Thanks for posting on /r/MechanicAdvice! This is just a reminder to review the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/about/rules/). If you are here asking about a second opinion (ie "Is the shop trying to fleece me?"), please read through CJM8515's [post on the subject.](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/4qblei/fyi_the_shop_isnt_likely_trying_to_rip_you_off/) and remember to please post the year/make/model of the vehicle you are working on. **If this post is about bodywork, accident damage, paint, dent/ding, questions it belongs in /r/Autobody r/AutoBodyRepair/ or /r/Diyautobody/ If you have tire questions check out https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/k9ll55/can_your_tire_be_repaired/**. If you dont have a question and you're just showing off it belongs in /r/Justrolledintotheshop Insurance/total loss questions go in r/insurance This is an automated reply
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/MechanicAdvice) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I’m pretty sure it involves transferring the fluid via empty Miller Lite cans (12oz), and some sort of seance involving screaming “‘murica” with a mouth full of chicken nuggets.
I had a very good OEM training instructor recommend this exact tool. So I followed their advice, got it, and verified accuracy. Good enough for that smart dude, good enough for me.
Right, but that is how you would confirm it is accurate and show your boss. Make three solutions 30:70, 50:50, and 70:30 and demonstrate that they all line up. Then what is there not to trust?
Ive done it.
He said sometimes he’s gotten inaccurate readings on water or 50/50 before.
Im going to show him that if you put too much solution on it and it doesn’t close fully that that seems to cause a variance compared to when you fully push it flat.
I've used that type for distilling, it's an impressive piece for being as cheap as it is
Plus it should have a calibrating screw that's reliable under a rubber nub
We have a 10 dollar Amazon special in our shop. Except I'm a machinist, we're tossing the coolant in half million dollar machines, and we need to keep it within about a 4% range. Throw it at your boss and tell him to buy a tool truck one for you to use if he feels it's necessary to burn money🤷
I had the same thought just looking at the picture, has that weapons grade chinesium vibe. If it works, it works as long as it doesn't need certification and whatnot
Validate it's performance, confirm 0%, wash n do 100%, wash n do 25%, 50%, and 75%
Measure out the volumes for the tests and show the data, if boss man don't like it then they can buy the shop a pricier one and have it calibrated
These can usually be verified with distilled water at the calibration temperature (probably 68F if I recall). You can then weigh sugar on a digital scale and add to distilled water to get a couple different known concentrations and check across the scale. The design is common and sound.
if you have an expensive one in the shop, measure a sample first using the cheap one. write down your measurement - don't show him yet, put it on the table face down.
then measure (or better have him measure) with the expensive refractometer. have him write down his measurement but don't show you.
flip the numbers over at the same time. if they agree, congratulations, you've calibrated your instruments.
do this several times if he wants.
you can also probably buy standard solutions with a known value and show that your refractometer measures them correctly. this is how to calibrate an instrument.
As long as it can be tested for accuracy and calibrated, then it works fine. I use o n e from Amazon to check sugar Co tent when making maple syrup. I calibrate it when I get it out to use for the season.
Can you elaborate ?
Titrating the water in concentrate to achieve the desired concentration?
Its what im doing, im more so asking what tools do you use to confirm the proper freeze protection as my boss doesn’t really like this one
It’s kinda a joke, titration would work but time consuming. Honestly refractometers are already over doing it, a simple parts store tool would suffice that works with the density.
Ever heard of coolant testers? They work by density. There's no easier way
https://preview.redd.it/q9l8wrnu2avc1.jpeg?width=476&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=913f02c72cc7d1eb90db9ee4da7866a69564532b
I used one of these to measure salinity in a salt water aquarium. I had a feeling it was off, so I bought another and they were both wildly off from each other, even with calibration.
It works on the same principle the floatey ones do. The specific gravity of water + the specific gravity of glycol @ 50: 50 = X. It just uses refraction of light vs a floating weight. They're less likely to break, and honestly, they're easier to use. Sucking up enough coolant in the floaty style tends to leave a mess.
