I take it the reason the rubber/plastic bulb/hose on my anti-freeze
tester disintegrates between Winters is the alcohol? in the coolant?

Might help if the manufacturers suggested rinsing with fresh water after
use!
--
Tim Lamb

On Wed, 10 Feb 2021 10:54:42 +0000, Tim Lamb
wrote:

I take it the reason the rubber/plastic bulb/hose on my anti-freeze
tester disintegrates between Winters is the alcohol? in the coolant?

Might help if the manufacturers suggested rinsing with fresh water after
use!

What? And lose the repeat sales?

Nick

In article ,
Tim Lamb wrote:
I take it the reason the rubber/plastic bulb/hose on my anti-freeze
tester disintegrates between Winters is the alcohol? in the coolant?

Might help if the manufacturers suggested rinsing with fresh water after
use!

Or just make it out of a 'rubber' resistant to alcohol. As they've done on
car flexible fuel hoses for 'E' petrol.

--
*Pride is what we have. Vanity is what others have.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On 10/02/2021 10:54, Tim Lamb wrote:
I take it the reason the rubber/plastic bulb/hose on my anti-freeze
tester disintegrates between Winters is the alcohol? in the coolant?

Might help if the manufacturers suggested rinsing with fresh water after
use!

And store it in the dark. I have a pile of old VHS
videos in my spare bedroom, which faces North. They have
been there for about 10 years and about 7 feet
away from the Window, but I noticed the other day that
some of the clear/obscure sleeving pointing towards the
the window have disintegrated, presumably because of UV light.

On 10/02/2021 10:54, Tim Lamb wrote:
I take it the reason the rubber/plastic bulb/hose on my anti-freeze
tester disintegrates between Winters is the alcohol? in the coolant?

Might help if the manufacturers suggested rinsing with fresh water after
use!


I just this minute checked mine which has been on a shelf in my back
room after purchasing late in 2019 and using it once. Its now in the
rubbish sack Both the bulb and hose are perished.

--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

On 10/02/2021 12:10, alan_m wrote:
On 10/02/2021 10:54, Tim Lamb wrote:
I take it the reason the rubber/plastic bulb/hose on my anti-freeze
tester disintegrates between Winters is the alcohol? in the coolant?

Might help if the manufacturers suggested rinsing with fresh water
after use!


I just this minute checked mine which has been on a shelf in my back
room after purchasing late in 2019 and using it once. Its now in the
rubbish sack Â* Both the bulb and hose are perished.


I have an antifreeze tester which is over 30 yrs old. Maybe they were
made of better material then but i do wash it out after use.

On 10/02/2021 10:54, Tim Lamb wrote:
I take it the reason the rubber/plastic bulb/hose on my anti-freeze
tester disintegrates between Winters is the alcohol? in the coolant?

Might help if the manufacturers suggested rinsing with fresh water after
use!

My money would be on UV / ozone rather than alcohol or glycol as being
the culprit.

In article ,
newshound wrote:
On 10/02/2021 10:54, Tim Lamb wrote:
I take it the reason the rubber/plastic bulb/hose on my anti-freeze
tester disintegrates between Winters is the alcohol? in the coolant?

Might help if the manufacturers suggested rinsing with fresh water after
use!

My money would be on UV / ozone rather than alcohol or glycol as being
the culprit.

Alcohol certainly attacks some types of this sort of thing. Lot of reports
of it doing so (Ethanol in petrol) in the classic car press etc.

Although alcohol was around in some petrol in the 60s (Discol?) but maybe
not in the same concentration.

--
*I want it all and I want it delivered

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On 10/02/2021 15:54, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
newshound wrote:
On 10/02/2021 10:54, Tim Lamb wrote:
I take it the reason the rubber/plastic bulb/hose on my anti-freeze
tester disintegrates between Winters is the alcohol? in the coolant?

Might help if the manufacturers suggested rinsing with fresh water after
use!

My money would be on UV / ozone rather than alcohol or glycol as being
the culprit.

Alcohol certainly attacks some types of this sort of thing. Lot of reports
of it doing so (Ethanol in petrol) in the classic car press etc.

Although alcohol was around in some petrol in the 60s (Discol?) but maybe
not in the same concentration.

Alcohol and glycol are both OK on natural rubber (and the synthetic
equivalent). Nitriles don't like alcohol and they may be what you find
in classic cars. But that is in continous contact. With a tester, you
take a sample and squeeze it out. A glycol won't evaporate so it will
stay around all year, but alcohols will evaporate in a day or two,
assuming you don't leave the tester full of fluid.

Many petrols are E5 now, meaning they contain 5% alcohol.

So I still think it is likely to be UV. (May of course also be very
cheap rubber with a lot of filler).

In message ,
newshound writes
On 10/02/2021 15:54, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
newshound wrote:
On 10/02/2021 10:54, Tim Lamb wrote:
I take it the reason the rubber/plastic bulb/hose on my anti-freeze
tester disintegrates between Winters is the alcohol? in the coolant?

