. Please like and subscribe

[@keepingitreal8313]

Great video and advice from reading comments. Too many take this mixture for granted.

[@BillOfAllTrades2016]

Yes most people never change this fluid. It’s one of the most important ones next to oil. Thanks for watching. Please like and subscribe

[@Rareparrot]

thanks - a simple tool but the one I bought didn't come with instructions :) Thank you.

[@BillOfAllTrades2016]

You’re welcome. Thanks for watching. Glad it helped. Please like and subscribe

[@dimwitsadvocate6264]

Handy video. I looked at his channel and decided to subscribe.

[@BillOfAllTrades2016]

Thanks for the sub. And thanks for the good feedback. Take care.

[@owdgfprojects]

Thats looking very concentrated (mine is only about halfway) - I was told by my mechanic that the coolant concentration can have the opposite effect if you have too much of it and can foul your radiator and engine

[@BillOfAllTrades2016]

😂😂😂 you assume it’s too concentrated. I always love a conclusion without full context given. You don’t even know the climate I live in. If you lived here in Canada with the needle only reaching halfway then your coolant would freeze. We get temperatures down to -30 plus wind chill making it -40 Celsius. We use premix here in Canada. Different climates may use different percentages of mixture. The farther up north you go the more coolant ratio you will require. Not trying to be rude here. But sometimes it’s good to fully inform yourself on a topic before trying to tell someone they are wrong. Thanks for watching

[@Kooshawl]

Nice video

[@BillOfAllTrades2016]

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it thanks for watching. Please like and subscribe

[@josej-h1471]

How do I know if mine still works properly? I found it on the tool box, did the above procedure and seems like the gauge inside this tester moves so I’m good?

[@BillOfAllTrades2016]

This gadget won’t expire. As long as the needle moves freely then it’s good to go. Thanks for watching. Please like and subscribe

[@user-bp5jv1fp4t]

Can you use the coolant directly from the radiator?

[@BillOfAllTrades2016]

Yes you can. As long as you fill the tester as shown in the video then it doesn’t matter where you pull the coolant from. Thanks for watching. Please like and subscribe

[@alabenotman7160]

Mine completely went above the scale to the feeze point word . What does that mean ?

[@BillOfAllTrades2016]

That means you have tremendous protection in the cold weather. Your coolant is in excellent shape and will not freeze even in very sun zero temps. Thanks for watching. Please like and subscribe

[@alabenotman7160]

@@BillOfAllTrades2016 oh that's awesome. I haven't changed it since I bought the car like 3 years ago . I appreciate the video

[@BillOfAllTrades2016]

Ya same with mine. I just topped up a bit. I had my Pontiac for 9 years and never touched the coolant. Passed it to my wife’s cousin and she has still been driving it for 3 more years with the same coolant

[@chainringcalf]

It means you have more coolant than the normal 50/50 ratio or wherever your scale ends. Unfortunately this isn't always a good thing. Beyond 60/40 the freezing point actually starts going back up again. 100% undiluted antifreeze has the same freezing point as a 30/70 mix, around 10F, and far worse cooling capacity. There is only downside going past 60/40.

[@JnJShiffler]

What is that rust stop device?

[@BillOfAllTrades2016]

It’s an electronic rust protector. It has sacrificial metal strips that are charged up to attract corrosion. Same concept if you ever seen a sacrificial metal rod in a water heater. I had this on the vehicle for 3 years. The only thing it was good for was giving anyone a static shock if they touched the metal on any door. Underside rusted like crazy. Definitely avoid these. They are a scam. Stick with underspray. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching. Please like and subscribe

[@JnJShiffler]

@@BillOfAllTrades2016 I know there is some effect of galvanic corrosion and metal objects holding a charge like a huge capacitor. Sad to hear the unit didn't seem to work. Live in a snow area with a lot of road salt?

[@BillOfAllTrades2016]

Yes. Southern Ontario. Tons of road salt and liquid ice melter.

[@HennyThingProductions]

If my car had been filled with concentrate how significant would the boiling point be decreased on one of these?

[@BillOfAllTrades2016]

Filling it with pure concentrate will actually significantly increase the boiling point. Less water means less likely to boil. Hard to say by how much though.

