test strips to tell what kind of antifreeze is in your engine

Best coolant testers 2019

We pick from eight coolant testers to discover out which is the best at checking engine fluid

You don't only have water in your radiator, but likewise coolant. Often called antifreeze, this raises the boiling bespeak and drops the freezing point of the mix and, in modern engines, stops corrosion. That mix of coolant and water is key, and incorrect dilution stops information technology working as it should, then a tester to keep an eye on it is a cheap and handy garage tool.

Which is the best to ensure your cooling system does its job? We tried eight. None was expensive, especially next to the damage that frozen coolant or excessive corrosion could cause.

How we tested them

Nearly antifreeze is ethylene glycol-based, with pre and postal service-1998 cars broadly using silicate and organic acrid tech (OAT), respectively. One tester worked with rarer propylene glycol.

To check temperature protection we poured solutions of 33 and l per cent, which should protect to -18 and -34 degrees Celsius for silicate, and -xviii and -36 deg C for OAT solutions. For propylene, nosotros used 40 and 50 per cent, for -28 and -40 deg C.

Nosotros checked each for accurateness, logging three results from each tester, and also marked the products for usability, clear and prophylactic instructions, and cost at the time of testing.

Verdict

Accurate results combined with an easy-to-read scale ensured that Draper'southward new production came out on pinnacle in this test. Our previous winner, the Bahco, again proved an impressive organisation, with good readings, merely it wasn't quite as easy to utilise, finishing in second place. Filling out the top three was the Clarke, with neat features and a low price.

1. Draper 35807 Antifreeze Tester
ii. Bahco Antifreeze Liquid Tester BE401
3. Clarke CHT433 Antifreeze and Coolant Tester

Reviews

Draper 35807 Antifreeze Tester

Price: Around £10Rating: 5/5Type: Disc

This new Draper produced some impressive results, being on par with our previous winner. It was furthest adrift on the OAT 33 antifreeze, at four degrees high, but performed better on the others and was perfect on ethylene fifty.

It's much larger than the Bahco and, importantly, the calibration was far easier to read. The exam results depended on the positions of six discs, which rose and savage co-ordinate to the antifreeze percentage, and sometimes it was necessary to wait a while as i or two made up their minds.

Bahco Antifreeze Liquid Tester BE401

Toll: Around £tenRating: iv/5Blazon: Bladder

A winner last time around, the Bahco remains unique in this examination because it can handle both ethylene and methanol mixes, and uses a float, instead of discs or balls.

It's made of glass, rather than plastic, and its accuracy was similar to the Draper's, with four scales, covering boil-over and freezing protection, Celsius and Fahrenheit. Still, the markings were small and its readings difficult to understand, while the diagrammatic instructions were limited, and didn't mention heat safety.

Clarke CHT433 Antifreeze and Coolant Tester

Price: Around £5Rating: 4/5Type: NeedleContact: world wide web.machinemart.co.uk

It'southward plain related to the Gunson, simply the Clarke produced better results. In general, it was as good as the Bahco and Draper, yet was seven degrees adrift on the ethylene 50 tests.

We liked having the instructions printed clearly on the device itself, and the actress pointer at the top enabled the user to get it exactly horizontal for more authentic readings.

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The instructions were reasonable simply, as with most of these products, it didn't say how unsafe antifreeze is, if ingested.

Sealey AK4121 Propylene Glycol Antifreeze Pocket Tester

Price: Around £sevenRating: 4/5Type: Ball

If y'all need to test propylene glycol your choice is express to this Sealey. It's chosen a 'pocket' product, merely unless thoroughly cleaned and stale we wouldn't put it there, given the dangerous nature of antifreeze.

The small (130mm) drinking glass tube uses coloured assurance to denote the protection level, its markings being almost the aforementioned as in disc-type testers. Results were good – just iii degrees off at both exam points. While the instructions don't advise how to use the product, there's lots of safety info.

Silverline Antifreeze Tester 427656

Toll: Around £5Rating: three.5/5Blazon: Disc

One time over again, the Silverline came in at an extremely attractive price, especially given that it was essentially the same design as the Draper and Laser offerings.

We liked the instructions, which covered all condom aspects, likewise as the danger to children. Equally with the other testers of this type, the discs that were floating defined the level of protection, and occasionally some discs would residue in between, making information technology necessary to guess a figure. Reasonably authentic, but not at the level of the top iv.

Laser Ethylene Glycol Antifreeze Tester 4293

Price: Around £7Rating: iii/5Blazon: Disc

The third of our disc testers, this didn't have the best instructions, but they did mention that as well much antifreeze (70 per cent or more) cuts the engine protection, because pure antifreeze freezes at around -6 deg C.

Although its accurateness was more often than not skillful, especially on OAT 33, it was 10 degrees out on OAT 50 for no obvious reason. The results were similar to the Silverline's, but it lost out on cost. Irritatingly, the rubber suction bulb leaked a little when pressed hard, then more care had to be taken.

Gunson Antifreeze Tester 77105

Price: Effectually £7Rating: 3/5Type: Needle

Apart from the name on the pack this is identical to the Clarke tester (in a higher place), but its results weren't equally expert – typically between four and six degrees optimistic.

We liked the meaty, piece of cake-to-apply design. The instructions were good and mentioned the need for caution with heat, although there was nil almost personal safe relating to eyes, skin and ingestion. In principle, this is a good device, but the needle is very wide, fifty-fifty where it reaches the scale, making it catchy to read correctly.

Halfords Antifreeze Tester MEG

Price: Around £iiRating: two/5Blazon: Float

This is a 18-carat pocket product; it's just 125mm long and comes in its ain plastic holder. We liked the comprehensive instructions that were printed on the packet and repeated on the holder, although the writing on there was tiny.

Three coloured balls relate to the level of protection, but information technology was tricky to become the right corporeality of liquid within, while the tester's size may make it hard to reach into some expansion tanks. It's the cheapest production here, but likewise the least accurate.

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Source: https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/60400/best-coolant-testers-2019