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Joined: Jul 2000
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I just had my coolant flushed...
The jacka** that did it overfilled the resovoir, and now I wouldn't surprised if he refilled with 100% antifreeze instead of a 50/50 mix..
How can I determine what the coolant mix percentage is?
Thanks to all,
Frank
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 5,296
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Go to a parts store and pick up a Hydrometer.
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 237
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You should also be able to find them at your local Walmart.
1996 Contour SE Sedan 4D (Royal Blue)
Duratec V6 2.5L 24-valve DOHC
Automatic
75,000 miles
No Mods (unless you call the DMD a mod)
Replaced EGR valve (gunked up), EVR (EGR VR), PCV valve, and evaporative emissions hose (cracked).
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 923
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100% antifreeze doesn't have any adverse effects that I know of. If you really want to know, do as the others said and pick up a hydrometer.
Or, you can go back and ask his/her manager to come out to your car with a hydrometer to make sure it's within a safe range. I know when I worked at Valvoline in Kansas City, we had to put down what the measurement was on every sheet that got a radiator flush, even though our coolant came pre-mixed in 55gal drums. To be honest though, we always just wrote 50/50.
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Joined: Mar 2002
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Originally posted by frank516:
I just had my coolant flushed..... Very mis-used term. If they just opened the reservoir cap and drained the rad about 4 quarts would have come out. Four quarts of 50/50 would then be added. If however they used water and thoroughly flushed the system of all old coolant, then they would put in 5 quarts of 100% anti-freeze and top with water. Edit on 7/9: Figures apply to v6.
98 Mystique LS v6 atx 110,000km
97 Contour LX v6 atx 125,000km
stock CD on LS, cass on LX
spoiler, tinted windows on LS only
4 wheel discs on LX only
All other available options on both
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Joined: May 2001
Posts: 128
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anti-freeze has less cooling (heat transfer) capability than pure water. 50/50 is a compromise between cooling effectiveness and not destroying your engine during the cold winter months.
T-Red SVT E0 #2321 of 6535
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Joined: Jul 2000
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Originally posted by horseydug:
[QUOTE]Very mis-used used term. If they just opened the reservoir cap and drained the rad about 4 quarts would have come out. Four quarts of 50/50 would then be added.
If however they used water and thoroughly flushed the system of all old coolant, then they would put in 5 quarts of 100% anti-freeze and top with water. Yes I understand what the term "flush" means... And that's exactly what I instructed them to do. I agree that the average "joe" doesn't know what "to flush the coolant" average actually entails. Also doesn't our cooling system have a 7 quart capacity, which requires 3.5 quarts of full strength coolant, mixed with the same quantity of water, to attain a 50/50 mix?
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Joined: Mar 2002
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You didn't state your car or engine info so I was assuming v6.
You are right; I4 mtx cooling system has 7 quart capacity therefore 3.5 quarts of 100% anti-freeze would be added if, after thorough flush, block/heater core had only water in cooling chambers.
As stated by others above, only specific gravity will tell you what's actually in there and to be accurate you must drive a while until reservoir and engine coolant have had a chance to intermingle.
98 Mystique LS v6 atx 110,000km
97 Contour LX v6 atx 125,000km
stock CD on LS, cass on LX
spoiler, tinted windows on LS only
4 wheel discs on LX only
All other available options on both
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