How to measure coolant concentration?

[Vincent998]

I want to measure the coolant concentration in my GT. I usually use a Robinaire refractometer - works great on my other cars and gives a very precise coolant/water concentration measurement. However, with the stock Ford Premium Gold coolant, there is no refraction! Normally (with water or Prestone mix etc) there is a clear blue section to read, but with the Ford coolant, absolutely no measurement line can be seen through the refractometer - it's all clear. How do others measure concentration accurately?

 

[Xcentric]

Keying on "accurately," I would drain the system completely and refill with premix. If you can accept less accuracy, then an old school floating ball hydrometer. I guess I'm assuming that Ford coolant has the same specific gravity as any other coolant.

 

[soroush]

vincent? OCD are we? lol I thought I was bad!! Id love to see a pic of your garage!

 

[Xcentric]

vincent? OCD are we? lol I thought I was bad!! Id love to see a pic of your garage!

haha! I can relate. This is the license plate on my Xterra: http://bit.ly/MZEOR1

 

[MNJason]

Whats the recommended flush cycle on the GT? Every few years?

 

[Xcentric]

3 years

 

[Vincent998]

Well, OCD just a bit maybe ... I want to measure concentration because I recently did refill the system with 50-50 (or had it done, actually) but would like to increase water concentration a bit (to 60%, possibly even a little more). But, if I can't measure it properly, I'd better leave well enough alone.

The garage is neat but not weirdly neat .... and it is nice to be able to find things ....

 

[soroush]

Well, OCD just a bit maybe ... I want to measure concentration because I recently did refill the system with 50-50 (or had it done, actually) but would like to increase water concentration a bit (to 60%, possibly even a little more). But, if I can't measure it properly, I'd better leave well enough alone.

The garage is neat but not weirdly neat .... and it is nice to be able to find things ....

you don't have to tell me about neat and organized, I never thought of coolant concentration as one of those imperative measurement one needs to keep a track of. I just put 70/30 water coolant mix, Im in texas and I work on my car often so i flush mine periodically when I work on her, so Its a non issue for me. but I would imagine anything close to a 50/50 mix should be sufficient

 

[jcthorne]

I use these:

http://www.amazon.com/Cool-Trak-311519-Coolant-Testing-Strips/dp/B000MIUJMO

Yes they work for Motorcraft Gold coolant. They do not work for the newer orange OAT coolants, but that does not go in the GT.

The strips only last a couple years on the shelf so do not stock up.