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New Anti-Freeze Bad? Warning

M

Mokicker

Member
Time to winterize everything and told the wife I needed 5 gallons since she was running into town. She picked up some at Wal-Mart (Tech-???), their genaric brand. Working on the third tractor and something just didn"t seem right. Got out the tester and the antifreeze mixture tested plus 5 at 50/50 mix. Opened a new container and tested it and it only tested at about plus 10. Had two gallons left and took it back to automotive manager at WM who said there was nothing they could do other than refund for two unused gallons.
Refused to test the unopened container. I bought one of their testers and the container tested at plus 15. Again it was, oh well. I left it and went to Oriellys. Might want to test your equipment before hard freeze gets here. I got a cracked block in my HD5 last winter using the same anti-freeze. Thought I"d messed up the mix or something.
 
Buying premixed antifreeze is simply a waste of money. What you are paying for is at most HALF a gallon of antifreeze per gallon. The rest is high-priced WATER!!!! To me, this qualifies as consumer fraud. Then when they dilute the mix even further, it becomes just plain robbery.
 
I think he said he tested it at a 50/50 mixture which I take it that he mixed the anti freeze he bought with water. I don't think WalMart brand has a mixed anti freeze.
I would put a sample in my deep freeze if it was mine. Many testers are totally inaccurate. You need the super dooper tester that I can't think of the name right now.
 
(quoted from post at 21:53:48 11/12/13) I think he said he tested it at a 50/50 mixture which I take it that he mixed the anti freeze he bought with water. I don't think WalMart brand has a mixed anti freeze.
I would put a sample in my deep freeze if it was mine. Many testers are totally inaccurate. You need the super dooper tester that I can't think of the name right now.
Click to expand...

You thinking of the refracktometer(sp)???? No moving parts tester.

It is the only kind I have used for the past 35 years
 
What do you expect from China mart. Yes they are no longer a U.S. company and are in fact owned by China. I almost NEVER shop there since they are the enemy as in sooner or later the $$ you spend there will come back to us like they did in 1941 with japan
 
And this same thinking is typically followed by poor heat transfer and plugging up of the cooling system due to calcium deposits like in your coffee maker in the house. Your wife has to run vinegar through it every now and then cause it plugs up. You see this in a pan of water on the stove that has boiled too long. That white crusty water ring. Calcium, magnesium, chloride from the water.

Warranty issues with manufacturers is what drove pre-mix coolants in the aftermarket. Plain and simple. My daddy and granddaddy taught me like you say. Now years later, I have taught them a thing or two.
 
Refractometer. You are correct other than the spelling. The floating ball type testers don't work well in the newer style coolants.

It only takes a couple drops of coolant on the window to give an accurate measurement of freeze point.

There are plenty of location to get one. Simply Google it and you will find a number of options. Robinair makes a nice one. But I have never seen a poor one either. They cost around $50.
 
Read the specs on the GOOD premix sold at your local implement dealer and you'll find it's more than just anti-freeze added to plain water. Jim
 
You got what you paid for. Now you act surprised. Last year's busted block wasn't enough, so you came back for more. Now you have to drain, flush to get the Wally World brand out of your equipment. Go back and buy some real, green, 100 percent strength, Prestone anti-freeze, and an equal amount of distilled water, and anti-cavitation additive for all your diesel engines. Next time don't buy junk and expect quality. Tom
 
How could you get a cracked block? Did you just pour the antifreeze in and not test it? You have to run the engine till it circulates then check.
 
I haven't used the green stuff for many years. I use the red "Long Life" antifreeze; it is much better for the cooling system and the water pump will last longer than using green stuff.

Sam's Club is one source for long life antifreeze at less money than the auto parts stores.
 
Warranty issues with manufacturers is what drove pre-mix coolants in the aftermarket. Plain and simple. My daddy and granddaddy taught me like you say. Now years later, I have taught them a thing or two.

Strongly disagree!!

1) Premix came to the market for CONVENIENCE for people that are not "mechanical" enough to do their own mixing and proportioning - as in adding to a system that is already proportioned and in operation - only a bit low.

2) EVERY owner manual will tell you to use DISTILLED WATER for mixing. Your failure to follow instructions/recommendations does not constitute a warranty issue.

3) Buying a gallon of premix gets you HALF a gallon of antifreeze and half a gallon of WATER. Current price around here at the local parts store runs about $12/gallon for premix. That turns out to be $6 for a half gallon of distilled water. I can buy distilled water at the supermarket or drug store for about $1.49. Still think it is a good deal to buy premix???
 
Nothing gets this board pumping more than oil, antifreeze, ethanol, electricty and WalMart! Funny thing is, hardly any of them seem to know what they are talking about! I wont preach about it, but I was in the business years ago, and some of the comments make me laugh.
 
interesting posts.
Might be time for a test of different brands.
I only buy straight antifreeze, and have lived
up here in the frozen North for a long time.
ya know, pour in a couple gallons, finish with water, circulate it and test it.
seems 10-20-30 years ago, this would always max out the tester.
Now, sometimes...no
testing my tractors, which have been previously flushed
and antifreezed.....one was at 5*, one at 0*...not good enough up here.
wonder if engine antifreeze is going the way of windshield washer fluid. even 'winter blend' freezes up hard as a brick here, in January
 
Ya that is why few people know it is kept under wraps to the fact Wal-Mart is no longer a U.S. owned company or in other words they appear to be but are not
 
I have bought mix before but ONLY when it was on sale for the same or less cost than full strength. Advantage would be you don't have to go buy a gallon of distilled water to mix as its already in there.

Our water is VERY hard here and it is not wise to put tap water in your engines.
 
Doesn't antifreeze need to be mixed with water to drop the freezing point? So testing straight antifreeze will not give good results.

charts show that 100% has a freeze point of 5 deg. If its mixed right and shows 5deg then something is wrong.
 
Reminds me of lite beer.Looks like water,tastes like water yet it sells good.Costs the same.Proves people are stupid.
 
On the other hand, WHY take a good engine and add NEW antifreeze with mineral-laden tap water?
 
Well when managers that I know who work there tell you that wal-mart if now owned by china what else do you believe. It is done in such a way the public does not know about it but if you look 95% of there junk is made in china and if you then check deeper into laws china is buying into every thing they can including wal-mart. But calling some one an idiot just tell me your one and pretty stupid
 
(quoted from post at 08:30:11 11/14/13) Well when managers that I know who work there tell you that wal-mart if now owned by china what else do you believe. It is done in such a way the public does not know about it but if you look 95% of there junk is made in china and if you then check deeper into laws china is buying into every thing they can including wal-mart. But calling some one an idiot just tell me your one and pretty stupid
Click to expand...

Wow, I thought Walmart was owned by the stockholders. Walmart stock today was $79.08 a gain of $.18 I own some Walmart stock and I ain't a Chink! :D
 
I just bought 55 gallons of Deere pre-mix for their bulk price of $8.25. For the amount of anti-freeze we use I'm not going to mess around with jugs of distilled water.

China owns Wal Mart? Who is 'China'? The Chinese government? Maybe some Chinese do do own some Wal Mart stock, but I don't don't think there's a Chinese investor called 'China'. Jim
 
(quoted from post at 04:23:12 11/14/13) I cant believe how many people didn't know about this by now!!!!
Poke
Click to expand...

Hey! It is on the net so it has to be true?

Most people believe what they want to believe.
 
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