Might help if the manufacturers suggested rinsing with fresh water after
use!

My money would be on UV / ozone rather than alcohol or glycol as
being
the culprit.
Alcohol certainly attacks some types of this sort of thing. Lot of
reports
of it doing so (Ethanol in petrol) in the classic car press etc.
Although alcohol was around in some petrol in the 60s (Discol?) but
maybe
not in the same concentration.

Alcohol and glycol are both OK on natural rubber (and the synthetic
equivalent). Nitriles don't like alcohol and they may be what you find
in classic cars. But that is in continous contact. With a tester, you
take a sample and squeeze it out. A glycol won't evaporate so it will
stay around all year, but alcohols will evaporate in a day or two,
assuming you don't leave the tester full of fluid.

Many petrols are E5 now, meaning they contain 5% alcohol.

So I still think it is likely to be UV. (May of course also be very
cheap rubber with a lot of filler).

Mine have always lived in the workshop. No direct Sun. I'll go with the
cheap rubber and vulnerability to ethylene glycol. Of course the
replacement market does not encourage long life:-(

--
Tim Lamb

Or made it of the same material as hoses in the car?
Brian

--

This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"Tim Lamb" wrote in message
...
I take it the reason the rubber/plastic bulb/hose on my anti-freeze tester
disintegrates between Winters is the alcohol? in the coolant?

Might help if the manufacturers suggested rinsing with fresh water after
use!
--
Tim Lamb

On 10/02/2021 10:54, Tim Lamb wrote:
I take it the reason the rubber/plastic bulb/hose on my anti-freeze
tester disintegrates between Winters is the alcohol? in the coolant?

Might help if the manufacturers suggested rinsing with fresh water after
use!

Never used one. I prefer to add a litre of antifreeze every year of two
depending on the work I've done on the car. But then I add it mainly for
corrosion protection.

In message , Fredxx
writes
On 10/02/2021 10:54, Tim Lamb wrote:
I take it the reason the rubber/plastic bulb/hose on my anti-freeze
tester disintegrates between Winters is the alcohol? in the coolant?
Might help if the manufacturers suggested rinsing with fresh water
after use!

Never used one. I prefer to add a litre of antifreeze every year of two
depending on the work I've done on the car. But then I add it mainly
for corrosion protection.

Interesting feature on some 70's/80's Ford tractor engines.. coolant
cavitation causing erosion and penetration of cylinders! Not helped by
some of the coolant characteristics.

--
Tim Lamb

On 11/02/2021 08:58, Tim Lamb wrote:
In message , Fredxx
writes
On 10/02/2021 10:54, Tim Lamb wrote:
I take it the reason the rubber/plastic bulb/hose on my anti-freeze
tester disintegrates between Winters is the alcohol? in the coolant?
Â*Might help if the manufacturers suggested rinsing with fresh water
afterÂ* use!

Never used one. I prefer to add a litre of antifreeze every year of
two depending on the work I've done on the car. But then I add it
mainly for corrosion protection.

Interesting feature on some 70's/80's Ford tractor engines.. coolant
cavitation causing erosion and penetration of cylinders! Not helped by
some of the coolant characteristics.

I had never heard of these problems but they are taken seriously from
the number of articles I found following a search.

https://www.cumminsfiltration.com/si...s/3300963A.pdf

Fredxx wrote:
On 11/02/2021 08:58, Tim Lamb wrote:
In message , Fredxx
writes
On 10/02/2021 10:54, Tim Lamb wrote:
I take it the reason the rubber/plastic bulb/hose on my anti-freeze
tester disintegrates between Winters is the alcohol? in the coolant?
Might help if the manufacturers suggested rinsing with fresh water
after use!

Never used one. I prefer to add a litre of antifreeze every year of
two depending on the work I've done on the car. But then I add it
mainly for corrosion protection.

Interesting feature on some 70's/80's Ford tractor engines.. coolant
cavitation causing erosion and penetration of cylinders! Not helped by
some of the coolant characteristics.

I had never heard of these problems but they are taken seriously from
the number of articles I found following a search.

https://www.cumminsfiltration.com/si...s/3300963A.pdf

The antifreeze in my car is "pH buffered".

You don't use hardware store antifreeze in it.

Check with someone first, before making a mistake
with your vehicle. I would never have suspected
such an option was possible.

And a lot of the stock here is pre-mix now, and
you no longer have to dilute it yourself. The
premix is 50% and I use it like that. Pour and enjoy.

Paul

On 11/02/2021 18:19, Paul wrote:
Fredxx wrote:
On 11/02/2021 08:58, Tim Lamb wrote:
In message , Fredxx
writes
On 10/02/2021 10:54, Tim Lamb wrote:
I take it the reason the rubber/plastic bulb/hose on my anti-freeze
tester disintegrates between Winters is the alcohol? in the coolant?
Â*Might help if the manufacturers suggested rinsing with fresh water
afterÂ* use!

