Reddit reviews Prestone AF-1420 Antifreeze/Coolant Tester

You could buy a coolant tester and see where it sits, then syphon off some and replace with coolant until it is what you are looking for. They are pretty cheap, here is an example:

Amazon linky

This is the best answer, so I'm just tagging on to say that there's a cheap tool to tell you how much water there's in your coolant.

https://www.amazon.com/Prestone-AF-1420-Antifreeze-Coolant-Tester/dp/B000BOA9RY

Sounds like antifreeze. If you want to see what the specific gravity (coolant to water ratio) go get one of these from a local parts store.

I think that /u/rld14 pretty much covered it. But there are a few things I would add. Some of these may not apply to you, but this thread could be useful to others.

• Put the battery on a Battery Tender. You can do this in the storage unit if there is a power outlet (unlikely), or you can take the battery home and hook it up there.
  
  
• Add a fuel conditioner like STA-BIL to prevent the ethanol in the fuel from absorbing water. This should be done in addition to filling up the tank completely.
  
  
• If you don't know what kind of washer fluid was used, make sure to drain the washer tank. The previous owner may have used a summer blend that is not freeze resistant.
  
  
• Check the coolant/anti-freeze with a coolant tester If your coolant is old or too dilute it could freeze in the block during storage. That would be a nasty surprise come spring!

Yes, if it says its low, water is fine. Just make sure you get the mix right when you go to replace it.

https://www.amazon.com/Prestone-AF-1420-Antifreeze-Coolant-Tester/dp/B000BOA9RY

There still around. I have one.

https://www.amazon.com/Prestone-AF-1420-Antifreeze-Coolant-Tester/dp/B000BOA9RY

Amazon calls the coolant testers, but they used to be called something else. Like a hydrometer, though I know that isn't the name of these things.

I recommend these begginer tools for you, they'll help you a ton: Brake fluid tester, a brake pad gauge, a coolant tester and Lubricheck. Also if you don't have one get a Torque wrench or you'll fuck up your car's screw holes, and finally, get a Haynes repair manual for your specific model.

Ok so coolant is probably ok but better to change it, I am still learning how to change coolant so I will do it afterwards. But I used a tester and it's just 1C below the recommended level 265C so I guess coolant is still pretty good. Also didn't see sediment or crap in the coolant. Coolant tester is this one is it any accurate? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BOA9RY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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Yeah brake fluid definitely going to change that, will be changing it to TYP 200 the blue one.

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If I track the car 3,4 times a year, how often to change out the TYP 200?

Make sure you have adequate coolant protection before you ship it. You don't want it to freeze up and break something. You can pick one of these coolant testers up at any parts store but if you haven't changed the coolant lately then you should do so.

Your smoke may be a heater core as others have suggested. For the little bit of running they need to do to ship it you should be fine but if you're worried you can easily bypass the heater core for now. Just loop the heater hose from one connector on the engine to the other or pickup a bypass kit at the parts store.

Simple, test it (you should have one of these on hand anyway): http://www.amazon.com/Prestone-AF-1420-Antifreeze-Coolant-Tester/dp/B000BOA9RY/