How to Check and Test Your Coolant/Antifreeze
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- Опубликовано: 25 авг 2024
- How to Know When You Need to Change or Flush Your Coolant. Do you need new antifreeze or a radiator flush? Learn 4 different methods to test your coolant including doing a visual inspection, using a hydrometer to test the freezing point and boiling point, using a multimeter to check the antifreeze, and testing pH.
After watching this video you will know if your coolant is still good or if you need to do a coolant flush and fill!
The multimeter I used (under $20 here): www.amazon.com/...
The Hydrometer I used ($3): www.amazon.com/...
How to Flush your Heater Core: • How to Flush a Heater ...
How to Fix a Car with No Heat: • How to Fix a Car with ...
How to Flush and Change Your Coolant: • Video
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Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of ChrisFix, I cannot guarantee against improper use or unauthorized modifications of this information. ChrisFix assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Use this information at your own risk. ChrisFix recommends safe practices when working on vehicles and or with tools seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of ChrisFix, no information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or from the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not ChrisFix.
Straight to the point, no bullshit and no music. THANK YOU.
+Steven Kraal No problem! Glad the video was helpful!
+Steven Kraal Which makes me wonder how miserable life must be for the 24 idiots who gave this a 'thumbs down'.
@Steven Kraal
Re: "no music, b.s
"
Lololrotfl
@theorjinalBillholt
They're workin' for the ripoff automotive shops :3
Steven Kraal you think that would be obvious to other channels
A couple years ago, when I was 15, 70 now, I traded a stereo for a 1933 Chev with a 57 Olds engine, Rural Minnesota, no garage, no tools, no help, (my dad couldn't change his own oil, never did), no books, no money, no auto parts stores for 20 miles ... Turns out that popping thru the carb was a "cracked head", whatever THAT is. But the beginning of a life-long obsession with fixing cars ! Nowadays people have the NET and people like Chris Fix. I just hope they APPRECIATE that !! Just bought a basket case 1994 4Runner. And your videos are SO good !! Good script, camera, sound, content. THANKS AGAIN.
Haha it’s nice what technology can do
You have a good life dad. It sounds were good days
Your dad sounds like a dumbass. (no offense to you or him)
Vincent Novick shut up
JL 2011 um ok...
Hey Chris, I wanted to let you know that my instructor for my college course (automotive engines) uses your videos, including this one, a lot as references. Me and a few of my classmates also watch them on the side. I wanted to say, I appreciate all the hard work and the detail you put into them. You really do make working on cars enjoyable.
So, you're basically saying that if you want to become a mechanic, you just need to watch ChrisFix videos and you're a ceritified mechanic?
@@onlyfams5050 youd be surprised
@@SilentMotherFuckers Is that a yes?
@@onlyfams5050 yes
@@onlyfams5050 I don't see how you could interpret what he said in any other way.
I really love your videos. I am a girl so sometimes even if i ask those people who are knowledgeable about cars, they won't answer me seriously and just slide it off so I'm really grateful. 🙏🏻
This is amazing that in 1 year no r/whiteknights have commented yet
Also yeah, it's kinda sad but it's also because it's kind of weird, i've been working in that type of "works" and i haven't seen that many women in it
Madoka Molina word 💯
Madoka; Men who seek refuge in the bias and illusion of chauvinism need to be prayed for.....
Another female here and I know exactly what you mean. Videos like this are so helpful.
I noticed the pH of the coolant may vary, so I tested the pH of the new ready-mixed coolant in the bottle and compared it to the pH of my sample from the radiator. I used a pH meter, which is more accurate than the strips. But the meter is much more expensive, and fortunately, I already had one. Wonderful video!!!
Chris, All of Your video how to's are outstanding. They're clean, straight forward, educational, without excess talking fluff. It's like hanging out with a good friend who doesn't mind teaching you how to do it without extra nonsense and economically. Thanks for sharing your time in doing these videos. John
+John M Panto Jr thanks a lot John
+John M Panto Jr thanks a lot John
This is how thorough Chris Fix is......... He even cut the electrical tape to size to cover the anti freeze manufacturers name. "Give that in itself a thumbs up"!!!
