CYCLOPS INSTRUMENTS Antifreeze Premium Refractometer for Automotive Antifreeze System, AdBlue, DEF, Battery Acid, and Windshield Washer Fluid | Measures Freezing Point Temperature and Concentration

Im really impressed with the refractometer kit! It comes with clear instructions for calibration and use, a dropper for putting liquids to be tested onto the glass plate, a screwdriver for calibration, and a hard-sided case to keep this precision instrument safe amidst my other tools. Ive used it to check my antifreeze, which was very helpful. It also allows for testing of battery acid and washer fluid. The one note I would make is it was not clear exactly where the calibration screw is from the directions. Remove the rubber cap to reveal the hole where the calibration screw is, then turn the screw for calibration as clearly described in the instructions. Hope that helps!

It is easy to use, seems like it will last a while, and works great.

This little instrument can quickly and accurately measure the freezing point of antifreeze and windshield washer fluid as well as the condition of battery fluid. It should be noted that in the case of antifreeze it doesn’t indicate whether its other engine protective properties are still active or not, just the freeze point. The instructions included with this product are minimal and even somewhat misleading in how to use it for automotive applications, but the instrument itself clearly indicates those measurements … after you search on YouTube (or other information sources) for how to use it. Any user new to the use of a refractometer is probably better off ignoring the included information and going straight to other more informative sources.

Handy item to have for any automotive mechanic! Quality parts and a really nice case to hold the refractor. Would definitely recommend!

What a cool little tool. The husband has always bought those cheap bulb type devices to check his antifreeze levels in the fall. He has a lot of vehicles. Cars, tractors , two pickup trucks , a bulldozer . So it’s always a worry that the little cheap types aren’t accurate . Even with care they don’t last more than a few years. When I saw this antifreeze refractor I thought he would really like it . I will say that it’s definitely different to use and there is a bit of a learning curve for the first few times one uses it . The directions are pretty clear, but we ended up watching a few online videos just to be sure we were using it correctly. Just to test it out we used a bit of windshield wiper fluid as a sample . It works! Basically one uses either distilled water to start on the plate or sa product made for these type of devices to get an initial setting . Then just a place few drops of the liquid that one wants to check on the plate . It is then a matter of looking through the viewfinder and adjusting it like a binocular type lens to see the temp that the liquid will freeze at . There is a small fine adjuster knob to adjust the precision even more . It’s pretty cool! My photo taken with my phone through the viewfinder isn’t great but give an idea of what it looks like when the liquid one chooses is on the plate. Maintenance seems simple l keep the glass plate wiped off seemed like the most important thing . It came with a good sturdy case to store it properly. Anyone who tinkers with cars or tractors would like to have this type tool in their collection !

Im a big fan of these for vehicle antifreeze and battery electrolyte. I never measured DEF, just poured it in the DEF tank. This device can pay for itself in a winter on windshield washer antifreeze alone! This can be used to dilute a -30F rated windshield washer solution if only protection in the teens or 20s is needed. Can save 50% or more. Certain brand antifreeze containers can have cryptic instructions on them and its hard to differentiate between antifreeze that is already diluted or the concentrate. This solves that problem. The temperature charts between ethylene glycol and polypropylene are technically slightly different depending on the point on the temperature scale, but they are so close that if one were to make a mistake reading the graph, the impact would likely not be all that great. I used to use the battery electrolyte testers with the floating balls. What a mess!! Use this refractometer instead!! A drop or two from each cell is all it takes to determine if your flooded battery is in good shape. Its better than a voltage measurement. Be sure to let the battery rest for 6 to 24 hours unless specific gravity during equalization is being checked on deep cycle batteries. The price at $15 for this is decent. This is good enough. Be careful not to bump or drop these. They are fragile!

This is an excellent way to ensure your coolant and windshield wiper fluid have enough antifreeze. Without a proper level your engine may overheat, your engine block may crack or a wiper fluid reservoir could crack. It can also be used to test battery electrolyte health. I first tested some distilled water and found it to test out right at the waterline with no additional calibration required. As others have indicated, this can be a bit finicky to use until you get the hang of it. While my distilled water reading was very easy, my first attempt at Honda coolant was more difficult. The Honda coolant had no distinct results line until I gave the tester some vertical inclination and the line clearly popped showing -40 degree Fahrenheit (had to convert from Celsius). You may want to visually examine your coolant or wiper fluid before testing to ensure it looks normal as contaminants in it would skew the accuracy of the refractometer (e.g. wiper fluid created with hard water rather than distilled water, oil contamination in coolant). A nice tool at a low price. While I wont use this every time I buy coolant Ill be sure to use it if I do a brand swap or if I am concerned antifreeze protection is waning.

I dont have a large garage, so I didnt want to deal with having a traditional bulb reader taking up room. This, however, serves the role perfectly (maybe even better) while taking up way less room. The unit is well made in metal. After a quick calibration with water, testing is quick and kind of fun. I feel more confident that my fluids will stay fluid, and also that Im not wasting any by not diluting enough.

This multi-functional refractometer is a great tool to have in your toolbox. It will provide extremely accurate readings to check the true freezing points of your antifreeze and windshield washer solutions in your vehicle. This is valuable when your cars antifreeze is approaching the 5 year mark when some brands break down and need replacing, while others have much longer life spans. A quick check with this tool and you know for sure when it is time to flush and fill your system. Works just as well for windshield washer solutions. No more second guessing if you need to refill with winter formula solutions. A really great feature is the ability to check your electrolyte solution of your batteries, giving you advance warning if one of your cells are going bad or if the electrolyte solution is out of balance - saving you the cost of replacing the entire battery when a solution adjustment is all you really need. I do wish there was a fahrenheit scale on the unit, but most all scientific equipment today is calibrated in celsius, so that is not a deal breaker for me.

This tester will check battery acid, DEF fluid, Windshield washer fluid as both Propylene and Ethylene Glycol based antifreeze. Very good instructions