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HeatWave Products

Company and Product Information

Corporate Office:
HeatWave Products
New Church, VA 23415

Website(s): No Website Found

 

HeatWave Universal
Summer Coolant

HeatWave Universal
Summer Coolant

Marketed by: HeatWave Products, New Church, VA

Purchased at: Edison, NJ

Date of purchase: 3/12/2018

 

Website(s): No Website Found

Test Results and Assessment:

Test results show that HeatWave Universal Summer Coolant will not protect an engine from freeze damage at temperatures below 27°F and will not provide adequate boil-over protection due to its low (8%) concentration of ethylene glycol. Although the product makes no ASTM or freeze point claims, a prediluted ethylene glycol based coolant formulated to meet ASTM D-3306* (which is an industry standard) contains 50% ethylene glycol which protects down to -33.5°F.

In addition to freeze point, there are other issues of concern.

The concentration of chloride is 308% higher than the maximum level of 25mg/L as stated in ASTM D-3306 for a new coolant, and the concentration of sulfate is also significantly higher than seen in a new coolant. High concentrations of chloride and sulfate can result in scale and/or corrosion and are indicative of poor water quality and/or poorly reclaimed coolant. Also, the level of degradation acids (glycolate and formate) in the sample tested are unusually high, which is also indicative of a poorly reclaimed coolant. Further, although the product tested contains bitterant at 9 parts per million (ppm), this level is below the 30 ppm minimum required by the state of New Jersey, where the product was purchase, and several other states requiring bitterant.

In addition to issues with what’s in the jug, there are also a number of concerns about the language on the product labels. Particularly troubling statements are “It is compatible with all premium cooling system products regardless of make, model or original antifreeze color including extended and long life antifreeze and coolant,” and “Mixes With Any Color Or Brand Of Antifreeze.” The PQIA considers such statements to be misleading in that they could be interpreted by a reasonable consumer to mean the product is appropriate for use in all makes and models requiring any brand or color of antifreeze, which it clearly is not. In fact, it is unlikely it would meet the requirements for any car currently on the road and would most likely degrade the quality of a coolant currently in use, compromise its performance, and void a new car warranty.

Misleading for similar reasons is the use of the term “Universal” in the brand name and the statement that "HeatWave Universal Summer Coolant is recommended for most conventional automotive and diesel engines.” Although the manufacturer of this product may recommend it for most conventional automotive and diesel engines, based on the test data, PQIA would not recommend its use in any gasoline or diesel engine currently on the road.

For these reasons, PQIA issues a Don’t Buy on HeatWave Universal Summer Coolant.

Note: The company name and location provided on the HeatWave Universal Summer Coolant label does not comply with The Uniform Packaging and Labeling Regulations in NIST Handbook 130 which states "Any package kept, offered, or exposed for sale, or sold at any place other than on the premises where packed shall specify conspicuously on the label of the package the name and address of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor. The name shall be the actual corporate name, or, when not incorporated, the name under which the business is conducted.  The address shall include street address, city, state (or country if outside the United States), and ZIP Code (or the mailing code, if any, used in countries other than the United States); however, the street address may be omitted if it is listed in any readily accessible, well-known, widely published, and publicly available resource, including but not limited to a printed directory, electronic database, or website."

* ASTM D-3306 is the "Standard Specification for Glycol Based Engine Coolant for Automobile and Light-Duty Service"

bottle icon Physical Properties pass
Chemical Analysis pass
Labeling warning

Note: Although laboratory tests alone cannot be used to establish if coolant meets standards, they can be used to determine if it doesn't.