[@kwitmeh3]

pure concentrate does have a higher boiling point, but water has higher heat capacity. So while its less likely to boil, it will also run hotter due to being designed to operate with a water mixture which can carry more heat away

[@Fj8282haha]

Valvoline trying to rip me off. I got the tester, they r lying

[@BillOfAllTrades2016]

Oil change places tend to do that to make money. Remember most of them work off commission so lying or exaggerating to a customer will earn a better paycheck. Glad you found my video. Thanks for watching. Please like and subscribe for more money saving videos.

[@franciscosaldivar6251]

This is false , I work at valvoline and at least at my store we don’t make commission , but we do just recommend services based on your car fax history , at the end of the day we will give you the service only if you’d like to , we shouldn’t be lying or exaggerating about the car in order to sell you a service

[@thebrownbear4961]

my car is running on straight tap water... no coolant what so ever. should I be concerned ?

[@BillOfAllTrades2016]

Don’t run a. Engine on tap water. It will corrode over time. Your mixture depends on the climate you live in. But the water being put in should be distilled water.

[@keithsada1380]

The cooling system doesn't circulate coolant through the reservoir. I don't know why people think you can check your coolant by checking what's in the reservoir. You need to check it at the radiator. The reservoir could have 75% antifreeze in it and the radiator could be pure water.

[@BillOfAllTrades2016]

This test was performed on a 2017 Chevy equinox. These vehicles do not have radiator caps. The only access cap is in the reservoir. That’s why this test was performed in the overflow tank. Thanks for watching.

[@charlesphiliparthurgeorgep4653]

On many vehicles, the reservoir isn’t just an overflow tank.. it’s an expansion tank. That means it gets pressurized along with the radiator and rest of the cooling system. There is no radiator cap, the only way to add coolant is through the fill-hole on the expansion tank. Although the coolant inside doesn’t really get cycled, the level rises at operating temperature as pressure is increased due to expansion. It’s physically the highest point in the cooling system... so functionally is the same as a radiator with a cap found on other cars.

[@BillOfAllTrades2016]

Precisely. That’s exactly how the equinox and terrains are setup. Thanks for watching. Please like and subscribe

[@anthn88]

Do your research before commenting. It’s not just a reservoir on this vehicle. Not all vehicles have both! Smh

[@BillOfAllTrades2016]

I was thinking the same thing. Thanks for watching. Please like and subscribe

[@31acruz]

Thumbs don't, you never told us how we know what reading is supposed to be good, middle or the road or bad. The print doesn't say anything, doesn't even mention it. Just shows numbers from low to high, how are we supposed to interpret the levels? It not good enough to say that if you rate in the top part you are good, give us clear information.

[@BillOfAllTrades2016]

Not sure how I could be more clear. Blue side is freeze point. Wherever the arrow lands is the temp your coolant will freeze at. Same with hot side. Where the arrow points is where it will boil. I can’t tell every single person if their coolant is good or not. Everyone has different climates. Example someone who lives in Florida with coolant showing -10 Celsius as a freeze point is perfect and performs above their needs whereas here in Canada that same readout would be an alert for an immediate coolant flush. Some things you have to do yourself. If I covered every imaginable point and outcome or variation of the simplest tool ever made, the video would be a half hour long. Ps check your spelling.

[@caiden621]

How is this not clear? He showed the audience how to determine the cold freezing point, and the hot boiling point. He even showed the “normal” range for what is recommended for most vehicles. He also explained clear points of making sure you fill to level (which he demonstrated) and to tap the tester for any bubbles (which he demonstrates as well) I think your comment is rude and misleading to viewers. If you didn’t take away from this video, it might be best that you take your vehicle to the nearest mechanic shop for any maintenance prevention.

[@BillOfAllTrades2016]

Well said. There are a lot of people that shouldn’t be allowed to work on cars. I always wonder if people that make comments like above are just trying to pick a fight or if they sincerely are not getting the point. And I know that not everyone understands cars. But they shouldn’t take it out on others. Thanks for watching and thanks for letting me know my video was indeed clear. Please like and subscribe

[@shall5867]

I am guessing he did not understand that it was related to the outdoor temperature levels that the car was protected for.

[@BillOfAllTrades2016]

Probably not. Thanks for watching. Please like and subscribe