ASTM D2847-99(2004)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation:D2847–99 (Reapproved2004)
Standard Practice for
Testing Engine Coolants in Car and Light Truck Service
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2847; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope engine to the radiator, usually containing specific amounts of
glycols, water, corrosion inhibitors, and a foam suppressor.
1.1 This practice covers the procedure for evaluating corro-
sion protection and performance of an engine coolant in
4. Summary of Practice
passenger car and light truck service.
4.1 Standardmetalcorrosionspecimens,mountedinspecial
NOTE 1—Coolant evaluation in vehicle service may require consider-
holders, are installed in the coolant flow of the test vehicles.
able time and expense; therefore, the product should be pretested in the
The coolant is tested at the recommended concentration in a
laboratory for general acceptability. Tests may vary from small, closely
specified test water. A minimum of five test vehicles per
controlled tests, to large tests where close control is not always practical.
coolant is required. The test duration in terms of time or
1.2 The units quoted in this practice are to be regarded as
mileage should be consistent with the recommended service
standard. The values given in parentheses are approximate
life of the coolant. The vehicle, corrosion specimens, and
equivalents for information only.
coolant are inspected according to a prescribed schedule to
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
provide the basis for coolant evaluation.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4.2 A detailed cleaning and conditioning procedure is es-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
sential to obtain statistically significant and reproducible re-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
sults. New, or nearly new, vehicles are preferred for field tests.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precau-
tionary statements are given in Section 7 and Note A1.1. 5. Significance and Use
5.1 The data obtained from the use of this practice will
2. Referenced Documents
provide a basis for the evaluation of coolant performance in
2.1 ASTM Standards:
passenger car and light truck service. The data obtained may
D1121 Test Method for Reserve Alkalinity of Engine
also be used to provide added significance to the data obtained
Coolants and Antirusts
from simulated service and engine dynamometer tests.
D1287 Test Method for pH of Engine Coolants and Anti-
rusts
6. Apparatus
D1384 TestMethodforCorrosionTestforEngineCoolants
6.1 Test Vehicles— In selecting vehicles to be used to
in Glassware
conduct field tests of coolants intended for automobiles and
D1881 Test Method for Foaming Tendencies of Engine
light trucks, consideration should be given to the current range
Coolants in Glassware
of cooling system designs and materials. It is advisable to
include both brazed aluminum and soldered copper/brass
3. Terminology
radiators as well as engines made of cast iron and those with
3.1 Definitions:
aluminum heads or blocks, or both. A matrix including every
3.1.1 engine coolant—a heat exchange fluid with good
possible variable combination of such features is not required,
low-temperature properties used to transfer heat from an
especially if vehicles representing the extremes are included in
the field tests. This includes aluminum engine with aluminum
radiator and heater core, cast iron engine with copper/brass
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D15 on Engine
radiator and heater core, and a cast iron engine with an
Coolants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D15.10 on Dynamometer
aluminum radiator and a copper/brass heater core. Pressurized
and Road Tests.
surge tanks as well as unpressurized coolant overflow reser-
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2004. Published November 2004. Originally
approved in 1969. Last previous edition approved in 1999 as D2847–99.
voirs should be tested. Select vehicles that will be subjected to
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
a wide range of operating schedules. These ranges should
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
include high-usage vehicles which accumulate miles rapidly,
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. vehicles operationally biased toward higher temperatures, and
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D2847–99 (2004)
low-mileage vehicles (<1000 miles/month) that can develop
acceleratedlocalizedcorrosionduetonon-flowingcoolant.No
single operating schedule is preferred over another. New, or
nearly new, vehicles are preferred because of possible difficul-
ties,explainedin9.2.1,incleaningoldercoolingsystemsprior
to test.
6.2 Metal Corrosion Specimens—The description, specifi-
cation, preparation, cleaning, and weighing of the metal
corrosion specimens used in this practice are given in detail in
FIG. 2 Specimen Bundle Sleeve
Test Method D1384. The metal specimens are assembled for
test as shown in Fig. 1. Each set of specimens is mounted in a
canvas reinforced phenolic tube illustrated in Fig. 2. The
specimen and tube assembly are placed in a capsule which is
mountedinthevehiclecoolingsystem.Twotypesofspecimen
capsules may be used; the by-pass (partial-flow) heater circuit
type (Fig. 3) is the standard capsule, and the full-flow type
(Fig. 4) is optional. The partial-flow heater circuit capsule is
located between the heater supply and the heater-return line
and shall contain two or more sets of specimens.The full-flow
capsule is installed in the upper radiator hose and contains one
or more sets of specimens.
