ASTM D2847 Standard Practice for Testing Engine Coolants in Car and Light Truck Service
6. Apparatus
6.1 Test Vehicles - In selecting vehicles, refer to OEM recommendations. Consideration should be given to the current range of cooling system designs and materials. Engines specified should be reasonably available for the test, which is to say of current production design and materials. A matrix including every possible variable combination of such features is not required.
7. Safety Precautions
7.1 All coolant concentrates and their solutions should be considered harmful or fatal if swallowed.
7.2 (Warning - Do not remove pressure caps from systems when the engine is hot.)
7.3 All installations shall be made with the engine cooled to ambient air temperature to avoid burns.
7.4 Disconnect the hot (positive) battery lead to prevent the engine from starting to avoid hand injury by drive belts or fan blades.
7.5 The engine exhaust should be vented when the engine is run indoors at normal temperatures to check for cooling system leaks.
8. Sampling
8.1 Coolant samples may be removed from the test vehicle by any convenient means, such as a bulb and pipette. The 100-mL (~3.5 oz) coolant samples are kept in polyethylene bottles equipped with screw caps and suitable labels. A reserve supply of pre-mixed coolant is used to replace the coolant samples. Coolant added to the system for any reason is recorded in the test vehicle log.
9. Preparation of Apparatus
9.1 Obtain an initial sample of the coolant for laboratory analysis. This is the "0" miles sample. Record the odometer reading, date and time of initial sampling. Record other data as agreed between customer and supplier. Follow OEM or manual instruction, or both, for deaeration to ensure engine is properly deaerated at start of the field test.
9.2 Label the radiator and expansion reservoir fill caps conspicuously to show a coolant test is being conducted, and include instructions with whom to contact in case coolant additions are needed or other problems occur.
