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: D4725 − 15

Standard Terminology for

Engine Coolants and Related Fluids1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4725; 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.

1. Scope 3. Terminology
1.1 This document covers terminology relating to engine antifoam, n—a substance added to engine coolant concentrate,
coolants. It is intended to provide a reference for anyone corrosion inhibitor packages, or supplemental coolant addi-
seeking information on engine coolants, and also to provide a tives to prevent or suppress foam.
uniform set of definitions for use in preparing ASTM DISCUSSION—Eliminating foam improves heat transfer.
specifications, test methods and other standard documents.
antifreeze, n—a term frequently used in the marketplace for
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the engine coolant concentrate. (See engine coolant concen-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the trate.)
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- antirust, n—an inhibitor package, solid or liquid, intended to
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. be diluted with water or glycol for use in an engine cooling
system to mitigate rust and corrosion.
2. Referenced Documents
ash content, n—the residue from an engine coolant
2.1 ASTM Standards:2 concentrate, antirust, or engine coolant that remains after
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water evaporation, charring, and ignition at strong heat.
D3306 Specification for Glycol Base Engine Coolant for
Automobile and Light-Duty Service boiling point, n—the temperature at which the vapor pressure
D3585 Specification for ASTM Reference Fluid for Coolant of an engine coolant reaches atmospheric pressure under
Tests equilibrium boiling conditions.
D4985 Specification for Low Silicate Ethylene Glycol Base cavitation corrosion, n—a form of localized, accelerated
Engine Coolant for Heavy Duty Engines Requiring a corrosion characterized by deep pitting and caused by high
Pre-Charge of Supplemental Coolant Additive (SCA) mechanical forces resulting from coolant vapor bubble
D6210 Specification for Fully-Formulated Glycol Base En- collapse at the surface of the metal.
gine Coolant for Heavy-Duty Engines
D6471 Specification for Recycled Prediluted Aqueous Gly- cavitation erosion corrosion, n—the mechanical removal of
col Base Engine Coolant (50 Volume % Minimum) for protective films on metal by the formation and collapse of
Automobile and Light-Duty Service vapor bubbles in a liquid, and the abrasive action of a liquid,
D6472 Specification for Recycled Glycol Base Engine Cool- which may contain suspended solids, moving at high veloc-
ant Concentrate for Automobile and Light-Duty Service ity.
E1177 Specification for Engine Coolant Grade Glycol DISCUSSION—The mechanical removal of the protective films exposes
fresh metal to corrosive attack.
2.2 ISO Standard:
ISO 22241 Diesel engines - NOx reduction agent AUS 32 coolant additive package, n—the combination of inhibitors
added to an engine coolant to mitigate cooling system
degradation, corrosion, scaling, and foaming, or to provide
1
This terminology is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D15 on Engine other desirable properties.
Coolants and Related Fluids and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
D15.92 on Terminology. corrosion inhibitor package, n—the combination of inhibitors
Current edition approved May 1, 2015. Published May 2015. Originally added to an engine coolant to mitigate cooling system
approved in 1987. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as D4725 – 13. DOI: corrosion.
10.1520/D4725-15.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
corrosive water, n—a standard solution containing 100 ppm
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on each of sulfate, chloride, and bicarbonate ions introduced as
the ASTM website. the sodium salts to distilled water.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Tue Jan 8 15:55:05 EST 2019
1
Downloaded/printed by
Carmen Escobar (Carmen Escobar) pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions authorized.
 D4725 − 15
diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), n—preparation of aqueous urea heavy-duty, adj—in internal combustion engine operation,
[(NH2)2CO], containing 32.5 % by weight of technically characterized by average speeds, power output, and internal
pure urea in high-purity water with quality characteristics temperatures that are generally close to the potential maxi-
defined by ISO 22241. mums.
dye, n—a colorant added to an engine coolant to give it a heavy-duty engine, n—in internal combustion engine types,
distinctive color. one that is designed to allow operation continuously at or
close to its peak output.
engine coolant, n—a fluid used to transfer heat from an engine DISCUSSION—This type of engine is typically used in (a) Class 5 to 8
to the radiator, usually containing specific amounts of over-the-road trucks and buses, (b) off-highway machinery for
glycols, water, corrosion inhibitors, and a foam supressor. agricultural, earthmoving, construction, and mining, (c) high-output
DISCUSSION—Engine coolants may also contain supplemental coolant stationary engine applications, and (d) locomotive and marine applica-
additives. tions.
engine coolant concentrate, n—a formulated liquid product hydrometer-thermometer field tester, n—a device designed
intended to be diluted with water for use in engine cooling to indicate the freezing point of an engine coolant by
systems. measurement of the relative density of the coolant at a
DISCUSSION—Functionally, the product provides a lower freeze point specific temperature.
and mitigates corrosion and foaming.
inhibitor, n—a chemical compound added to engine coolant to
engine dynamometer test, n—a laboratory full-scale engine mitigate cooling system degradation.
test designed to evaluate corrosion protection and inhibitor DISCUSSION—Examples of inhibitors are corrosion inhibitors, foam
stability of engine coolants under simulated operational inhibitors, and scale inhibitors
conditions.
light-duty, adj—in internal combustion engine operation,
erosion corrosion, n—nonuniform, accelerated corrosion char- characterized by average speeds, power output, and internal
acterized by a smooth appearance and caused by high temperatures that are generally much lower than the poten-
velocity coolant. tial maximums.
DISCUSSION—The corrosive attack may be aggravated by suspended
solids. light duty engine, n—in internal combustion engine types, one
that is designed to be normally operated at substantially less
extended life coolant, n—an engine coolant for light-duty than its peak output.
service vehicles with recommended change-out of the cool- DISCUSSION—This type of engine is typically installed in (a)
ant after 160 000 km (100 000 miles), 5 years, or 4000 automobiles, (b) pickup trucks, vans, and sport utility vehicles, (c)
operating hours. small farm tractors, and (d) lawn maintenance equipment.

