This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles

for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Designation: D1122 − 22

Standard Test Method for

Relative Density of Engine Coolant Concentrates and
Engine Coolants By The Hydrometer1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D1122; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.

1. Scope* 3.1.1 relative density, n—the ratio of the density of a

1.1 This test method covers the determination of the relative material at a stated temperature to the density of water at the
density of glycols, glycerin, heat transfer fluids, engine coolant same stated temperature.
concentrates, and aqueous engine coolants. 4. Significance and Use
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as 4.1 The relative density of an engine coolant may be used to
standard. The values given in parentheses after SI units are determine the approximate percent glycol, freezing point, and
provided for information only and are not considered standard. boiling point, provided the glycol type is known.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the 4.2 The relative density of an engine coolant concentrate
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the can be used as a production control test.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 4.3 ASTM specifications normally state the temperatures
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter- for relative density of fluids; 25 °C, 20 °C, and 15.6 °C are
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. commonly used temperatures.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- 5. Apparatus
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the 5.1 Hydrometers—Hydrometers shall be of glass, graduated
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- in specific gravity range as listed in Table 1, and shall conform
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical to Specification E100.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
5.2 Hydrometer Cylinder—The hydrometer cylinder in
2. Referenced Documents which the sample for the relative density test is confined shall
be made of clear glass and shall be cylindrical in shape. For
2.1 ASTM Standards:2 convenience in pouring, it may have a lip on the rim. The
D1176 Practice for Sampling and Preparing Aqueous Solu- inside diameter of the cylinder shall be at least 25.4 mm
tions of Engine Coolants or Antirusts for Testing Purposes (1.0 in.) greater than the outside diameter of the hydrometer.
E100 Specification for ASTM Hydrometers The height of the cylinder shall be such that the length of the
E230/E230M Specification for Temperature-Electromotive column of sample it contains is greater by at least 25.4 mm
Force (emf) Tables for Standardized Thermocouples (1.0 in.) than the portion of the hydrometer which is immersed
beneath the surface of the sample after a state of equilibrium
3. Terminology has been reached.
3.1 Definitions: 5.3 Temperature Measuring Instrument (environmentally
safe thermometer or thermocouple) capable of monitoring the
observed test temperature to within an accuracy of 60.05 °C,
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D15 on Engine Specification E230/E230M. If a liquid-in-glass thermometer is
Coolants and Related Fluids and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee used, it shall be calibrated and graduated to 0.1 °C. The
D15.03 on Physical Properties. thermometer shall be calibrated at least annually against a
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2022. Published September 2022. Originally
approved in 1950. Last previous edition approved in 2020 as D1122-20. DOI:
certified and traceable standard. See Section 8, Precision and
10.1520/D1122-22. Bias. The data presented in this subsection are derived using
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or mercury-in-glass thermometers only.
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on 5.4 Water Bath—A water bath capable of maintaining a
the ASTM website. sample temperature to 60.3 °C (60.5 °F) during the test.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

1
D1122 − 22
TABLE 1 Available Hydrometer Sets
Range
ASTM Hydrometer No. Type
Total Each Hydrometer
111H to 117H for general use in heavy liquids 1.000 to 1.350 0.050

6. Sampling above the plane of the surface of the sample. Correct this
6.1 Sample the coolant in accordance with Practice D1176, reading by an amount equal to the height to which the sample
except as specified in this test method. rises on the hydrometer stem above the main liquid surface.
This height will vary for different coolants and different
7. Procedure hydrometers, and the correction will depend upon the width of
7.1 If the coolant has a small amount of separated upper the hydrometer scale graduations. Determine the correction
layer, remove it before determining the relative density of the factor for the hydrometer used by observing the height above
lower layer. To separate, pour the sample into a 500 mL the main surface of the liquid to which the coolant rises on the
separatory funnel, allow to stand for 3 h at room temperature hydrometer scale when the hydrometer is immersed in a
but not below 20 °C (68 °F), and then draw off the lower layer. transparent liquid, such as an ethylene or propylene glycol
solution, having a surface tension similar to that of the sample
7.2 If the original coolant is homogeneous, no separation under test.
will be required.
7.3 Cool the homogeneous sample or the separated lower 8. Precision and Bias
layer sample to about 2 °C below the test temperature. Pour the 8.1 Precision:
sample into the clean, dry hydrometer cylinder without
splashing, so as to reduce to a minimum the formation of air NOTE 2—Previous versions of this test method permitted the use of
mercury-containing thermometers. The data for the Precision and Bias
bubbles (see Note 1). Place the cylinder vertically in the water
statement were generated under earlier versions of the test method, and
bath and let the temperature of the sample reach 0.5 °C below were generated with mercury-filled thermometers.
the test temperature. Slowly and carefully lower the hydrom-
8.1.1 Repeatability—For different operators their results
eter into the sample to a level two smallest scale divisions
should vary not more than 0.0012 from the average value when
below that at which it will float and then release the hydrom-
the relative density of the engine coolant concentrate sample is
eter. When the hydrometer has come to rest and floats freely
between 1.0000 and 1.1300.
away from the walls of the cylinder, and the temperature has
reached 60.3 °C (60.5 °F) the test temperature, read the 8.1.2 Reproducibility—For different apparatus the results
hydrometer. should vary not more than 0.0012 from the average value when
the density or relative density of the engine coolants concen-
NOTE 1—When handling the sample (that is, mixing, transferring, or trate is between 1.0000 and 1.1300.
stirring) be careful to avoid formation of air bubbles. Remove any air
bubbles by touching them with a clean, dry glass rod. 8.2 Bias—Bias of the procedure in this test method for
7.4 The hydrometer is read in the following ways: If the measuring density or relative density has not been determined
sample is sufficiently transparent, place the eye slightly below because an accepted reference material has not been deter-
the level of the liquid and slowly raise it until the surface of the mined.
sample changes from a distorted ellipse to a straight line
cutting the hydrometer scale. If the sample is opaque, read the 9. Keywords
point on the hydrometer scale to which the sample rises above 9.1 engine coolant; engine coolant concentrate; hydrometer;
the main surface of the liquid with the eye placed slightly relative density

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Committee D15 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue (D1122-20)
that may impact the use of this standard. (Approved Sept. 1, 2022.)

(1) The title was revised to remove “Density or.”

2
D1122 − 22
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