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!

Handy multipurpose refractometer, if you want accuracy this is the tool, take your time, read the instructions, dont forget to calibrate with distilled water.

Very Accurate instrument but must be initially calibrated. Delivers a more precise analysis of antifreeze condition and quality. A great value!

It says refractometer but it actually doesnt really give a refraction measurement. It just tells you what temperature range your liquids will freeze at. This is good for car maintenance, which is what it is designed for. Its pretty easy to use, just place the sample between the plastic slides and hold it up to the light. If you are having trouble seeing it through the eye piece just adjust the focus.

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 !

This instrument relies directly upon the optical properties of some common automotive fluids to reveal meaningful information. For me, the big questions were: Whats the charge state of the battery? At what temperature does the [antifreeze|washer fluid] risk freezing? A couple of drops of fluid on the instrument gave me instant, actionable answers. Prefect.

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 instrument is relatively easy to use, and the instructions are well written but do not get into deep details. Calibration is easy, and that is the main focus of the instructions. Then, the optical scale grades battery fluid and liquids with an antifreeze agent. For battery fluid, the scale provides a density equivalent since that is the actual metric for characterizing the state of the battery. For antifreeze, the freezing temperature is the relevant value. I appreciate the large range of focus adjustment on this instrument, it accommodates people that depend on glasses with high dioptric values. I cannot tell how accurate the measurements are, I can tell that the measurements are consistent, which is a good proxy for the quality of the instrument. Much easier to use than regular density testers, just a drop of fluid is all it takes. The manual states that temperature plays a big role in accuracy, and fluids should get to room temperature for accurate readings. For the immediate practical value, this instrument confirmed my suspicion about a cheap windshield washing fluid bottle that I picked up on a road trip from the middle of nowhere a while back, and ever since I suspected it has only color and nothing else but water. I also did a test of battery fluid, mostly to test if the materials in this instrument withstand the acid solution: all good, got both a satisfactory measurement and also there was no fogging of the lens nor discolorations to the other parts of the instrument that may have come in contact with the fluid. I expect this will save me from some unnecessary fluid changes like engine coolant changes pushed by repair shops more often than the time or mileage based replacement schedule recommended by the car manufacturer, a waste of money if the fluid is clean and still within parameters. I just love being in the know when there is push for not-needed work on the car.

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.