Never used one. I prefer to add a litre of antifreeze every year of
two depending on the work I've done on the car. But then I add it
mainly for corrosion protection.

Interesting feature on some 70's/80's Ford tractor engines.. coolant
cavitation causing erosion and penetration of cylinders! Not helped
by some of the coolant characteristics.

I had never heard of these problems but they are taken seriously from
the number of articles I found following a search.

https://www.cumminsfiltration.com/si...s/3300963A.pdf


The antifreeze in my car is "pH buffered".

You don't use hardware store antifreeze in it.

Check with someone first, before making a mistake
with your vehicle. I would never have suspected
such an option was possible.

And a lot of the stock here is pre-mix now, and
you no longer have to dilute it yourself. The
premix is 50% and I use it like that. Pour and enjoy.

I've never had an issue with corrosion except a time when I didn't use a
corrosion inhibitor. On that occasion a hole was formed through an
aluminium housing.

I always use concentrate of the correct type. Less packaging too.

In article ,
Tim Lamb wrote:
In message , Fredxx
writes
On 10/02/2021 10:54, Tim Lamb wrote:
I take it the reason the rubber/plastic bulb/hose on my anti-freeze
tester disintegrates between Winters is the alcohol? in the coolant?
Might help if the manufacturers suggested rinsing with fresh water
after use!

Never used one. I prefer to add a litre of antifreeze every year of two
depending on the work I've done on the car. But then I add it mainly
for corrosion protection.

Interesting feature on some 70's/80's Ford tractor engines.. coolant
cavitation causing erosion and penetration of cylinders! Not helped by
some of the coolant characteristics.

Many years ago I was working at a place hosting a Smith's conference.
Likely early 60s. The speaker was asked how long the then Bluecol
antifreeze should be left in. 'As short as possible' was the answer. All
year round anti-freeze was someway off. And you still have to be careful.
Current long life stuff attacks some of the metals used in older cars.
Notably copper and brass etc. Hence modern cars having aluminium rads, and
everything else plastic.

The pretty safe antifreeze once called 'for ally engines' is getting quite
difficult to find at a decent price. Halfords used to sell it in a
concentrate, but now only ready for use. At about the same price for 5
litres as the concentrate.

--
*I don't feel old. I don't feel anything until noon. Then it's time for my nap.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On 12/02/2021 14:49, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
Tim Lamb wrote:
In message , Fredxx
writes
On 10/02/2021 10:54, Tim Lamb wrote:
I take it the reason the rubber/plastic bulb/hose on my anti-freeze
tester disintegrates between Winters is the alcohol? in the coolant?
Might help if the manufacturers suggested rinsing with fresh water
after use!

Never used one. I prefer to add a litre of antifreeze every year of two
depending on the work I've done on the car. But then I add it mainly
for corrosion protection.

Interesting feature on some 70's/80's Ford tractor engines.. coolant
cavitation causing erosion and penetration of cylinders! Not helped by
some of the coolant characteristics.

Many years ago I was working at a place hosting a Smith's conference.
Likely early 60s. The speaker was asked how long the then Bluecol
antifreeze should be left in. 'As short as possible' was the answer. All
year round anti-freeze was someway off. And you still have to be careful.
Current long life stuff attacks some of the metals used in older cars.
Notably copper and brass etc. Hence modern cars having aluminium rads, and
everything else plastic.

The pretty safe antifreeze once called 'for ally engines' is getting quite
difficult to find at a decent price. Halfords used to sell it in a
concentrate, but now only ready for use. At about the same price for 5
litres as the concentrate.

I now buy from Eurocarparts on the basis that their stuff conforms to
various manufacturer's specs, and is of the concentrated form.

Modern cars have moved from silicates to OATs. My simple understanding
is silicates are only recommended for systems with lead in it's plumbing.

I still believe you get less corrosion, not more, using a stipulated
antifreeze.

In article ,
Fredxx wrote:
The pretty safe antifreeze once called 'for ally engines' is getting quite
difficult to find at a decent price. Halfords used to sell it in a
concentrate, but now only ready for use. At about the same price for 5
litres as the concentrate.

I now buy from Eurocarparts on the basis that their stuff conforms to
various manufacturer's specs, and is of the concentrated form.

Yes - I ended up buying the older stuff safe for my engine there. Got 25
litres at a very good price which should see me out. ;-) Dislike ECP
pricing, though. Different price if just going to the shop, ordering via
their website, and Ebay. Before you even talk about discount codes. Ebay
usually the best one.

Modern cars have moved from silicates to OATs. My simple understanding
is silicates are only recommended for systems with lead in it's plumbing.

I was told OATs attack more than just the solder in a copper rad.

I still believe you get less corrosion, not more, using a stipulated
antifreeze.

Absolutely. My ally engined car stipulated to use it all year round. But
change it every two years. OATs in a modern engine seem to have a longer
service life.

I changed the water pump recently, and the inside of the water jacket thus
exposed looked like brand new. At near 40 years old.

--
*For every action, there is an equal and opposite criticism *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.