- Yes, understand, I deliberately produce "Tosol" with a freezing temperature of minus 37–38 degrees, not 40! This is not a marriage, not a failure in production - it is a policy that allows you to give a high-quality, but inexpensive product. We work in the mass market!
Needless to say, a weighty argument. However, after conducting an examination, we stocked up with no less compelling reasons …
GOOD RELIGION came up with …
In fact: what is considered a quality coolant (hereinafter referred to as coolant)? Although we are all used to the temperature at which crystallization began minus 40 ° and it is the old Soviet GOST that considers it the norm, there are many foreign manufacturers offering minus 36 ° or minus 38 °.
Even if there are forty-five freezing temperatures outside, nothing bad will happen to the car - a mixture of water with ethylene glycol will turn into a gel, not an ice. It turns out that the coolant does not reach minus 40, there is no reason for concern?
The old Soviet GOST stipulated to what extent the coolant has the right to foam, how aggressive it can be in relation to the metals used in the construction of engines. But today, these standards are not binding - the manufacturer has the right to be guided by the technical conditions of their own development. Consequently, a certain deviation from the requirements of the once standard was not a crime at all?
Following this logic, it’s not long to come to the conclusion that under the guise of “Tosola” you can also sell tap water! The main thing is to write in your own specifications the freezing temperature is zero, and the boiling point is 100 degrees Celsius. Then put the TU number on the canister - who knows what is encrypted with a dozen digits - and boldly sell it! Do not agree? Look for arguments - we are ready to help.
FOR FIGURE IN THE POCKET
One of the first parameters in coolants is checking the density. It is often used to indirectly estimate the crystallization onset temperature or ethylene glycol concentration, but, again, indirectly.
Why is that? Firstly, glycols are different, and secondly, you never know what got into the coolant, except glycol. There are known cases when manufacturers of counterfeit products raised the density of coolants with a variety of chemicals in the expectation that their rubbish would pass this particular banal test.
In general, for eleven Russian-made samples purchased by the editorial office in a retail network (see photo), the specialists who conducted the studies determined, in addition to density, two distillation temperatures and determined directly the temperature at which crystallization began. Like the first test, beloved by all, these tests confirmed: some of them reacted to the now optional requirements of the old GOST “philosophically”. Say, but not send them to hell …
However, this time another thing was most surprising this time: several samples showed the pour point minus 48–49 ° С! No matter how much they explain to us that this was done specifically “at the request of the working people” … As Stanislavsky said there?
By the way, two products with a density of 1.073 showed the temperature of crystallization onset minus 40 and minus 48 ° C - what a spread! So the reason for the “miracle” is rather the unexpectedly high quality of glycols than their high concentration (after all, almost all coolant manufacturers buy glycols on the side).
Such a “positive” example speaks very eloquently about the stability (or instability?) Of production.
In this regard, there are concerns that we are far from the level of some imported products, including those having a five-year resource. It’s like walking to the moon.
WORLDLY FOAMY BEER
For a popular alcoholic beverage, foam is an important component of quality. Or at least part of the ritual of its use: no foam - no beer.
For coolants, vice versa. Excessive foaming degrades the properties of the coolant as a coolant, and in the long run threatens serious problems with the engine.
Therefore, among the operational parameters of coolants there is also foaming. As a rule, when using a package of additives standard for manufacturers, the volume of foam keeps within norm. I don’t remember that our previous checks revealed such problems as this time. Immediately in three of the eleven samples tested, foaming was so high that it could not be determined - the foam climbed over the edges of the tubes (almost like a beer)! Experts have suggested that there were simply no anti-foam additives in the “unhappy” samples. It's a pity!
MOMENT OF TRUTH
High corrosive activity of the coolant is able to sign a death sentence to the motor.
In our memory - cases of exceeding gostovskih standards up to 30 times, and today … And today - only nine! I emphasize: nine times, not nine percent! Such an excess of the norm, albeit optional for execution, was recorded in one of the samples when checking the corrosion activity with respect to aluminum. In total, four samples failed to meet the requirements of the Soviet GOST of 1989 on corrosion. And taking into account the temperature drops at the onset of crystallization and foaming - six samples, that is, most of the tested. I admit, I don’t remember such a failure. Voluntarily or involuntarily, you associate this with a changed certification system. Manufacturers quickly realized their benefits - the inscription “Not subject to mandatory certification” has already appeared on the canister of one of the named six.
However, our memory is quite long. We do not have the right to demand from those who make coolants that their products fully comply with the standards of the previous GOST, but readers are urged to “obsolete” requirements as a guide. Indeed, no matter what philosophical view you look at, it is obvious that high corrosivity is bad, and low is good, high temperature at the onset of crystallization is bad, and low is good. The question, as you see, is not at all philosophical.
WHAT COLOUR?
