Just realized my coolant mix was off by a full gallon

I was running a long job on a Haas VF-2 last week and noticed the finish on some 6061 parts looked dull. Checked the concentration with a refractometer and it was reading way low. Turns out I'd been topping off the tank with straight water for about a month by mistake. The mix should have been 8%, but it was sitting at maybe 3%. Anyone else ever have a brain fade like that and catch it way later?

3 comments

3 Comments

gray_hall49d ago

We had a similar coolant issue at my old shop that caused pitting on some stainless parts after a few days. The real headache was it messed with the machine's way lube mixing with the coolant, took forever to flush the whole system clean. Makes you wonder if the dull finish is just the start of other problems hiding in the lines. Always worth checking the sump for any weird smells or oil separation after a mix goes wrong.

riley_gibson199d ago

Pitting on stainless is a different ball game. Dull aluminum from weak coolant is just cosmetic, not a real problem.

karenc209d ago

Wait, the way lube mixed with the coolant? That's a DISASTER waiting to happen! It's not just about a dull finish at all. Once that oil gets in the sump, it ruins the coolant's whole job of lubricating and preventing rust. That mix can absolutely lead to pitting, even on stainless, because it's not protecting the metal anymore. Gray is right, a weird smell or separated gunk in the tank is a huge red flag. Calling it just cosmetic is seriously missing the bigger picture.