Help with understanding a failed coolant test
Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
From: Washington State
This week at 49,000 miles my prompt came up to check additive. I called the Ford Dealer for a price for two qts of VC 12 and asked if the parts dept has test strips and was told to bring in my truck and they will test it at no charge. The test was performed at the quick service lane and the service tech took the time to show me how they read the strips. It was reccemended to drain and fill at the next prompt based on 5 years of service.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 962
Likes: 114
From: Middle TN
my kit from acustrip was very clear about not obtaining the contamination test sample from the degas bottle. I opted to follow directions to make sure my results were accurate.
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 627
Likes: 17
There is a lot of confusion about this, a degas bottle is not the same as an expansion tank or overflow bottle. Expansion or overflow tanks do not have coolant circulation and thus are not a suitable place to sample coolant from. A degas bottle has coolant circulation and thus is a valid and much easier sampling location than messing with a radiator drain. The Acustrip ELC coolant test kit comes with a syringe and hose for just this type of sampling.
ETA:
I use the 328-071ELC 10 Test Strips Kit - $64.95 kit to test my coolant. I believe it's a better buy as you get 10 tests vs. 2. The other test strips, the 328-2050 4 Foil Strips with Instruction Key - $8.00 may or may not be needed depending on how you service your truck. This strip is only used to test if someone added the wrong coolant i.e. the previous Ford Gold coolant which is not compatible. If only you service your truck and you use the correct coolant you don't really need to test for that.
Also note that there seem to have been some color changes with the coolant recently. I was reminded of this after a warranty repair for a leak at the coolant pump, to be extra sure I tested the coolant after with both sets of strips and all tested ok.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 962
Likes: 114
From: Middle TN
Wp6529, I agree with your statement, but my acustrip kit came with a syringe to withdraw fluid for the concentration and nitrate test, but stressed that the contamination test must be obtained from the pet*****. Why? I don't know, I am just a big fan of following instructions. Also, it included 2 different sets of sample tubes, orange cap and white cap. Use orange if your reserve alkalinity is low, white if high. Can't figure out that one either.
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 627
Likes: 17
Wp6529, I agree with your statement, but my acustrip kit came with a syringe to withdraw fluid for the concentration and nitrate test, but stressed that the contamination test must be obtained from the pet*****. Why? I don't know, I am just a big fan of following instructions. Also, it included 2 different sets of sample tubes, orange cap and white cap. Use orange if your reserve alkalinity is low, white if high. Can't figure out that one either.
The instructions from the 10 test kit indicate to draw the sample from the reservoir: http://acustrip.com/res/pss/ELC_KIT_...ONS-042015.pdf
The test is a two step test, first you test a sample with the Reserve Alkalinity test strip and this test will tell you which tube to use for the second test. It might not be obvious at first glance, but the tubes are not empty, they contain a small amount of chemical needed for the second test. The tubes with different color caps presumably contain different chemicals.
At any rate, I recommend getting the 10 sample kit as it is more cost effective (10 for about the price of 4). Whether you need the other test strips really depends on whether someone other than yourself services the truck and might put the wrong coolant in it.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,245
Likes: 4,265
From: Kaysville Utah
Check the expiration dates on the 10 test kit. They don't last for ever. For the amount of miles I drive, It's a good buy. But some folks would never use the 3rd or 4th test kit before they expired.
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Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
I have clicked on the reset of the warning 4 times now...
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,549
Likes: 2,510
From: West Michigan
I interpret your post as the nag that comes up everytime you start the truck? If so, go into the maintenance screens and reset the coolant life option. That will reset for another 15K or so miles. Your choice to test or not, if no one has touched your coolant, and you are at 50K or less, then its probably ok. I was testing my 2011 every time the message came up, and never failed a test. Sad to say, I've gotten lazy with my 2016, and for now just hit the reset.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,536
Likes: 200
From: southeast PA
I took mine to the dealer and let them **** it up. They don't even check the secondary system, let alone do the primary test right then **** it up more by adding VC-8. I will just buy the damn test strips from now on. I'll mail the rest to somebody on here to use, because I'll never use them before they expire. Will be doing a test in about 2500 miles to make sure the flush and new coolant they added is ok. And will test the secondary system at that point.
If you want the test done right, do it yourself.
If you want the test done right, do it yourself.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
Sam,
I interpret your post as the nag that comes up everytime you start the truck? If so, go into the maintenance screens and reset the coolant life option. That will reset for another 15K or so miles. Your choice to test or not, if no one has touched your coolant, and you are at 50K or less, then its probably ok. I was testing my 2011 every time the message came up, and never failed a test. Sad to say, I've gotten lazy with my 2016, and for now just hit the reset.
I interpret your post as the nag that comes up everytime you start the truck? If so, go into the maintenance screens and reset the coolant life option. That will reset for another 15K or so miles. Your choice to test or not, if no one has touched your coolant, and you are at 50K or less, then its probably ok. I was testing my 2011 every time the message came up, and never failed a test. Sad to say, I've gotten lazy with my 2016, and for now just hit the reset.
so I have 2 bottles.. where to add is the question
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,549
Likes: 2,510
From: West Michigan
You add it to the degas bottles. You will need to remove some AF to make room though.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
| edit.. see you said 'bottles'.. will have to go look.... thx