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Hydrometer test
Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 8:14 pm
by AndAndDen
Could someone tell me please what the hydrometer should read after testing my antifreeze? Would be much appreciated if you could tell me in Simple terms. ( I have just bought one).Done 400 miles since i bought my Bongo,temperature gauge is running normal at about 11 o,clock. Big thankyou in advance. Andy

Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 8:36 pm
by ferdyb
I seem to remember there are four possibilities.
1) is it ethalene glycol
2) is it methanol
3) is it cold
4) is it hot
depending on which of the above applies, you look at the temperature level on the float and read off the temperature - this is the freezing point of your coolant.
If you have a mixture of 1 and 2, it's anyone's guess !
ferdy
Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 10:39 pm
by Colin Lambert
If it's Methanol, get rid of it immediately It is useless and can catch fire even when mixed with water. It also evaporates, so within a month or 3 it is useless. Monoethylene Glycol is the only one worth going for. Read the container. Very little Methanol sold now for the reasons stated.
Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 10:59 pm
by AndAndDen
Thanks All, Not sure what is in the cooling system.! I presume Monoethylene Glycol is what is used in the Anti- freeze.! Regards. Andy

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 9:30 am
by Veg_Ian
Well if you aren't sure what's in there then you don't know how old it is do you? Better off replacing it with a mix of 33 - 50% ethylene glycol / deionized water then you know it's right. Remember to follow the correct refilling procedure though.
Anti Freeze
Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 12:48 pm
by Vanmanerik
No one answered the original question???????????????????????
Is there an answer in very simple terms if I am using ethylene glycol and the system is cold?
Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 2:06 pm
by Veg_Ian
No because the specific gravity is dependant on temperature, viscosity, pressure and chemical composition
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/ ... i_n9401588
that's why I suggested chuck it out and start again.
Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 2:06 pm
by AndAndDen
So to change my coolant i need 50% anti- freeze and 50% Deionized Water. Is this correct. Thankyou. Andy again.

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 2:07 pm
by Veg_Ian
Sorry AndandDen I was replying to Vanmanerik. Yes, a decent ethylene glycol based antifreeze diluted 50/50 with deionised water.
Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 2:07 pm
by Vanmanerik
SO - Is there an answer in very simple terms if I am using ethylene glycol and the system is cold??

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 2:11 pm
by Veg_Ian
Not unless someone has published on the web a eutectic graph showing concentration v temperature
Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 2:23 pm
by AndAndDen
Thankyou very much Veg- Ian for putting this question in very simple terms.

.What i am trying to do is gather as much info as possible for my mechanic who has looked after my vehicles for many years, but this is his first Bongo he will be working on.Thanks once again. Andy
Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 2:30 pm
by Veg_Ian
Coolant wise the Bongo is no different to any other vehicle. What your mechanic must do though is go through the laborious routine of expelling all the air when refilling the system.