joeveto

I live in a very hard water area. So usually, when I do work to the cooling system, I make a trip to the store to buy a bunch of distilled water. I think this makes more sense than pouring the tap crap into my engine.

Do you all agree with this, or do you feel it's a little over the top?

I ask, because I was recently too lazy to make the trip to the store, and instead poured the tap crap into my engine. Now I feel a touch of guilt. :sad:

Thanks in advance.

Aggravated4life

I feel the guilt...even though I use Distilled water,I did USE well water last time a few years back that runs through a salted water softner in the house and 3 years later,the coolant was a perfect as can be.No corrosion,no rust,no electrolyis or break down of the aluminum heads,rad,etc.It was real clean like I poured it in there a day before.So I dunno,Maybe I got lucky but this time around Im going to use distilled water mixed with antifreeze.
Better safe than sorry...eh?
:cheers:

tjwong

We have soft water here in Portland and some say its the best water in the nation. But I won't use it in my engines. Nothing but distilled water goes into any engine I build. No matter what, the minerals react with the aluminum and other alloyed parts in our engines, so using distilled water in the coolant in my books is a must. The minerals also tend to accelerate electrolysis as well. Only on rare occasions such as when I am away from home and I loose a hose on the road or similar will I resort to using tap water.

key_on

So, does anyone know what the factory puts in?

c4cruiser

MY 92's service manual recommends a 50/50 mix of coolant and distilled water after a flush.

Distilled water is pretty cheap; the local grocery store has gallon jugs for $.87. I like the reaction on the cashier's face when I tell them what I am going to use it for. :D

C4Crazy787

Distilled..

NavyVet

Absolutely - distilled water only! Of course in Phoenix, the water is so hard and heavy with mineral deposits, a gallon of tap water weighs 15 pounds :jester

I also ground my aluminum radiators to minimize electrolysis. :flag

jackdaroofer

:cheers:

Tworacy

Distilled with water wetter.

ittlfly

Distilled only since new....my system never has seen tap water. I flush it every year and use the pellets. Knock on wood here, but I have never had a cooling system failer.

oldace84

Have always used the distiller H20 in my vette's
Good Luck
tony
:cool:

MrSpeedyBob

If it's good enough for me to drink, it's good enough for my car. :cheers:

vinnies87

Distilled Only... :thumbs:

NASCAR314

I use distilled in all my cars, even daily drivers

But,.....I would assume the factory uses regular water from the tap :(
I don't know for sure, I do not work there!

Don't worry about it too much, just flush and fill regularly!

VetNutJim

I use distilled BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY.

DUKE? DUKE? Please tell me why I do it.

BTW.. I get mine from the dehumidifier I have in my shop. It's kind of like an unlimited supply.. :)
I've got gallons and gallons of the stuff stored up for my Vetteskis.

Please, someone tell us why it's a good idea.

JTHVETTE

I don't, but I really should.

The Bus

If you really want to be **** use deionized water. It won't attack the metal portions of your system till it becomes contaminated.

BLACKVETTE95

Is the pre-mix coolant you buy at the store mixed with distilled water? If so, I guess that's not much more expensive.

Is this a correct assumption?

-----just when we thought this thread is over....... :jester

snaketr

I use straight Evans coolant.

95coupe

I use 50/50 distilled and dexcool. very hard water here too.