Chris, your videos are very instructive and easy to understand :)
Thanks! I am glad you are learning a lot!
of course :) subscribe on my channel and show your friends
Hey Chris, your videos are great and helped me to do a bunch of stuff that was cheap and easy to do by myself. Nobody ever taught me how to change my oil, coolant or car battery etc, but your videos made it a breeze to do all of this without needing help. +1 thumbs up from a poor student who needs to look after an old car :)
Really interesting fact on the multi-meter test, wow
The linus tech tips for cars, If anyone here gets that reference
I watch Linus all the time. And I think the exact same thing. XD
I agree but Linus uses more sense of humor..
I like both of these a lot
Yeah lol
lmao so true
I learn so much from you, Chris. Thank you so much for giving us information to keep our cars healthy and inexpensive, thus happier lives!!!
I am miles beyond impressed with all of your videos! I can't thank you enough for your methods, clarity, and willingness to share your knowledge. :)
Even as a full-time auto tech it is clear I have much to learn. Thank you for the great video!
I know your clips are the best, because there are over 43,000 other subscribers who will obviously agree with me.
Thanks
aljoe Thanks a lot man! I appreciate it!
aljoe now Over A Million....
try 3.5 million
3.6m
3.8m
This is the first video of yours that I've watched and I have to thank you. Im a single mom, my dad passed away a few years ago, and I have a mobile pet grooming business. I hate not knowing anything about vehicles, I tend to put off maintenance out of fear of getting screwed over. My ac started blowing warm on friday, thank you for showing me how to fix this
I appreciate you showing the diagnosis not just the fix in your videos. Too many folks (myself included) will jump at what we think is causing a problem before figuring it out for sure and end up spending time and money without solving the root cause.
Thank you so much for all the hard work you've put into producing these GREAT videos! Learning a lot about car maintenance from you.
Thanks for sharing this Chris. Very useful information!
+MudRFunR Thanks a lot!
Hi Chris, thank you for the outline of how the cooling system works. Just showed it to my daughter. I learned a lot from my Daddy and when my kids were teens they were too bz to learn from Grandpa. They just wanted to hang with friends. Now that he's not with us any longer, they wish they would of learned from him. I taught them the simple things like changing a tire, a head light, the air filters, replacing battery, getting a jump, checking fluids...etc Just the basics becuz I'm disabled. When they're away from their home they call their dad & he hands me the ph, lol. My hubby practically raised himself & didn't have anyone to teach him. Anyhow, when they call I send them one of your videos & say, let me ask Chris & they're able to fix whatever the problem was. Plus, there's alot of things I don't know & you give us ideas as to how we can do it to save time...And money, definitely money! Keep up the good work, you are helping so many of us!
Thank you!
Pepsi=BAD
Mountain Dew=GOOD
GOT IT!
kevin stettner X
Lol
You mean Orange soda Bad and Mountain Dew Good.
More like
Mountain Dew is good
A nonexistent soda that doesn’t even look good is bad.
Or in some cases Fanta is good
Both are Pepsi products.
did you cut the tape at 1:07 to curve with the bottle? dedication m8
CatlinCustoms Yessir. I might be crazy but I really like to do things top notch!
Lol ocd to the fullest.... no free promotion from this guy!!! Lol i love it!
prestone antifreeze
wondering why Prestone is covered up?
Paul Williams it’s a way to avoid paying a fee to the company whose logo is shown.
This is the best coolant system video I've ever seen. Good job man.
Thank you. Spouse used to handle these things. I didn't tell him enough how much I appreciated this.
Excellent. So much information in just one video.
The accuracy of our decisions depends of the quality of information we have. Now, with these videos we have so much information for taking good decisions related with our car's maintenance.
You are making history Chris Fix. Thanks!!!!
Dam Bro!! Extremely eloquent and very informative video. You have a way of explaining a challenging issue without intimidating your audience.