foaming tendencies, n—a laboratory test conducted in glass- liner pitting, n—cavities that develop on the coolant side of
ware to evaluate the tendency of an engine coolant to foam cast iron cylinder liners as a result of cavitation corrosion.
under standard conditions of aeration and temperature. DISCUSSION—This predominantly occurs on the thrust side of heavy-
duty diesel cylinder walls.
freezing point, n—the temperature at which crystallization
low-silicate coolant concentrate, n—an engine coolant con-
begins in the absence of supercooling, or the maximum
centrate containing not more than 250 ppm silicon.
temperature reached immediately after initial crystal forma-
tion in the case of supercooling, or the temperature at which multiphase coolant, n—an engine coolant composed of im-
solid crystals, formed on cooling, disappear when the miscible liquids or undissolved solids, or both.
temperature of the specimen is allowed to rise.
non-aqueous coolant, n—a glycol, diol, triol, or mixtures
glassware corrosion test, n—a laboratory screening test for thereof, based heat transfer fluid containing less than 1.0 %
evaluating the corrosion protection properties of engine water when formulated and intended for final use without
coolants on metal test specimens under controlled conditions dilution with water.
of aeration and temperature.
other glycols, n—in ethylene glycol based engine coolant,
glycol bottoms, n—the residue in the still after final distillation diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol,
of most of the glycol and dimers, trimers and tetramers from propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, tripropylene glycol,
the output stream of a glycol reactor. and 1,3 propanediol.
DISCUSSION—The residue may include some glycol and dimers,
trimers and tetramers, aldehydes, acids, and various other oxidation other glycols, n—in propylene glycol based engine coolant,
products. It is generally acidic, with a strong, offensive odor and a dark ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetra-
color. It is regarded as unsuitable for the production of engine coolant. ethylene glycol, tripropylene glycol, and 1,3 propanediol.
glycol engine coolant concentrate, n—an engine coolant prediluted aqueous ethylene glycol coolant, n—a commer-
concentrate in which the freeze point depressant is ethylene cially prepared uniform solution (50 % by volume mini-
or propylene glycol, with inhibitors to minimize foaming mum) of ethylene-glycol-based engine coolant concentrate
and corrosion. and deionized water (described in Specification D1193, Type
DISCUSSION—Small amounts of other glycols may be present. IV).

Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Tue Jan 8 15:55:05 EST 2019
2
Downloaded/printed by
Carmen Escobar (Carmen Escobar) pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions authorized.
 D4725 − 15
DISCUSSION—The prediluted coolant is intended for direct addition to DISCUSSION—Scale will insulate and reduce heat transfer.
an engine cooling system.
silicate gel, n—a jelly-like substance consisting of polymerized
propylene glycol, n—in engine coolants, 1,2 propanediol as silicate and entrapped coolant.
referred to in Specifications D3306, D4985, D6210, D6471,
D6472, and E1177. simulated service corrosion test, n—evaluation of the effects
of a circulating engine coolant on metal test specimens and
recycled engine coolant, n—engine coolant formulated using
automotive cooling system components under controlled,
other than virgin materials.
essentially isothermal laboratory conditions.
redistilled glycol, n—glycol that is reprocessed/recycled from
used aqueous glycol base engine coolants or glycols pro- soluble oil, n—a combination of mineral oil base and one or
duced from other sources, including industrial processes by more polar organic materials, such as petroleum sulfonates,
volatilizing and condensing the glycol components within sulfated vegetable oils, and fatty acids or their salts.
distillation equipment. stop-leak additives, n—a compound containing particulates
DISCUSSION—Efforts are being made within D15.15 on Recycled
that is added to the cooling system for the purpose of
Coolants, to produce a specification for redistilled glycol that addresses
recycling used aqueous glycol base engine coolants and glycols from stopping or minimizing leaks.
other sources, including industrial processes.
supercooling, n—an unstable state in which an engine coolant
reference test fluid, n—a standard glycol-base test fluid, exists as a liquid below its normal freezing point.
described in Specification D3585, used by laboratories to
evaluate test methods and procedures. supplemental coolant additive (SCA) maintenance dose,
n—smaller periodic additions of SCA, subsequent to the
refractometer, n—an instrument used to indicate the freezing precharge dose of SCA, required to maintain protection
point of engine coolants by refractive index. against general corrosion, cylinder liner pitting, and scaling
relative density, n—the ratio of the mass of a given volume of in heavy-duty engines.
liquid to the mass of an equal volume of pure water at the supplemental coolant additive (SCA) precharge dose,
same temperature. n—initial concentration of SCA in engine coolant required to
DISCUSSION—When reporting results, explicitly state the standard
reference temperature (for example, relative density 15.56/15.56°C
enable the coolant to provide adequate protection against
(60/60°F)). cylinder liner pitting and scaling in heavy-duty engines plus
general corrosion protection when water only is used as a
reserve alkalinity, adj—a term applied to engine coolant coolant.
concentrates and antirusts to indicate the amount of alkaline
inhibitors present in the product. test strip, n—a diagnostic tool that contains chemically treated
test pads that react with the sample causing the test pad to
round-robin test, n—the practice of planning, conducting, change color. The test pad is then compared to a calibrated
analyzing, and interpreting the results of interlaboratory tests test key to determine the level of a target ingredient.
on the chemical and physical properties of engine coolants.
scale suppressant, n—a substance added to engine coolant virgin glycol, n—glycol that has not been used previously.
concentrates, corrosion inhibitor packages, or supplemental
coolant additives that helps prevent the formation of hard 4. Keywords
water mineral scale. 4.1 antifreeze; engine coolant; terminology

This standard is subject to revision at any time by the responsible technical committee and must be reviewed every five years and
if not revised, either reapproved or withdrawn. Your comments are invited either for revision of this standard or for additional standards
and should be addressed to ASTM International Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of the
responsible technical committee, which you may attend. If you feel that your comments have not received a fair hearing you should
make your views known to the ASTM Committee on Standards, at the address shown below.

This standard is copyrighted by ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959,
United States. Individual reprints (single or multiple copies) of this standard may be obtained by contacting ASTM at the above
address or at 610-832-9585 (phone), 610-832-9555 (fax), or [email protected] (e-mail); or through the ASTM website
(www.astm.org). Permission rights to photocopy the standard may also be secured from the Copyright Clearance Center, 222
Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, Tel: (978) 646-2600; http://www.copyright.com/

Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Tue Jan 8 15:55:05 EST 2019
3
Downloaded/printed by
Carmen Escobar (Carmen Escobar) pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions authorized.