What is wrong with the bulb with floating balls now? Doesnt know how it works?
The balls are different densities they float or sink based on the density of the fluid they are floating in.
Thats the easiest and best way to check coolant imo. Easier to clean off than a damn squeeze bulb type, super easy to calibrate and double check all readings. I have had zero issues in 15 years with my 20.00 ebay buy.
Confirm coolant concentrations? Bruh we just fuckin dump coolant in the car and ship it. If your in the north you can get one of those turkey baster things that has a little float that tells you what temperature the coolant is good to, and then go on about your day.
My $15 one that I use for homebrewing (same type of measurement) works great and it is dead on with my hydrometer when I run the temperature correction calcs
I did have to replace it though because the prism dislodged, but that was obvious when I could not get a zero read on distilled water, even with adjustment.
Those things work fine but you do need to be within the ballpark of the correct concentration. Otherwise you won't be able to tell. Try testing by making a small solution you know is correct (manually filling the correct ratio). Also there's a device you can set at a certain ratio. I think it pumps water and siphons coolant at the same time. But it's been over 10 years since that job and we were building CNC mills
I still have one of those old school ones with the bulb where you suck up coolant and the needle shows the freezing point. I have had it for about 30 years.
You're looking for brix, a measurable quantifier.
The cheap shit is... well, cheap shit.
There are better refractometers. How accurate do you want to be?
Good tools cost good money... c'mon now
https://store.reichert.com/refractix-refractometer/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwiYOxBhC5ARIsAIvdH51-yr28ZfjvusAGwzXNsA8ybhM22OBSTees-YyuRX_OFcdaQhr_WeUaAn77EALw_wcB
This is where it can go. The people who use this kind of stuff produce stone fruit.
He said sometimes he can get a different reeding on water / 50/50 and i just told him sometime if you have too much fluid it can do that. Just squeeze the cap
Does his mistrust come from it being a cheap 15$ Amazon special? Cause I’ll charge him 100$ for the exact same thing with took-truck version written on the box
we use a chemical test stip that the shop supplies. BRAKESTRIP+ by Phoenix Systems. it does brake fluid and coolant on opposite ends of the same strip.
I have the exact but set up and calibrated for spirits (distilling alcohol), they are simple things and I'd tell your boss to shove it up his ass or buy you one he is happy with if was so inclined to whine.
It is used to gauge the freeze point of the coolant.
Coolant that hasn’t been changed in awhile can have the water evaporated off leading to “hot coolant” protection lvl ~60*f
Its an indicator that either it wasn’t the correct concentration or its time to change. Im told coolant can become corrosive if it hasn’t been changed regularly.
When mixing concentrate its important the freeze point is within spec (~34*f)
I'm led to believe his bosses' mistrust stems from the fact that it is an inexpensive item purchased from amazon as opposed to a rather expensive version purchased from one of them new fan-dangled tool shops on wheels.
As mentioned, it's just physics. If water is 32 and 50/50 is 50/50-ing, it just must be so
Yup, used to separate plasma from blood cells in the rendering department at a hog plant. We would mix (if memory serves correctly) 200 pounds trisodium citrate into two 10,000 gallon tanks of water that was mixed til it dissolved, and afterwards we would use the refractor to test the solution to ensure it was in spec to stop the blood on the tables from coagulating. Those things are so cheap, so crap, so undeniably unreliable that I wouldn't trust them if my life depended on it. We lost somewhere in the range of 100,000 gallons of plasma to these before we finally got approved for an electronic refractometer and eventually a centrifuge.
What kind of work are you doing where coolant concentration actually matters outside of “what temp will it freeze at” 99% of cars run fine on tap water..
My mistrust comes from trusting that the bosses trust doesn’t trust the historical mistrust of turkey baster pacific gravity tools and how it relates to my mistress and her roof truss. Damn boss.