I'm surprised you took your vehicle to a shop and not handle this on your own. I will be conducting these tests on my coolant and saving some serious headaches and cash!!!💰💲💵💸
I always learn a lot from your videos! Very helpful with a lot of details! I just did my coolant flush and it was the same color as the one on this video. So, i changed it quick! Thanks Chris! Love your videos!
Jose Alcocer Awesome Jose! That is what I like to hear! Thanks a lot bud!
Thanks! That helped a lot. My coolant was reducing rapidly and I was worried. I topped it up from a 5 liter of the recommended Elf brand coolant and drove a total of 500 miles uphill and back. I kept a watch on the temperature dial and the car did not heat to a critical point during the journey. However, when I checked the reservoir again, the coolant level was almost zero. That got me worried and I got it checked at the garage. Test with a pressure gauge for radiators revealed a leaking elbow in the coolant circulation which I replaced, much to my relief.
Agreed straightforward and very informative video. No BS no awful music. Thank you for posting!
Hey Chris- Just wanted to let you know how informative your videos have been!! Keep up the great work!! Thanks.
W.D. McCracken Thanks a lot! I really appreciate the feedback!
Wow this is a really good. You're straight to the point & provide a load of useful knowledge about the cooling system. Thanks for posting this!
Hey Chris great job on all your videos! You are my number one go to on RUclips. I clearly see why you have millions of views! You cover all the different options thoroughly leaving no questions to be asked I freaking love that. Oh and you saved us lots of time and money thanks.😁
The part I like the most of this video Chris is how you mentioned that the coolant is lubricant for the seals in the water pump and that is so true. Another thing is the reason why it's so brown is because its water and it has rust in it. it's not orange coolant or it wanting cause the block to rust.
Really appreciate the video but also want to share that, as I understand it: A hydrometer can't be used for Propylene Glycol Coolants (only Ethylene Glycol) and those test strips often can't be used on orange or red dyed coolant as the dye can affect the reading and make it seem okay when it's not. I believe a refractometer would be the best option that would work on all coolants.
Yeah, be sure to check the hydrometer. I bought one from autozone that says it "works with all engine coolants", which I'll take their word for it.
Hey Chris. nice job. You may find a use for that ph Strip more than you thought before. The Nitrite part has a lot more powerful usage when it comes to testing coolant.
Just as I had shared with you last week, the pH test told me i had fuel present in the cooling system. My customer owns a Dodge Dakota with acid coolant, found the #8 cylinder was steam cleaned, it lost it's seal and that fuel in the coolant made the system turn acid. Fuel is one thing that can make sudden changes in pH, and was really the only test that could show the problem, it held pressure, and had several O2 sensor readings out of limits.
It took me awhile to tear it down but I am so happy that I did, it always gives me that tight stomach feeling when making these calls, and it turned out I nailed it. This truck will soon have the heads checked and new gasket's throughout.
I liked your other test's and will experiment with them, but last word before tear-down is the pH.
I couldn't find my usual test strips at the store, they check for concentration and pH, so I used what I had left from my old supplier, soon I will have some new strips especially made for autos, and I will share the source with you.
James Fenton Thanks James. I checked each cylinder and there is no head gasket leak. I think the system is just so dirty and messy that the pH is acid. I am going to do a coolant flush and put new coolant in and monitor it, but I think the head gasket is fine. I will keep you updated!
Yes, do keep an eye on it, something changed the pH and small leaks can get bigger fast. I am interested in this whole subject, and want to approach it using all the info we can gather. I will be checking the chemistry involved, and see just how acids are made inside the motor.
Thanks CrisFix, James Fenton III
Dude, you have no idea how much you're helping me through my Vehicle Maintenance class! I'm going to subscribe so I can watch your other videos! Thank you so much!
Good thing you covor'd Prestone.... I'd never would have guessed what it is.
Just did the voltage test on mine, 0.05, I'd call that pretty good!
helivesonforever That is pretty good!
