about to hit my first winter with current car...
I have given up trying to find an underseal outfit but do want to be sure the coolant has enough antifreeze in it for uk temperatures....
does anyone know what is in the radiator when it leaves the factory and do I need to add more antifreeze? - is there an easy way to test the coolant?

cheers,

Paul W

 

I think that you will find that "all good motoring accesory shops" sell antifreeze testers, the one I've had for years looks like an eyedropper about 5 inches long with 5 or 6 ***** inside. The number of floating ***** indicates the concentration.

Alternatively, if you change the anti-freeze to a known brand, the colour of the coolant will tell you the concentration via a colour chart on the label.

 

ok - but can someone say yes/no whether the sti has antifreeze in at delivery or whether it has tokyo tap water in?

 

Mine did, but it was a second hand car from Japan. I would be VERY surprised if it didn't as anti-freeze also acts a summer coolant and a corrosion inhibitor, plus they do get winter in Japan as well with harsh temps, particularly up in the mountains.

Have you tried taking off the rad cap and looking at the colour of the coolant? Anything other than clear water means that it has *some* antifreeze in it.

[This message has been edited by Paul Wilson (edited 10-10-1999).]

 

How do you get the required quantity of coolant out to be replaced by anti-freeze?