ASTM D3321-13
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Use of the Refractometer for Field Test Determination of the Freezing Point of Aqueous Engine Coolants
Standard Test Method for Use of the Refractometer for Field Test Determination of the Freezing Point of Aqueous Engine Coolants
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This practice is commonly used by vehicle service personnel to determine the freezing point, in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit, of aqueous solutions of commercial ethylene and propylene glycol-based coolant. A durable hand-held refractometer is available that reads the freezing point, directly, in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit, when a few drops of engine coolant are properly placed on the temperature-compensated prism surface of the refractometer. This refractometer is for glycol and water solutions, and is not suitable for other coolant solutions.
4.2 The hand-held refractometer should be calibrated before use (see Section 7).
4.3 Care must be taken to use the correct glycol freezing point scale for the glycol type being measured. Use of the wrong glycol scale can result in freezing point errors of 18 and more degrees Fahrenheit.
4.4 Ethylene glycol/propylene glycol mixtures will result in inaccurate freezing point measurements using either freezing point scale.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the use of a portable refractometer for determining the approximate freezing protection provided by ethylene and propylene glycol-based coolant solutions as used in engine cooling systems and special applications. Note 1—Some instruments have a supplementary freezing protection scale for methoxypropanol coolants. Others carry a supplemental scale calibrated in density or specific gravity readings of sulfuric acid solutions so that the refractometer can be used to determine the charged condition of lead acid storage batteries.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Designation: D3321 − 13
Standard Test Method for
Use of the Refractometer for Field Test Determination of the
1
Freezing Point of Aqueous Engine Coolants
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3321; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* 3. Summary of Test Method
1.1 This test method covers the use of a portable refracto- 3.1 These coolant testers are critical-angle refractometers
meter for determining the approximate freezing protection designed for rapid, approximate measurement of ethylene and
provided by ethylene and propylene glycol-based coolant propylene glycol coolant freezing point protection. Only a few
solutions as used in engine cooling systems and special drops of test solution are required. Some testers automatically
applications. correct for ambient air temperature and the temperature of the
solution being tested. The instrument is rugged, simple to read,
NOTE 1—Some instruments have a supplementary freezing protection
and easy to clean and maintain.
scale for methoxypropanol coolants. Others carry a supplemental scale
calibrated in density or specific gravity readings of sulfuric acid solutions
3.2 The coolant freezing point readings are taken at points
so that the refractometer can be used to determine the charged condition
where the dividing line between light and dark crosses the
of lead acid storage batteries.
scales. Some refractometers have a coolant scale for indicating
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
the freezing point of aqueous ethylene glycol coolants only,
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
while other refractometers also have a scale for indicating the
only.
freezing point of aqueous propylene glycol coolants.The range
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
of the scales varies from one device to another.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.3 Freezing point measurements are concentration-related
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
values and are in turn directly related to refractive index. It has
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
been empirically determined that freezing point measurements
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
are accurate within 1°C (2°F).
2. Referenced Documents
4. Significance and Use
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
4.1 This practice is commonly used by vehicle service
D1177 Test Method for Freezing Point of Aqueous Engine
personnel to determine the freezing point, in degrees Celsius or
Coolants
Fahrenheit, of aqueous solutions of commercial ethylene and
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in
propylene glycol-based coolant. A durable hand-held refracto-
ASTM Test Methods
meter is available that reads the freezing point, directly, in
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit, when a few drops of engine
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
coolant are properly placed on the temperature-compensated
prism surface of the refractometer. This refractometer is for
glycol and water solutions, and is not suitable for other coolant
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D15 on Engine
solutions.
Coolants and Related Fluids and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
D15.03 on Physical Properties.
4.2 The hand-held refractometer should be calibrated before
Current edition approved May 1, 2013. Published June 2013. Originally
use (see Section 7).
approved in 1974. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as D3321 – 12. DOI:
10.1520/D3321-13.
4.3 Care must be taken to use the correct glycol freezing
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
point scale for the glycol type being measured. Use of the
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
wrong glycol scale can result in freezing point errors of 18 and
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. more degrees Fahrenheit.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D3321 − 13
4.4 Ethylene glycol/propylene glycol mixtures will result in
inaccurate freezing point measurements using either freezing
point scale.
5. Interferences
5.1 Interference can occur if the mixture is contaminated or
if the prism surface is not clean. The presence
...
This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D3321 − 12 D3321 − 13
Standard Test Method for
Use of the Refractometer for Field Test Determination of the
1
Freezing Point of Aqueous Engine Coolants
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3321; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope Scope*
1.1 This test method covers the use of a portable refractometer for determining the approximate freezing protection provided
by ethylene and propylene glycol-based coolant solutions as used in engine cooling systems and special applications.
NOTE 1—Some instruments have a supplementary freezing protection scale for methoxypropanol coolants. Others carry a supplemental scale calibrated
in density or specific gravity readings of sulfuric acid solutions so that the refractometer can be used to determine the charged condition of lead acid
storage batteries.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D1177 Test Method for Freezing Point of Aqueous Engine Coolants
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in ASTM Test Methods
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
3. Summary of Test Method
3.1 These coolant testers are critical-angle refractometers designed for rapid, approximate measurement of ethylene and
propylene glycol coolant freezing point protection. Only a few drops of test solution are required. Some testers automatically
correct for ambient air temperature and the temperature of the solution being tested. The instrument is rugged, simple to read, and
easy to clean and maintain.
3.2 The coolant freezing point readings are taken at points where the dividing line between light and dark crosses the scales.
Some refractometers have a coolant scale for indicating the freezing point of aqueous ethylene glycol coolants only, while other
refractometers also have a scale for indicating the freezing point of aqueous propylene glycol coolants. The range of the scales
varies from one device to another.
3.3 Freezing point measurements are concentration-related values and are in turn directly related to refractive index. It has been
empirically determined that freezing point measurements are accurate within 1°C (2°F).
4. Significance and Use
4.1 This practice is commonly used by vehicle service personnel to determine the freezing point, in degrees Celsius or
Fahrenheit, of aqueous solutions of commercial ethylene and propylene glycol-based coolant. A durable hand-held refractometer
is available that reads the freezing point, directly, in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit, when a few drops of engine coolant are properly
placed on the temperature-compensated prism surface of the refractometer. This refractometer is for glycol and water solutions,
and is not suitable for other coolant solutions.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D15 on Engine Coolants and Related Fluids and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D15.03 on
Physical Properties.
Current edition approved April 1, 2012May 1, 2013. Published May 2012June 2013. Originally approved in 1974. Last previous edition approved in 20072012 as
D3321 – 94D3321 – 12.(2007). DOI: 10.1520/D3321-12.10.1520/D3321-13.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D3321 − 13
4.2 The hand-held refractometer should be calibrated before use (see Section 7).
4.3 Care must be taken to use the correct glycol freezing point scale for the glycol type being measured. Use of the wr
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