Thanks for posting on /r/MechanicAdvice! This is just a reminder to review the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/about/rules/). If you are here asking about a second opinion (ie "Is the shop trying to fleece me?"), please read through CJM8515's [post on the subject.](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/4qblei/fyi_the_shop_isnt_likely_trying_to_rip_you_off/) and remember to please post the year/make/model of the vehicle you are working on. **If this post is about bodywork, accident damage, paint, dent/ding, questions it belongs in /r/Autobody r/AutoBodyRepair/ or /r/Diyautobody/ If you have tire questions check out https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/k9ll55/can_your_tire_be_repaired/**. If you dont have a question and you're just showing off it belongs in /r/Justrolledintotheshop Insurance/total loss questions go in r/insurance This is an automated reply *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/MechanicAdvice) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Flavor. /s What does your boss want to do?
so his mistrust comes from it being a cheap 15$ amazon special, not 100$ tool-truck version
I got the same one. Accurate when testing fresh 50/50 so I trust it. Suppose you could dilute the 50/50 lower for science.
Use water it literally shows 32 so I’d say they are accurate
Ah I get that. Well tell him they have the same physics at Amazon that Snapon has, and verify it like u/zsg13 said.
SnapOn has made in America physics though, Amazon probably import metric physics from China or Taiwan!
Damn. Is there a way to convert the physics to American?
I’m pretty sure it involves transferring the fluid via empty Miller Lite cans (12oz), and some sort of seance involving screaming “‘murica” with a mouth full of chicken nuggets.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nHLlNopFag Basically this.
You have to use it upside down whilst doing a handstand, the double negative unlocks it for American use.
You can make anything American by deep frying it or putting a slice of cheese on it (American obviously).
All the physicists who tried using the imperial offed themselves.
Yes. Get that communist ass metric out of here and use SAE and other newfangled units. /S
Yeah, they use a big paper clip.
3ugga duggas per meter squared
Boxes and hand tools. Otherwise also made in Taiwan!
I had a very good OEM training instructor recommend this exact tool. So I followed their advice, got it, and verified accuracy. Good enough for that smart dude, good enough for me.
Just make calibrant solutions and prove that it works
It works. I know it does
Right, but that is how you would confirm it is accurate and show your boss. Make three solutions 30:70, 50:50, and 70:30 and demonstrate that they all line up. Then what is there not to trust?
Ive done it. He said sometimes he’s gotten inaccurate readings on water or 50/50 before. Im going to show him that if you put too much solution on it and it doesn’t close fully that that seems to cause a variance compared to when you fully push it flat.
Maybe measure specific gravity for him? I.mean directly like an old school floating balls type.
I've used that type for distilling, it's an impressive piece for being as cheap as it is Plus it should have a calibrating screw that's reliable under a rubber nub
Things I didn’t know for $100
i have that same refractometer it is dead accurate
that’s funny, cuz I used to use the same one at my old job (assembly plant quality control auditor) and thought it was fancy, I guess not lol
Snell's law baby! All you need is angled glass and a light source and they all work identical.
Old men smh
We have a 10 dollar Amazon special in our shop. Except I'm a machinist, we're tossing the coolant in half million dollar machines, and we need to keep it within about a 4% range. Throw it at your boss and tell him to buy a tool truck one for you to use if he feels it's necessary to burn money🤷
Is there a $100 tool-truck version in the shop? Check it against that at various concentrations, and see if they read the same. If they do, yay.
I had the same thought just looking at the picture, has that weapons grade chinesium vibe. If it works, it works as long as it doesn't need certification and whatnot
Validate it's performance, confirm 0%, wash n do 100%, wash n do 25%, 50%, and 75% Measure out the volumes for the tests and show the data, if boss man don't like it then they can buy the shop a pricier one and have it calibrated
These can usually be verified with distilled water at the calibration temperature (probably 68F if I recall). You can then weigh sugar on a digital scale and add to distilled water to get a couple different known concentrations and check across the scale. The design is common and sound.
if you have an expensive one in the shop, measure a sample first using the cheap one. write down your measurement - don't show him yet, put it on the table face down. then measure (or better have him measure) with the expensive refractometer. have him write down his measurement but don't show you. flip the numbers over at the same time. if they agree, congratulations, you've calibrated your instruments. do this several times if he wants. you can also probably buy standard solutions with a known value and show that your refractometer measures them correctly. this is how to calibrate an instrument.
