Is using a coolant tester like this actually work?

Is there another method? My coolant passes the test, but the color isn't bright green anymore. It's more brownish. I have a volt tester, that I bought from radioshack I used it to test the battery when the car was off and it has 12.5V which is good. How do I test the alterantor though? I'm not exactly sure where to put the probes. To test the alternator the car has to be running but with the belt in the way, it's hard to get my hands near it.

 

That thing is a hydrometer, it measures specific gravity. That tells you the strength of the antifreeze, as far as what temperature it'll freeze. It tells you ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about whether the anti-corrosion chemicals are used up. The brown color tells you that you should've changed your antifreeze a long time ago.

Check your battery again (engine off) & turn on the lights & blowers & stuff. It shouldn't drop much below 12v.

Now run the engine, check the voltage at the battery. Running, it should be about 14 or 14.5v. Turn on all the electrical stuff you can, it should still stay about the same. This checks the alternator.

 

Yeah, brown antifreeze doesnt sound good. Do a coolant flush ASAP. Before you cause further damage to the entire system due to corrosion and rust.

Why is it that you are testing these things?

 

Just routine maintenance. I used to get everything done at the mechanic, but for the past few months I've been trying to get more hands on. I just changed my oil today, and thought to myself I've had this car for two years, I think I should check to the battery and the alternator. Antifreeze is supposed to be changed every two years or 30,000miles right? How often do you guys check the battery and alternator?

 

I check the battery 3 or 4 times a year, especially beginning of winter. I also check the water level & specific gravity in the battery. Add distilled water if needed. If the specific gravity of the 6 cells start getting different from one another, that's an early warning that the battery is not gonna last too much longer.

 

How much of this antifreeze do I have to pour into the bucket. It's a gallon of antifreeze, so do I pure half of the bottle into a bucket. And then fill up the other half with water? And is it necessary to take of the thermostat off while doing this?

 

You gotta fill up the radiator first, and make sure you have the bleeding valve open. The tank you fill up like halfway, there's a MAX line there. After you drive it for the first time, once it gets cool, go back and check the radiator and tank to make sure levels are still good.

 

Nah I'm talking about an actual bucket. I bought a gallon of prestone antifreeze. It's not the premixed kind. My question is how much of it do I need to mix with water in a bucket before I pour it into the radiator. Half the container, less than half? Once I have everything I have to pour it directly into the radiator until it reaches the top right? Then have to also pour it into the reservoir? Do I need to take off the thermostat while I flush the radiator?

 

It depends on how cold it gets where you live. You need to figure about 20 deg colder than the coldest day and try to mix appropriately. You can test this on a smaller scale by adding 1/4 cup water and 3/4 cup coolant to a small cup or something - then test it with your tester. If that's the right mixture for your desired temp then you know how to mix it into your car. It's not rocket science, just go out there and mess with it... you'll figure it out.

You can easily go to any local auto parts store and they will test your alternator for free without you having to remove anything from the car. hih

 

Yeah, I already got the alternator tested. It's only throwing out 25 amps. I think you guys are missing the point of my question. I want to know how much fluid actually fills my radiator(the volume)-96 civic ex. And that still doesn't answer the question about removing the thermostat, and whether I feel the radiator to the very top and also feel the reservoir between the min and max line?