Pro tip: Stop trusting your coolant concentration test strips

I used to just dip a test strip once a week and call it good. Last month my tool life dropped by 40% and I couldn't figure out why. Turns out those strips are garbage once they sit in a hot toolbox for three months. Now I use a refractometer every Monday morning and my inserts last twice as long. Anyone else had a coolant issue that turned out to be a testing problem?

2 comments

2 Comments

skylerc862d ago

Refractometer was the same fix for me after I found my strips were reading 8% when the real number was 5%. Night and day difference once I switched.

jamies452d ago

That "night and day" difference is no joke. Getting a refractometer was one of those moments where I realized I'd been flying blind with test strips for way too long. Once you see the real numbers, it's hard to go back to guessing.