[welder79]

Have always heard to mix antifreeze with distilled water to make the proper coolant mixture. So after I bought the distilled water this past weekend to do my coolant flush I was told that distilled water that was produced by reverse osmosis will eat your radiator up. Is this true? That's what I have been wondering so I asked a friend of mine and he said that straight reverse osmosis distilled water would but by mixing it with antifreeze that the corrosive action of the water will be eliminated. Is this true? Do I need to keep looking for some distilled water that was produced without reverse osmosis?
Look forward to your remarks....

-Ashley

 

[BuilderBob]

[ QUOTE ]
distilled water that was produced by reverse osmosis will eat your radiator up. Is this true?

[/ QUOTE ]

Reverse Osmosis is one of the many methods of cleaning water to standards far above normal city water. It is not corrosive!

It is often the preferred water for aquariums, cheap clean and easy to find.

Distillation is another method of making water clean, the product is called distilled water, this is not corrosive either.
Either method, results in water with no unwanted minerals, bacteria, in fact it has no pH.
Sold in grocery stores for about .69 USD/gal, not sold for drinking because it has no taste, often said to 'not taste good'. I use it in my radiator all the time, 4 gallons of distilled water 4 gallons anti-freeze, mix 50/50 before pouring it in the radiator.
Why, because the radiator may fill to the rim before you get the proper ration, if you put 1 gallon of water than 1 gallon of AF.

 

[Birken Vogt]

Actually there is apparently some truth to the statement that its lack of minerals and contaminants make it "hungry" for metal, etc. I remember reading this from a reliable source (a manufacturer of something) but I don't remember where. However I am sure the effect of this "hungriness" is much smaller than the effect of minerals on scale build up, etc. and the antifreeze portion ought to inhibit any corrosion anyway. And besides once it is left in there long enough it will pick up enough metals to be come neutral anyway. I guess it is a reason not to change your coolant too often... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif

In short however, I would not worry about it.

Also I drink distilled water all the time, I am always servicing cooling systems so I usually have a couple gallons around me and when I am hot and thirsty it tastes as good as any water.

Birken

 

[h2odrx]

this is very true soft water looks for hardness and will leach it out of what ever it can. I'm not sure about R.O. but will ask at work in the morning. I've been wondering about what was best to put in my self.
thanks
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

 

[Birken Vogt]

Well deposits from minerals are the main problem and cavitation erosion is the next, neither of which have to do with distilled water or not (well deposits will not occur with distilled water anyway) But using hard water leads to all sorts of problems....

Birken

 

[h2odrx]

yes i understand that, i work in the water utility so i know about the hard water, and even have access to a distiller, if i mix it 50/50 how muck napakool do i add? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

 

[Birken Vogt]

The amount of Napakool per gallon is written on the side of the bottle of napakool....

Birken

 

[icanfixall]

I worked for 25 years on super critical boilers making power for a major public utility here in So. Ca. The water was R.O. and made as fast as the city water could supply it. It entered the boilers at 4200 lbs and was considered dirty when it had 6 ppb iron in it. Thats parts per billion. When it saw the turbine it was at 1050 deg and at 3500 lbs. Talk about screeming noise... Hearing protection was used all day long. This "water could really clean out the radiators but not something to be run like coolant. Just for a flush. It never eat the boiler or the turbine blades. Super critical means the water is heated and pressurized above 746 deg and 3200 lbs. At that temp and pressure it has turned from water to steam and then back to what looks and flows like water.... But its not water.. Its stuff... Then the main boiler feed pumps push it up to 4200 lbs just so it can enter the boiler where it picks up the added heat before it sees the throttle valves.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif

 

[agnem]

Maybe this is why I've used the water out of my garden hose for the last 30 years. If you've had your water tested by one of those water purification outfits that want to sell you something, and they can't come up with a reason for you to buy their stuff, it's probably good enough for your truck. I'm still running my original radiator that is now in it's 23rd year, and I've never replaced a radiator or heater core in any of my vehicles. Send me some empty jugs, and I'll fix you up. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[icanfixall]

Mel..... Liquid gold for sale... Get it while you can..... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif