Kid Vette

I just got a DeWitts "Direct Fit" aluminum radiator and was wondering if I should use distilled water in it. I think I remember someone mentioning on the forum that it is better in an aluminum radiator. Something about corrosion I believe.

Also DeWitts mentions Dex-cool in their catalog. Anybody have experience with it? :confused:

AlwaysWave

Distilled water is prefered. Iron and aluminum, which compose the overall cooling system flow, don't like each other. When using tap water, which can contain a bunch of various elements, you excelerate what they call (I think) electrolisis. The aluminum is the first to deteriorate.

zwede

I've always used tap water with my aluminum radiators and never had a problem. Depends on the area, though. Some areas have hard water and if that's the case distilled is better. You know that you have hard water if you tend to have a hard time washing the car without leaving whitish residue and streaks.

As for dex-cool, I'm using it and like it. I actually need to replace it as it is getting towards 5 years.

Fevre

If ou think about it you probably spent any where form $200 to $1,000 to fix up the cooling system, why not spend $30 a year to get distilled, 2 bottles of waterwetter. I put about 1/2 gal of antifreeze in for the winter then drain the system in the summer. Of course if you keep modding/replacing your eng like I do :) your are replacing it 2 or 3 times a year.

JB

:iagree: It's cheap & certainly can't hurt anything. I always use distilled (we've got water here in central texas that leaves stalagmites in your toilet tank--I can't imagine what it does to radiators).

JB

flynhi

Also use distilled water in your battery.

norvalwilhelm

I have a dehumidifier in the basement and use the water from it for the radiator. I tried prestone in my new aluminum rad and after a year it look crudy inside so I switched to Dexo Cool from the GM dealer and it cleaned the rad up just like new

SmokedTires

Distilled in my aluminum radiator :yesnod: :)

427V8

Don't ever use anything BUT distilled in any cooling or chemical system!

A gallon of distilled costs like what $.69 ?

Using tap water will ruin your cooling system...

LAvetteman

Distilled is good, deionized is even better. Preston now sells the demineralzed water/antifreeze premixed 50/50.