[bikeaholic]

What is Electrolysis?

As the additives in your coolant that keep it neutralized become depleted the coolant actually develops an electric charge from passing over dissimilar metals. You can even measure this voltage with a voltmeter! This small electric current removes metal from engine surfaces leaving large pits or holes and can eventually eat entirely through a component. It can also weld bolts and fittings to the engine and components.

A Digital Multimeter can be used to test for this.

1. Attach the DMM ground probe to the negative battery post.
2. Insert the tip of the positive probe into the coolant and observe the reading.

OK – less than .10 volts.
Bad – anything above .10 volts.

8)

 

[Phatboy]

Wow! Good info. How often do you check this? I think MOM said to check / change coolant every 4000 miles.

Phatboy

 

[btreaves]

My digital multimeter has about 10 settings on it...Which one do I select for this test.

 

[Spok]

always a source of great information

 

[bikeaholic]

re

set the meter to the lowest DC voltage setting and make sure the probe
does not contact any metal

The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) did testing with hydrometers and deemed that the majority of hydrometers are inaccurate. as a result of this, they removed hydrometers from the approved methods list for testing coolant. stray current testing is a good indicator but does not
show PH which can be done with chemical strips