Your videos are amazing, man. I knew absolutely nothing about cars 2 years ago -- I was terrified about doing anything related to car maintenance. Moreover, it's hard to learn because there are so many people out there in the world who just confidently brush off my questions about car maintenance (saying "don't worry about it" or "i dunno, just google it"), even the people who I'd say are quite knowledgeable about cars. However, your steps are simple, clear, and easy to follow and help me fill in the blanks of my knowledge -- in doing so, inspire a lot confidence in me. Thanks man.
You are one of the best to explain about the coolant and demonstrated it very clearly. That is very worthy for young people these day to learn and do that themselves.
Excellent tutorial.
+5and 50 Thank you!
Great tips; Even I can understand.
Wow! Never seen any mechanic run through all these test options. Thanks kindly.
This is by far one of the best channels on RUclips. Thank you for sharing so much useful knowledge, Chris!
Learning so much, thank you Chris. I watch a lot of other car videos (won't say names to protect their rep) but I find your videos the best!
+Danny Brake Yep, Chris is the best, him and SouthMainAuto
Awesome video. Thanks.
Kelly K Thanks Kelly! Glad the video was helpful! Definitely consider subscribing! New automotive "how to" videos every Thursday and most Mondays!
Very helpful. I love all the methods you taught to check for different properties of the coolant. I grew up with no on in my family having this knowledge so I strive to learn as much as I can because I'm cheap af and don't like spending money on things that I should be able to do myself. Thanks for making it all that much easier! Youre video was great and I plan on checking out the other ones you have uploaded. Hope you have a wonderful day!
Glad the videos help!
Outstanding.... First time I've seen the multimeter method! I'll be using this from now on in addition to the visual test. Same same the pH test. I happen to have a very accurate pH tester.
my 330ci gave me a free coolant drain when the expansion tank failed...
Lol defently Prestone :) I use the same one for my car
Man Chris you seem a lot more chill 6 years ago. The dedication is there but you're way more enthusiastic nowadays! Hopefully life is treating you better now
mine is now Ph 9, clean and with 0,01v. thanks from Brazil for your help!
Do you have to do all of the tests or is visual enough?
+adalyn thomas I would do at least 2. as he said, if you're supposed to run red or orange coolant, rust can be hard to detect. multimeters are easy to come by and pretty cheap as well. you're gonna need one anyway, if you plan on fixing and maintaining your own car :)
If it looks ok visually I'd say do at least one more test. But if it looks as bad as his you know you gotta change it
Prestone All makes/models antifreeze!
Thanks for the tip!
Awesome video. First time seeing one of yours. Quick and concise yet thorough. Thanks for doing a refreshingly good job unlike many out there.
Great job on all of your videos. You're talented. Not everyone (even people who understand cars) can explain automotive fundamentals in a way that is accessible to the novice, yet still informative and interesting to more advanced or experienced mechanics. Usually a video like this on RUclips would be someone filming them emptying and refilling their coolant a few times and explaining nothing. Your animation on this one is pretty good, too.
Thanks a lot.
Muddy coolant - Lemon Tea
Anti-Freeze - Apple Tea xD
Instruction is unclear, my fish is swimming in coolant liquid.
Your fish *was* swimming in coolant...
@@lizhewes6063 I ate that fish now XD
@@HappyHusbandnWife RIP
Straight forward, highly informative, simple and easily understandable. Thank you for providing your wisdom.
I love your videos! Yesterday I manage to replace my break pads thanks to your videos! I'll be checking my coolant tomorrow to see if it's good or not.
Marc Ibarra AWESOME! That is what I like to hear! Good job Marc! Let me know how your coolant test goes!
[Sticker in engine bay says not use orange coolant]
"On this case they (previous owner) used orange coolant."
😕😧
Nothing you can do about that kind of stuff :/
can i just add the coolant without changing the previous?
Gary what do you think
No Gary -_-
Ashveen Sharma Instead of being a smart ass can you answer the question? I have no idea either but if I had to guess I'd say you'd have to change it because the coolant is so dirty.
by not changing the coolant and not flushing the system, you're adding a clean fluid to dirty/contaminated one.
Would you just add oil instead of changing it? Same situation (in theory).
