Testing Ph level in radiator
Race Director
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 12,712
Likes: 2,271
There are test strips - essentially litmus paper - that you can buy to test conventional IAT (green stuff) antifreeze. These are blended with reserve alkylinity and slowly move toward neutral or acidic pH with time.
These strips are not valid for OAT antifreezes (like Dexcool), and I don't think they are valid for HOAT blends like Zerex G-05.
Off hand I don't know where you can buy these test strips, but I know they are out there. You might try your local auto parts stores for starters.
Duke
These strips are not valid for OAT antifreezes (like Dexcool), and I don't think they are valid for HOAT blends like Zerex G-05.
Off hand I don't know where you can buy these test strips, but I know they are out there. You might try your local auto parts stores for starters.
Duke
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 769
Likes: 1
From: Henderson MI
Have not tested this myself however it would appear to have merit
its from the tech tips section on this forum
https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...=170&TopicID=5
its from the tech tips section on this forum
https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...=170&TopicID=5
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 8,897
Likes: 1,357
From: Santa Ana CA
Most drug stores sell "pH Paper" for testing urine pH. You really don't want true litmus paper. Blue litmus turns red in the presence of an acid and red litmus turns blue in a basic solution. pH paper varies in color and the variation is compared to a color chart on the box to determine pH level.
Race Director
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 12,712
Likes: 2,271
Another test is voltage. Place a digital voltemeter probe in the coolant and the other to ground. If the meter reads more than 250 mV you've got some corrosion at work and you should change the antifreeze and make sure the radiator is electrically isolated for the engine.
Duke
Duke
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,537
Likes: 280
From: Egg Harbor Township NJ
2015 C2 of Year
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10, '14-'15
Originally Posted by JL66REDCPE
How do you test the Ph level in your radiator.
Heh John,
This was passed onto me by Bill,
Quote'
GM no longer recommends shops check antifreeze with a hydrometer type anti freeze tester. Instead they provide the dealerships with a refractometer type tester which they say is more accurate than hydrometer types.
The definition for pH given in one post is almost right.
pH is the negative log of the hydrogen ion concentration in moles per liter.
A mole is the weight of an atom or molecule expressed in grams. For example, an molecule of water has one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms in the molecule. The atomic weight of oxygen is 16 and that of Hydrogen is 1, thus for water the mole weight is 18 grams.
A mole of any substance always contains exactly the same number of atoms or molecules. That number is Avagadro's number which is 6.02 x 10 to the 23rd power. Big number.
pH test strips (Litmus strips) can be used to test coolant pH but some color shift will occur as a result of the coloring of the antifreeze. It is a gross test at best to use swimming pool strips.
Un-Quote.
Check Out This...More on Ph... Word Document.
http://www.geocities.com/daulquad/ph.doc
Man.....glad I do electronics and not the above gack...
Last edited by Viet Nam Vett; Nov 2, 2004 at 09:54 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