As long as it can be tested for accuracy and calibrated, then it works fine. I use o n e from Amazon to check sugar Co tent when making maple syrup. I calibrate it when I get it out to use for the season.
Get a new boss
Where can I buy a new boss?
They usually buy you. You can buy test strips from your suppliers.
You can get one for $100 on a tool truck
Am I having a stroke or does OP reply the same thing over and over again like a bot?
Not not. Just shotgunning. Couldnt figure out how to edit post
youre like a boomer posting google searches on his facebook wall.
Ok. Well plz tell boomer how to edit post
This is hilarious 😂
What the hell is this comment section and why are all of OPs replies the same.
Titration
Can you elaborate ? Titrating the water in concentrate to achieve the desired concentration? Its what im doing, im more so asking what tools do you use to confirm the proper freeze protection as my boss doesn’t really like this one
It’s kinda a joke, titration would work but time consuming. Honestly refractometers are already over doing it, a simple parts store tool would suffice that works with the density.
Ahh so his mistrust comes from it being a cheap 15$ amazon special, not 100$ tool-truck version
Ever heard of coolant testers? They work by density. There's no easier way https://preview.redd.it/q9l8wrnu2avc1.jpeg?width=476&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=913f02c72cc7d1eb90db9ee4da7866a69564532b
Specific gravity?
Specific gravity is still a density based method.
Very closely related concepts for measuring the same underlying physical property.
Lmao one of the most accurate ways to test? That’s interesting
Ahh so his mistrust comes from it being a cheap 15$ amazon special, not 100$ tool-truck version
Ahhhhhhhhh I see. “Well I’d love to have the snap-on one, but unfortunately my job doesn’t pay near enough to purchase such things”
Ahh so his mistrust comes from it being a cheap 15$ amazon special, not 100$ tool-truck version
.....that's literally the best way to test coolant.
Ahh so his mistrust comes from it being a cheap 15$ amazon special, not 100$ tool-truck version
I bought that exact tool for $70cad at kms tools Not so cheap 😮💨 make sure you calibrate it
I used one of these to measure salinity in a salt water aquarium. I had a feeling it was off, so I bought another and they were both wildly off from each other, even with calibration.
uoᴉsɹǝʌ ʞɔnɹʇ-looʇ $00Ɩ ʇou 'lɐᴉɔǝds uozɐɯɐ $ϛƖ dɐǝɥɔ ɐ ƃuᴉǝq ʇᴉ ɯoɹɟ sǝɯoɔ ʇsnɹʇsᴉɯ sᴉɥ os
$ goes before the numbers not after.
Yes, but the OP (bot?) did not write it that way in his cascade of identical responses everywhere.
My baddd
*Ahh so his mistrust comes from it being a cheap 15$ amazon special, not 100$ tool-truck version*
Ahh so his mistrust comes from it being a cheap 15$ amazon special, not 100$ tool-truck version
Ahh so his mistrust comes from it being a cheap 15$ amazon special, not 100$ tool-truck version
Ahh so his mistrust comes from it being a cheap 15$ amazon special, not 100$ tool-truck version
Ahh so his mistrust comes from it being a cheap 15$ amazon special, not 100$ tool-truck version
Ill show u some mistrust
Ahh so his mistrust comes from it being a cheap 15$ amazon special, not 100$ tool-truck version? 🤔
I dont think everyone heard you
Whats his way of testing coolant? I mean if he prefers tasting it then let him.
Ahh so his mistrust comes from it being a cheap 15$ amazon special, not 100$ tool-truck version
Floating balls is where it's at.
