ASTM International's engine coolants and related fluids committee (D15) has approved a new test method that will be used to determine common organic additives in engine coolants. The new standard (D8567) describes how high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is used to analyze engine coolants for azoles and organic acids, which can affect performance. According to Henry Owusu, chair of the extended life coolants subcommittee (D15.21), the new standard has at least three beneficial impacts:

• An increase in the number of laboratories capable of organic additive technology (OAT) coolant analysis will help drive down the cost of conditional monitoring programs for OAT-based coolants;
• Enhanced precision in the characterization of additives percent change due either to singular use of an OAT-based coolant, mixture with other OAT-based coolants, or upon contamination with a not OAT-based coolant, and;
• Definitive analytically generated data to confirm and differentiate original equipment manufacturer (OEM) factory fill and recommended OAT-based coolant from aftermarket offerings neither approved or directly recommended by the vehicle
• maker or engine manufacturer.