6.2.1 The schematic of the specimen holder installation is
shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 6 is a photograph of a typical installation
of test capsules. The optional full-flow capsule should be
mountedaslowaspossibleintheupperradiatorhosetoensure
coolant coverage of the metal specimens when the vehicle is
FIG. 3 By-Pass (Heater Circuit) Specimen Capsule
FIG. 4 Full-Flow Specimen Capsule
notinuse.Thepartial-flowcapsulemustbemountedvertically
to avoid trapped air.Apair of fabricated copper tees with ⁄8-in
(9.5-mm) outside diameter copper tubing side taps (Fig. 7) are
spliced into the heater hose lines to provide a constant bypass
flow through the specimen capsule. The circuit must be so
arranged that coolant flows through the capsule whenever the
vehicle is in operation. On air-conditioned vehicles with a
vacuum-operated heater flow control valve, the by-pass tee
must be installed ahead of the flow control valve to insure
constant flow.
7. Safety Precautions
7.1 All coolant concentrates and their solutions should be
considered harmful or fatal if swallowed.
7.2 Caution should be used when removing the radiator cap
from a hot cooling system.
7.3 Allinstallationsshallbemadewiththeenginecooledto
FIG. 1 Corrosion Specimen Bundle ambient air temperature to avoid burns.
D2847–99 (2004)
persist during tests conducted after oxalic acid cleaning.
Engines that have cooling systems that are heavily rusted,
pitted, or porous are more susceptible to such carryover. The
presence of oil or grease accumulations in the cooling system
may justify exclusion of the vehicle from test if the oil cannot
be removed by the cleaner selected.
9.2.2 In addition to monitoring changes in the properties of
the coolant and measuring corrosion rates by means of the
metal coupons, an appraisal of the long term effects on the
cooling system parts may be an added objective. This may
include an evaluation of radiator tube plugging, solder bloom-
ing,sealleakage,accumulationsofsedimentandtheeffectson
iron and aluminum engine parts subjected to higher thermal
stress than on the corresponding metal coupons. Parts of the
cooling system of particular interest may appropriately be
replaced with new parts during the initial preparations.
9.2.2.1 ACoolingSystemFlushandFillKit (seeFig.A1.1)
will permit quick and effective flushing of the system.
FIG. 5 Schematic of Specimen Capsule Installation 9.2.2.2 With system filled with tap water, pressure test to
check for external leaks.
9.2.2.3 Pressure test radiator cap and examine radiator filler
7.4 Disconnect the hot (positive) battery lead to prevent the
neck seat for dents or nicks.The pressure rating of the cap and
engine from starting to avoid hand injury by drive belts or fan
filler neck combination may be tested by removing the tem-
blades.
perature sensing unit and attaching the pressure tester to a
7.5 Theengineexhaustshouldbeventedwhentheengineis
suitable threaded fitting.
runindoorsatnormaltemperaturestocheckforcoolingsystem
9.2.2.4 Drain cooling system as thoroughly as possible.
leaks.
9.2.2.5 Repair any leaks. Examine radiator, heater, and
coolant recovery reservoir hoses, and replace if necessary.
8. Sampling
Install new hose for evaluation of coolant effects on elasto-
8.1 Coolant samples are removed from the test vehicle
meric materials.
through the sample valve mounted on the partial-flow capsule.
9.2.2.6 Install the by-pass tees, the extra hoses and the full
The 6-oz (180-mL) coolant samples are kept in polyethylene
and partial flow capsules, but not the coupons, as illustrated in
bottlesequippedwithscrewcapsandsuitablelabels.Areserve
Fig.5andFig.7.Thiswillallowcleaningofthesecomponents
supply of pre-mixed coolant is used to replace the coolant
at the same time the rest of the cooling system is cleaned.
samples. If foaming tendency is not checked, a 2-oz (60-mL)
9.2.2.7 Clean the cooling system with a commercial auto-
sample is adequate.
