Anyone used a Refractometer for Engine Coolant Glycol Levels?

[SavVYute]

I recently drained and flushed the engine coolant in my ute the other day. Its a 50/50 mix of water and ethylene glycol based corrosion inhibiter/antifreeze required for my VY.
I mixed it up to the correct ratio and bunged it in.

A few days later I borrowed a a refractometer for measuring the % of inhibiter/antifreeze in the coolant from a mate. (He found it on e-bay new from China for about $50).

I've never seen one before. Seems like a well made instrument, with three scales through the viewfinder for Ethylene Glycol, Propyline Glycol (gives you the %) and also battery fluid (good/fair/recharge).
You put a drop of the coolant on the glass prism, close the lid and hold it up to the light and read the refractive index of the liquid on the scale.

I tested the fluid I thought was 50% and the refractometer tells me it's 62%

Has anybody used one of these before? Are they accurate?

[ari666]

Lmao... Wtf?!?!?

[TVR-190]

never heard of em before

try this

Let me google that for you

[ari666]

AHA HAHAHA... (some lower case letters for the caps monster)

dude! i cant believe you were actually driving you car with that ratio!!! good thing you checked.

[SavVYute]

I've tested the levels in a couple of brand new cars (Subaru) and they give a reading of exactly 50%. (to spec)
I think they would spot on straight from the factory.