Always do a fluid change and remove as much of the old one as possible... flushing the system is a great thing too!
Gary Flush it bro
This video is just what the doctor ordered. I just paid for a flush and because the coolant in the overflow bottle still looks dirty, I am beginning to doubt the did it, now I can test it. I hate dishonest car dealers...
Darn! They might not have cleaned the overflow, but put in new coolant! I would clean and flush again it if it looks dirty!
You're videos have been great! Thankyou very much. Checked my coolant with the multimeter and got 0.11 with the engine off and 0.17 with it running. Was pleased
La MotorWorks Awesome! Glad the videos have been helpful and those are good results!
Why did you cover the brand name of the antifreeze?
If a TV show wants to use your video and you dont have permission from the brand to show their product on TV, you cannot show it on TV.
ChrisFix , hey man I like your videos. what about your car name, do you have permission to show the truck name?
ChrisFix not gonna lie, interesting fact, but... this isnt TV...
@ChrisFix You can show brands on RUclips.
Hunter Micciche No you can get copy striked...
@ 8:30
Your truck is pregnant.
twistdshade lol, who's the father?
ChrisFix windsrar!!
ChrisFix my 2000 Ford Explorer
😂😂
ChrisFix your corvette
Every garage I've used has only ever used a hydrometer, I knew there had to be more to it, what with corrosion etc. Excellent vid..
Thank you. I'm glad I came by to see/hear what you have to say. Much appreciated.
Jesus... I bought the wrong tester - mine is like a foot long :P
+Baerchenization lol
+ChrisFix if I changed my coolant and flush my radiator completely with fresh fluid. Would my gaskets still leak.?
Jesus Christ is the most powerful name in the entire universe.
+Matthew B ok what the hell does that have to do with flushing a radiator? Dam religion poisons everyones minds
+Cali Sav.....hey MOOK, how does religion "poison the mind", you are total idiot by saying that. Does any religion tell you to kill, to rob, to hate your human brother/sister, TO BE EVIL????? NO it does not, the few humans that went and still are "morphing the meaning" of those books are the ones that are poisoning the weak minded people's mind!
lol i have those test strips for my fish tank. Do you have a fish tank btw?
MrRangerZr1 Yea man I have a bunch. My saltwater tank has all local fish and I want to setup a freshwater tank like that too! My other tank is a tropical freshwater tank, but you see tropical fish everywhere in fish tanks. I like seeing the local fish which you only get to see out of the water when you are fishing haha. What fish tank setup do you have?
ChrisFix I used to have one freshwater and one planted tank. Got rid of the planted tank. wayyy too much maintenance, But it looked beautiful. Check it out on my channel.
MrRangerZr1 Nice! I had some live local saltwater plants in my tank and you are right about it being too much maintenance! Your planted tank is awesome! That looks so good!
ChrisFix Thanks! Maybe you should show your tank in your videos.....
@@chrisfix Do I smell ChrisFish content?
My school has a 2007 prius, and our lectures use 2 of your videos which is replace clock spring and change battery for teaching references
Chris, if I was to make an appointment for you to look at my car, would I be driving a new car by that date? You must be one of the busiest mechanics out there. I'm amazed and glad that you have time to make these detailed and informative videos for your fans. Thank you!
“Wuter”
*wooder
The good fluid looks like mountain dew
Like if you agree xD
Went from knowing nothing about coolant to being an expert in 10 minutes, Great video!
excellent! i like your thoroughness in explanation; especially about whether u can use either the reservoir or radiator.
Thanks Chris. I’m subscribed.
I really liked your mention of testing the status of the antifreeze with aqua ph strips as well as the electric connectivity of the multimeter. Your content of excellent video and informative audio was top notch.
+Jack d Thanks Jack!
One of so many great videos, I have learned much over the years, tyvm..
