ASTM International’s engine coolants and related fluids committee (D15) has approved a new test method that will be used to determine common organic additives in engine coolants.

The new standard (D8567) describes how high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is used to analyze engine coolants for azoles and organic acids, which can affect performance.

According to Henry Owusu, chair of the extended life coolants subcommittee (D15.21), the new standard has at least three beneficial impacts:

• An increase on the number of laboratories capable in organic additive technology (OAT) coolants analysis will help drive down the cost of conditional monitoring programs for OAT-based coolant;
• Enhanced precision in the characterization of additives percent change due either to singular use of an OAT-based coolant, mixture with other OAT-based coolant, or upon contamination with a not OAT-based coolant, and;
• Definitive analytically generated data to confirm and differentiate original equipment manufacturer (OEM) factory fill and recommended OAT-based coolant from aftermarket offerings neither approved or directly recommended by the vehicle maker or engine manufacturer.

The new standard will be useful to fleet operations, conditional monitoring analysts, contract laboratories currently running coolant analysis services, and labs with experience with HPLC operation that wish to expand into coolant analysis services.

This effort directly relates to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #12 on responsible consumption and production.