A poster suggested in another thread
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?f=4&t=23...8
that he uses distilled water in his coolant. Is this common practice? I should have thought that the inhibitors in normal coolant would have been sufficiently powerful that - like in a central heating system - tap water is perfectly adequate for use.
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I've always used tap water, good quality antifreeze and change it every two years.
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Depends where you live. Calcium carbonate precipitates out as 'limescale' at temperatures above about 70 deg. C. If you are in hard water area then its better to used distilled water, most motor factors sell it by the gallon for this purpose (£1.99 for 5 litres at my local factor).
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I'm not a chemist but I would guess that the conductive 'ions' in tap water encourage corrosion of the aluminium components in the engine....also the deposition of limescale etc. in the heater matrix from hard water reduces their efficiency.
With the amount of work involved in changing a heater matrix or radiator on some cars it's not worth the risk of using tap water anymore. Only costs me £8.00 for 25 litres through the trade.
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I always used to use tap water, then noticed that on the USA Classic sites they all use tap water, so have started to either use distilled or water from or filter jug. On the basis that the engine build on the TR7 cost me £ 1,500 & 150 hours of my work and the heater swop took 8 hours for 2 of us, I'm beginning to think it could be worthwhile!
Jim
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A dehumidifier is the best source of distilled water I've found to date.
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in what sense 'best', v-man?
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cheap, but with free added fluff
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'Best' only in the sense that if you have a dehumidifier it's more convenient - you don't have to waste time, effort, petrol, money or whatever by having to go out and buy distilled water from somewhere.
Also, if you've got a decent one you won't get fluff in it RF :)
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Same when you've defrosted a freezer - used to use it as battery water top-up before maintenance-free types came along.
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I live in a hard water area and limescale has always proved a problem, although the water does seem to be somewhat softer these days; kettles etc don't fur up to the same extent and it now builds up over a much longer period.
One thing we did learn was to use fresh anti-freeze every year or (with a better quality version) every two years, after first back flushing out the radiator and cooling system following use of a descaler solution.
If this wasn't done, then the radiator core would gradually but perceptively become blocked and cooling efficiency suffer.
Much cheaper to clean the cooling system out regularly than having to buy a new radiator - my town used to have several specialist suppliers/fitters in this field but they've long since gone.
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Does nobody drive a ZX in your town then....?
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I ran Renaults for years and always used their own coolant (a pre-mix of antifreeze and distilled water). Never ever had to replace a radiator, heater matrix, water pump, hose etc.
My mum still runs a 1993 Clio.The last time I changed the coolant in it I used a similar product made by Comma.It's dearer than 'ordinary' anti freeze but makers claim it lasts 3 years.
On my Citroens I've just used Bluecol and (soft) tap water - changed every second year. No problems with that either.
Graeme
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