pH of Engine Coolants

Description

Measurement of the pH level for a rapid assessment of the alkaline reserve and anti-corrosion properties of antifreeze, signaling its aging or additive depletion.

Proper acid-base balance (pH) is the "immunity" of your engine's cooling system. During intensive operation, the base components of the antifreeze undergo thermal decomposition, forming aggressive glycolic acids. If the pH drops critically and the fluid becomes acidic, rapid electrochemical corrosion of aluminum radiators and cast-iron blocks begins. RENA's laboratory pH analysis is a fast yet fundamentally important test that will unmistakably show whether your coolant is still capable of protecting the engine or if its inhibitors are exhausted and the fluid needs to be drained urgently. The analysis is conducted using a precise potentiometric method with a professional laboratory pH meter (featuring a temperature compensation system) and a highly sensitive combined glass electrode (ASTM D1287). For testing fresh and used coolants, as well as concentrates, the measurement is typically performed on a standardized aqueous solution with an antifreeze volume fraction of 50% (the concentrate is diluted with pure deionized water). The electrode is immersed in the prepared sample at a controlled temperature of 20 °C. The electrode system generates an electromotive force (potential difference) that directly depends on the activity of hydrogen ions in the solution. The instrument's microprocessor registers this voltage and instantly converts it into standard pH values. Before each test series, the equipment undergoes mandatory multipoint calibration using standard buffer solutions.