I did the multimeter test as shown and got no reading, tried several ground points
I used Napa 4106 ph test strips on 6 engines today, and results were all over the map. The instructions say, "this product not for use with long life organic acid technology (OAT) coolants. Do a little digging and you'll find several engine coolants use this technology, making my testing "questionable". To further add to the mystery, with the engines cold and shut off, I tested voltage in the coolant and the top end of the range was my corolla at +.148 volts, while the 5 other engine coolants all tested negative, with my ford excursion coming in at -.37 volts. I've read that ground issues play a role on this test, and many are saying it should be done with the engine running to get flow across the lead.
Hey if you ever are bored and want to put up a video on how to change an intake manifold on a 2v engine that'd be pretty cool! Love your channel by the way. You are restoring my truck back to 100% health!
Excellent Presentation. You're giving Eric the car Guy a run for his money. But honestly, both of you are performing a great service to the public.
The others are more noise than informative. Please, keep up the good work.
Im a auto tech student and all your videos really help me through my class, thanks man!
+xPr0 Skater Awesome! Glad the videos are helpful!
Wow, I'm a novice on cars, so I had no idea about electric current running through the coolant. My last car was pretty old and we ended up flushing the radiator a lot more often than was normal (like to fix the hose or something else), so I haven't personally seen nasty coolant. Just got a somewhat newer car so any info on maintenance is what I've been looking for. Lotta great vids, thanks!
Lehst No problem! Glad you are learning a lot and you like the videos!
Chris, outstanding videos! You"re definitely "the to go to guy" when it comes to maintaining one's vehicle! 👍
I've never heard of a multimeter used for coolant. That's brilliant Chris
really an excellent job on this tutorial and the flush job.
had heard on a video to check the voltage but they didn't show how and that you showed all 4 ways to test coolant was far above other sites,
The car shops can be such ripoffs. After doing the procedure as detailed I took my truck in for an oil change and they told me my antifreeze was worn out and needed to be replaced. Last oil change there.
+carlis norvell Thanks a lot! Glad you learned a lot! Do your own oil changes: ruclips.net/video/O1hF25Cowv8/видео.html
Best video on coolant so far.Detailed analysis.
Tom OConnor Thanks Tom! That was the goal and I am glad to hear it!
i was just going to add water once i figured out which cap is for coolant. i thought since its summer, that would be ok. so glad i watched your video. i still don't know which is the reservoir but i do know what is the radiator. i will pull some out to check it.
I'm sitting here thinkin', "there's no way Chris could possibly get any better at makin' vids". Yet, he does!! Keep up the great work Brometheus!!!
Brian Griffin Thanks Brian! I hope I can keep getting better!!!!
Dude your amazing I've seen most of your videos it's a great help for newbie car owners like me keep it up
Francis Alcantara Thanks man! I am glad my videos are teaching you a lot!
You have some of the best teaching stuff on YT.
Thanks man for the excellent job.
+Sam Sen thanks a lot
Very interesting video, and a complete one, thanks ! Now I know what to check and how to check it 👌
Thanks a lot!
Learning sucks, but I respect how simple you make it.
Hah, I have used the turkey baster option many times. Once, we accidentally put a bit of oil into the antifreeze and used that turkey baster to remove the oil that was floating on top of the antifreeze. I also simply want to say that Chris Fix ROCKS! even if he has a time saying "water." I say it in all good spirit, I have learned so much from watching your videos. If you need a 'jack of all trades' to help you, just call me.
Visual test was enough for me. Thank you.
I’ve seen a lot of your videos but first time seeing this. Thanks for your time and the education 👍🏽
Very nice video. I've shared several with friends. Always good to know the proper way to maintain your vehicle. Thanks again!
acs197 Thank you and thanks for sharing! I am glad my videos have been helpful.
ChrisFix thanks for putting effort on detailing each info in your vids. subscribed.
Meta Tron Awesome! Glad you subbed! Welcome aboard!
I wish all those bullshit nonsense story telling repair videos should have been as good as yours. Straight to the point. Well explained. Thanks
Thanks a lot!
Thanks Chris that is another side that we all should be using!
Thank you!!! I watched a couple of videos before finding yours. You provided MUCH more clear, concise, useful information without all of the fluff than the others! I now feel confident in checking my own antifreeze!!!! Much appreciated.