motive chelate or detergent-type cleaner, following the manu-
facturer’s directions. The expansion reservoir must also be
9. Preparation of Apparatus
drained and cleaned. Follow this by flushing the system twice
9.1 Engine Reconditioning:
with distilled or deionized water. Then drain the cooling
9.1.1 Inspect the engine of the test vehicle carefully and
systemascompletelyaspossible.Byopeningappropriatehose
complete any necessary repairs. Check the cooling system for
connections,theheatercoreandtheby-passcapsulehosesmay
the following common defects: cylinder head gasket failure
be blown out with dry, oil free, compressed air. Inspect the
resulting in exhaust gas contamination of the coolant, and air
interior surfaces of the cooling system.This may require some
inductedintothecoolantduetoaworncoolantpumpfaceseal
disassembly such as removal of the coolant outlet, the coolant
or defective lower radiator hose connection.
pump, and accessible core hole plugs. Fiber optic inspection
9.2 Cooling System Preparation:
equipment may be useful. The extent of such inspections shall
9.2.1 Vehicles subject to field tests must have cooling
be commensurate with the test requirements and must neces-
systems that can be satisfactorily cleaned initially with mild
sarilybeinaccordancewithagreementofthepartiesinvolved.
chelate or detergent type commercial cleansers. Such cleaners
9.2.2.8 Remove the flushing tee and reassemble the cooling
may allow small concentrations of some chemicals to carry
system for normal operation. The preweighed metal coupons
over into the coolant to be tested, and this factor may be
should be installed in the full flow and partial flow capsules.
appraised from analyses of the initial and periodic coolant
9.2.2.9 Fill the cooling system with test coolant prepared
samples. New, or nearly new, vehicles are preferred to mini-
with glycol antifreeze and corrosive water as described in Test
mizecleaningandpossiblecarryoverproblems.Itispossibleto
Method D1384.The glycol concentration should give a freeze
clean older cooling systems with oxalic acid, and a procedure
point of−20 6 2°F (−29 6 1°C), which corresponds to 44%
for that alternative is included in the appendixes. However,
by volume of ethylene glycol (or other percentages of other
considerable caution must be exercised in cleaning, neutraliz-
ing, and inspecting systems cleaned with oxalic acid. Some
researchers have reported deleterious carryover effects that “Prestone” Flush and Fill Kit, or equivalent.
D2847–99 (2004)
FIG. 6 Full-Flow and Partial-Flow Specimen Capsules
10. Procedure
10.1 Test the coolant being evaluated in a minimum of five
vehicles at the recommended concentration.
10.2 Vehicle operating conditions may vary considerably in
any test fleet; therefore, record the type of service for each
vehicle. Mileage accumulation rates may vary considerably;
therefore, the recommended inspections in 10.5 may be diffi-
culttoschedule.Alternativeinspectionandsamplingschedules
may be developed to suit the needs and circumstances of the
test.
10.3 The recommended concentration for coolant is listed
below. Weather conditions in Northern areas may require
testingatahigherconcentration.Evaluateothercoolingsystem
3 5
NOTE 1—Dimension A is 19.1 or 16.0 mm ( ⁄4 or ⁄8 in.) diameter
products at the recommended or implied concentration, in the
depending on size of heater hose.
product use directions. Coolant concentrations and normal
FIG. 7 By-Pass Tee
coolant operating temperature ranges are as follows:
Concentration, volume %, or 44
glycols) unless climatic extremes require lower freeze points.
Freezing point, °F (°C) −20 (−29)
Range for normal operating temperature of engine 180 to 235 (82 to 113)
Theexpansionreservoirshallbefilledtothemarkedlevelwith
coolant, °F (°C)
the same coolant solution. Run the engine long enough to
ensurethatanyairtrappedinthesystemisexpelled,andcheck 10.4 Use a synthetic corrosive water as described inAnnex
the system for leaks. Upon cool down, the coolant level in the
A2todilutethecoolant.Additionstothecoolingsystemduring
expansionreservoirwillneedtobecheckedandbroughttothe the test should be the prescribed mixture of coolant and
proper level. corrosive water.
9.2.2.10 Label the radiator and expansion reservoir fill caps
10.5 Perform periodic inspections throughout the test as
conspicuously to show a coolant test is being conducted, and given in Table 1.
include instructions with whom to contact in case coolant
11. Calculation
additionsareneededorotherproblemsoccur.Obtaintheinitial
coolant sample and record the start-of-test date, odometer 11.1 Record the corrosion data in milligrams per specimen.
reading, and engine hour rea
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