ASTM D2847-07(2012)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation: D2847 − 07(Reapproved 2012)
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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 4. Summary of Practice
1.1 This practice covers the procedure for evaluating corro- 4.1 Standardmetalcorrosionspecimens,mountedinspecial
sion protection and performance of an engine coolant in holders, are installed in the coolant flow of the test vehicles.
passenger car and light truck service. The coolant is tested at the recommended concentration in a
specified test water. A minimum of five test vehicles per
NOTE 1—Coolant evaluation in vehicle service may require consider-
coolant is required. The test duration in terms of time or
able time and expense; therefore, the product should be pretested in the
mileage should be consistent with the recommended service
laboratory for general acceptability. Tests may vary from small, closely
controlled tests, to large tests where close control is not always practical.
life of the coolant. The vehicle, corrosion specimens, and
coolant are inspected according to a prescribed schedule to
1.2 The units quoted in this practice are to be regarded as
provide the basis for coolant evaluation.
standard. The values given in parentheses are approximate
equivalents for information only.
4.2 A detailed cleaning and conditioning procedure is es-
sential to obtain statistically significant and reproducible re-
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
sults. New, or nearly new, vehicles are preferred for field tests.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
5. Significance and Use
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precau-
5.1 The data obtained from the use of this practice will
tionary statements are given in Section 7 and Note A1.1.
provide a basis for the evaluation of coolant performance in
passenger car and light truck service. The data obtained may
2. Referenced Documents
also be used to provide added significance to the data obtained
2.1 ASTM Standards: from simulated service and engine dynamometer tests.
D1121Test Method for Reserve Alkalinity of Engine Cool-
6. Apparatus
ants and Antirusts
D1287TestMethodforpHofEngineCoolantsandAntirusts
6.1 Test Vehicles— In selecting vehicles to be used to
D1384Test Method for Corrosion Test for Engine Coolants
conduct field tests of coolants intended for automobiles and
in Glassware
light trucks, consideration should be given to the current range
D1881Test Method for Foaming Tendencies of Engine
of cooling system designs and materials. It is advisable to
Coolants in Glassware
include both brazed aluminum and soldered copper/brass
radiators as well as engines made of cast iron and those with
3. Terminology
aluminum heads or blocks, or both. A matrix including every
3.1 Definitions: possible variable combination of such features is not required,
3.1.1 engine coolant—a fluid used to transfer heat from an especially if vehicles representing the extremes are included in
engine to the radiator, usually containing specific amounts of the field tests. This includes aluminum engine with aluminum
glycols, water, corrosion inhibitors, and a foam suppressor. radiator and heater core, cast iron engine with copper/brass
radiator and heater core, and a cast iron engine with an
aluminum radiator and a copper/brass heater core. Pressurized
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D15 on Engine
surge tanks as well as unpressurized coolant overflow reser-
Coolants and Related Fluids and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
voirs should be tested. Select vehicles that will be subjected to
D15.10 on Dynamometer and Road Tests.
a wide range of operating schedules. These ranges should
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2012. Published November 2012. Originally
include high-usage vehicles which accumulate miles rapidly,
approved in 1969. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as D2847–07. DOI:
10.1520/D2847-07R12.
vehicles operationally biased toward higher temperatures, and
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
low-mileage vehicles (<1000 miles/month) that can develop
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
acceleratedlocalizedcorrosionduetonon-flowingcoolant.No
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. single operating schedule is preferred over another. New, or
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D2847 − 07 (2012)
nearly new, vehicles are preferred because of possible
difficulties, explained in 9.2.1, in cleaning older cooling
systems prior to test.
6.2 Metal Corrosion Specimens—The description,
specification, preparation, cleaning, and weighing of the metal
corrosion specimens used in this practice are given in detail in
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
FIG. 2 Specimen Bundle Sleeve
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
notinuse.Thepartial-flowcapsulemustbemountedvertically
to avoid trapped air.Apair of fabricated copper tees with ⁄8-in
FIG. 3 By-Pass (Heater Circuit) Specimen Capsule
FIG. 4 Full-Flow Specimen Capsule
(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 − 07 (2012)
Some researchers have reported deleterious carryover effects
that 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
blooming, seal leakage, accumulations of sediment and the
effects on 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)
FIG. 5 Schematic of Specimen Capsule Installation will permit quick and effective flushing of the system.
9.2.2.2 With system filled with tap water, pressure test to
check for external leaks.
7.4 Disconnect the hot (positive) battery lead to prevent the
9.2.2.3 Pressure test radiator cap and examine radiator filler
engine from starting to avoid hand injury by drive belts or fan
neck seat for dents or nicks.The pressure rating of the cap and
blades.
filler neck combination may be tested by removing the tem-
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
8. Sampling coolant recovery reservoir hoses, and replace if necessary.
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,
considerable caution must be exercised in cleaning,
neutralizing, and inspecting systems cleaned with oxalic acid. “Prestone” Flush and Fill Kit, or equivalent.
D2847 − 07 (2012)
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
3 5
NOTE 1—Dimension A is 19.1 or 16.0 mm ( ⁄4 or ⁄8 in.) diameter
testingatahigherconcentration.Evaluateothercoolingsystem
depending on size of heater hose.
FIG. 7 By-Pass Tee products at the recommended or implied concentration, in the
product use directions. Coolant concentrations and normal
coolant operating temperature ranges are as follows:
Concentration, volume %, or 44
Freezing point, °F (°C) −20 (−29)
by volume of ethylene glycol (or other percentages of other
Range for normal operating temperature of engine 180 to 235 (82 to 113)
glycols) unless climatic extremes require lower freeze points.
coolant, °F (°C)
Theexpansionreservoirshallbefilledtothemarkedlevelwith
10.4 Use a synthetic corrosive water as described in Annex
the same coolant solution. Run the engine long enough to
A2todilutethecoolant.Additionstothecoolingsystemduring
ensurethatanyairtrappedinthesystemisexpelled,andcheck
the test should be the prescribed mixture of coolant and
the system for leaks. Upon cool down, the coolant level in the
corrosive water.
expansionreservoirwillneedtobecheckedandbroughttothe
10.5 Perform periodic inspections throughout the test as
proper level.
given in Table 1.
9.2.2.10 Label the radiator and expansion reservoir fill caps
conspicuously to show a coolant test is being conducted, and
11. Calculation
include instructions with whom to contact in case coolant
additionsareneededorotherproblemsoccur.Obtaintheinitial 11.1 Record the corrosion data in milligrams per specimen.
coolant sample and record the start-of-test date, odometer If it is desired to
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