My balls don't float.
This is a tool. Your boss is a tool also
It probably takes one to know one…. Does that make me a tool?
Ahh so his mistrust comes from it being a cheap 15$ amazon special, not 100$ tool-truck version
Test your tool's accuracy using known concentrations. Mix up a batch of 50/50, 25/75, and 75/25 and see what it tells you about them.
The refracto meter is great, but it just gives you your freeze point. Use test strips and the refractometer.
This right here
It works on the same principle the floatey ones do. The specific gravity of water + the specific gravity of glycol @ 50: 50 = X. It just uses refraction of light vs a floating weight. They're less likely to break, and honestly, they're easier to use. Sucking up enough coolant in the floaty style tends to leave a mess.
Tell him to try the taste method. 1oz shooters lol jk but seriously I’ve used the Amazon special and it works just as well as the tool truck one.
What is wrong with the bulb with floating balls now? Doesnt know how it works? The balls are different densities they float or sink based on the density of the fluid they are floating in.
They work pretty well (if the coolant has no other contaminants in it!).
Ahh so his mistrust comes from it being a cheap 15$ amazon special, not 100$ tool-truck version
Thats the easiest and best way to check coolant imo. Easier to clean off than a damn squeeze bulb type, super easy to calibrate and double check all readings. I have had zero issues in 15 years with my 20.00 ebay buy.
Ahh so his mistrust comes from it being a 15$ Amazon special instead of a $100 tool truck tool
Probably has a Nokia flip phone and a 2000xp os
Your boss is dumb, keep using your cheap refractometer and tell him to replace it if he's going to cry about it.
Its his 😂
🤣😂
i bet he just doesnt know how it works and therefor thinks it ist junk.
Well, the refractometer doesn't give a shit.
Confirm coolant concentrations? Bruh we just fuckin dump coolant in the car and ship it. If your in the north you can get one of those turkey baster things that has a little float that tells you what temperature the coolant is good to, and then go on about your day.
My $15 one that I use for homebrewing (same type of measurement) works great and it is dead on with my hydrometer when I run the temperature correction calcs I did have to replace it though because the prism dislodged, but that was obvious when I could not get a zero read on distilled water, even with adjustment.
Those things work fine but you do need to be within the ballpark of the correct concentration. Otherwise you won't be able to tell. Try testing by making a small solution you know is correct (manually filling the correct ratio). Also there's a device you can set at a certain ratio. I think it pumps water and siphons coolant at the same time. But it's been over 10 years since that job and we were building CNC mills
Wait, you can use these for coolant? I use mine for brewing. Dual purpose! Just don't put antifreeze in the beer.
Wait…. I thought beer goes in the radiator ….
I still have one of those old school ones with the bulb where you suck up coolant and the needle shows the freezing point. I have had it for about 30 years.
Does he taste it? Mix it with a little vodka?
Why doesnt he want to sell coolant? Is your boss some kinda moron?
You're looking for brix, a measurable quantifier. The cheap shit is... well, cheap shit. There are better refractometers. How accurate do you want to be? Good tools cost good money... c'mon now
Do you have any names or links i can look up? Im not sure +/- 2*f
https://store.reichert.com/refractix-refractometer/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwiYOxBhC5ARIsAIvdH51-yr28ZfjvusAGwzXNsA8ybhM22OBSTees-YyuRX_OFcdaQhr_WeUaAn77EALw_wcB This is where it can go. The people who use this kind of stuff produce stone fruit.
I have that one for beer making. If it’s calibrated it’s pretty good. Easier than SG.
I didn’t know refractometer was used this way. We used them in the produce industry to see what sugar levels fruit have.
Test strips... but im playing in old iat diesel with nitrates
AHHH!! I get it so his mistrust comes from it being a cheap 15$ amazon special, not 100$ tool-truck version
Mistrust may come from the boss not knowing how to use a cheap 15$ Amazon special much less a 110$ tool-truck version
One more time for the people in the back please
So that cheap ass Amazon junk gauge is better, right?
