The final comprehensive report delivers a clear picture of the coolant in the following five sections:

• Fluid Condition: Glycol concentration shows whether the right mix ratio is being employed. When lower than expected there is likely inadequate protection for the cooling system and engine. When higher than expected there will be a loss of heat transfer capabilities. Freeze and boiling points are dependent on glycol percent and are an indicator of the expected operating temperature range.
• Observations (Visual Analysis): Color, clarity, and foam provide an overview of the physical appearance of the coolant–any change will indicate likely degradation and/or contamination. Odors are checked for signs of contamination due to adverse conditions within the cooling system. Particles can appear for a number of reasons including a poor source of water, corrosion, cavitation, or defective electrical grounds.
• Contamination: An increase in conductivity indicates contamination originating from the water supply, such as hardness and fluoride, or combustion gases; sudden changes may be the result of overdosing inhibitor or concentrate or mixing with another coolant.
• Degradation: Glycolate indicates the primary breakdown of the glycol portion of the coolant which is generally caused by localized overheating or an air leak (i.e., combustion blow-by) within the system.
• Inorganic Additives: The presence and concentration of additives should be compared to the new fluid reference.
• Organic Acid Technology: The presence and concentration of these additives will appear in some Extended Life Coolants and should be compared to the new fluid reference.
• Wear: Wear metals are most commonly signs of corrosion or cavitation. They may also appear due to grounding faults, localized hot spots, or a poor water source.