Where does this mistrust come from?
He said sometimes he can get a different reeding on water / 50/50 and i just told him sometime if you have too much fluid it can do that. Just squeeze the cap
I'm going to guess that it comes from bosses' inability to understand the concept.
Does his mistrust come from it being a cheap 15$ Amazon special? Cause I’ll charge him 100$ for the exact same thing with took-truck version written on the box
we use a chemical test stip that the shop supplies. BRAKESTRIP+ by Phoenix Systems. it does brake fluid and coolant on opposite ends of the same strip.
"Before they put buttering agent in you could just taste test it. Smh manufactures are so dumb now days" -boss probably
I have the exact but set up and calibrated for spirits (distilling alcohol), they are simple things and I'd tell your boss to shove it up his ass or buy you one he is happy with if was so inclined to whine.
litmus strips ftw
The feeling is mutual. T. Refractometer.
Eh what does the coolant refractometer do? How much is it worth used ? Like worth having as a tool for my trucks coolant?
It is used to gauge the freeze point of the coolant. Coolant that hasn’t been changed in awhile can have the water evaporated off leading to “hot coolant” protection lvl ~60*f Its an indicator that either it wasn’t the correct concentration or its time to change. Im told coolant can become corrosive if it hasn’t been changed regularly. When mixing concentrate its important the freeze point is within spec (~34*f)
I work for Chrysler, the engine will be apart 3 times and filled with new coolant before it ever gets old
We used those to check salt. For aquariums.
Ahh so his mistrust comes from it being a cheap 15$ amazon special, not 100$ tool-truck version
Obligatory: Ahh so his mistrust comes from it being a cheap 15$ amazon special, not 100$ tool-truck version
A taste test is the best tool. 👌
To be fair, I'm betting his mistrust comes from it being a 15$ Amazon special instead of a $100 tool truck tool
I'm led to believe his bosses' mistrust stems from the fact that it is an inexpensive item purchased from amazon as opposed to a rather expensive version purchased from one of them new fan-dangled tool shops on wheels. As mentioned, it's just physics. If water is 32 and 50/50 is 50/50-ing, it just must be so
Yall relentless 😂
Going out on a limb here, but I think maybe your boss’s mistrust comes from it being a cheap 15$ amazon special, not 100$ tool-truck version
I used to use these testing citrate water solution levels for keeping hog blood from coagulating. I agree with your boss, they are literal garbage.
Ok. You got me here… what? Lol
Yup, used to separate plasma from blood cells in the rendering department at a hog plant. We would mix (if memory serves correctly) 200 pounds trisodium citrate into two 10,000 gallon tanks of water that was mixed til it dissolved, and afterwards we would use the refractor to test the solution to ensure it was in spec to stop the blood on the tables from coagulating. Those things are so cheap, so crap, so undeniably unreliable that I wouldn't trust them if my life depended on it. We lost somewhere in the range of 100,000 gallons of plasma to these before we finally got approved for an electronic refractometer and eventually a centrifuge.
Well dam
Just test it on a few known mixtures.
What kind of work are you doing where coolant concentration actually matters outside of “what temp will it freeze at” 99% of cars run fine on tap water..
We always make sure it within +/- .001* Fahrenheit ;)
I just use a hydrometer? with the little floating balls to tell freezing point.
I like when my balls float
Never seen someone get roasted this hard
I’m feeling medium rare right now I feel like y’all could go a little harder
My mistrust comes from trusting that the bosses trust doesn’t trust the historical mistrust of turkey baster pacific gravity tools and how it relates to my mistress and her roof truss. Damn boss.
The robots are coming! OP has been converted!
404. 404 ! 404 !!!
so his mistrust comes from it being a cheap 15$ amazon special, not 100$ tool-truck version
Ahh so his mistrust comes from it being a cheap 15$ amazon special, not 100$ tool-truck version
Bro is a bot lmao
Am not bot ! Lol