Interesting article on distilled water for coolant

[2broke2smoke]

Was reading the August Car Craft Tech Q&A pgs 94&95



found an excellent article discussing the merits of distilled water in the coolant ...



person wrote in and stated that distilled water removed metals in the cooling system in an attempt to replace the ions lost in the distillation process



i believe i've read similiar statements on here



the article stated, in a nutshell,



"Dow Chemical feels that distilled and de-ionized water is accepted (and actually recommended) for cooling systems, but it doesn't comment on the points you raise regarding "ion replacement. " We spoke to other industry figures for their input, and the general consensus is that any ion exchange ... would have to be miniscule, and of no real consequence assuming it even occurs. "



So wadda you guys think?



i ran distilled water in my first gen and the original radiator looked good as new at 275k, though i did change my coolant once a year

 

[TRLRTRSH]

Distilled Water

The "03" maintenance manual calls for distilled water mixed 50/50 with the antifreeze when adding to the overflow bottle. Last spring on our travels I had to add a quart or so, Tried to find antifreeze in parts store to match the maintenace manual recommendation (glycol base with) (HOAT) Hybrid Organic Additive Technology. Good luck, had to buy it from Dodge.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I'd far rather take my chances with miniscule ion transfer, than what the hard water in MOST parts of the country would be "transferring"...

 

[Blakers]

Distilled water is ok if you mix it with antifreeze, but it's way too corrosive to use by itself.



Blake

 

[klenger]

Doesn't Cummins sell premixed anitfreeze? That would seem to simplify things.

 

[JDougherty]

yeah they sell premix and testers. I found out how sensitive these motors are just the other day ... after a lecture from my cummins dealer. they told me to buy there stuff... . well i thought they were going to take me for a ride and charge a million dollars for a gallon of pre mix... . low and behold it was a cheap as anywhere else... i think it was even blue (bad memory)

 

[rbattelle]

Distilled water is ok if you mix it with antifreeze, but it's way too corrosive to use by itself.

Blake

Really? I would have thought distilled water would have a pH of right near 7. What makes it so corrosive?



-Ryan

 

[JyRO]

Distilled water...

I ran straight distilled water (nothing else) in my racebike. Anti-freeze was slick if spilt on the track and it didn't want to dry up like water. Never had a problem with it, but then again, that application wasn't what I call high mileage. High rpm maybe, but not high mileage. She pulled hard all the way to the 15,000 rev limiter. I had to eyeball that tack, because they way it felt, it felt like it had a couple thousand left. And hitting the rev limiter ain't a good idea if someone's drafting you. Drifting here, but I miss those days.



- JyRO

 

[Cowboy832]

I'd far rather take my chances with miniscule ion transfer, than what the hard water in MOST parts of the country would be "transferring"...

I agree Gary. I had the displeasure to own a truck that had well water in the radiator when i bought it. No matter how many times i flushed the cooling system, I could never get rid of the sludge and rust that corroded my engine and radiator.

 

[Big_Daddy_T]

Really? I would have thought distilled water would have a pH of right near 7. What makes it so corrosive?



-Ryan

Probably depends on the distalation process. Ive never heard of distilled water being corrosive. But when I think distilled. I think of steam distilled. Which is the only way in my opinion.

 

[Blakers]

Really? I would have thought distilled water would have a pH of right near 7. What makes it so corrosive?



-Ryan

Distilled water (or dionized water - same thing) is highly corrosive to metals because it does not contain any minerals and is hungry for minerals to achieve its normal or stable state. It therefore will try to eat whatever metals it can to get to its stable state. Not bad on stainless steel, but carbon steel, iron and other metals are prey to it.



It is fine to use if you mix it with antifreeze or one of the anti-corrosive additives available at parts stores. Just don't use it by itself.



Oxygen and CO2 are very corrosive too, so if you want to be very careful, let the water sit out in a bucket awhile to let the dissolved oxygen and CO2 escape before you put it in your radiator. We have deaerators that all our water goes through before it goes into our boilers at work. We add a suphite power to this water to scavenge the oxygen so as to cut down on corrossion in the boilers.



Blake

 

[Big_Daddy_T]

Very interesting.

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

All piping in my power plant that is used for demineralized water is stainless steel, anything from 8" lines down to 3/8" lines. I have seen first hand on someones vehicle the rusting caused by demin water. They used to wash their vehicle with it all the time because you didn't need to dry it to have a spot free shine but any marginal paint areas started to rust rather quickly.

 

[2broke2smoke]

but any marginal paint areas started to rust rather quickly.

i always thought it was all the salt ...



now i find out that it's just the distilled water rusting cars in the north

 

[Blakers]

i always thought it was all the salt ...



now i find out that it's just the distilled water rusting cars in the north

I think dampness is as much to blame as salt. Some areas - especially by the Great Lakes - have a lot of dampness. This moisure condenses on the metal. And the moisture that condenses(sweats) is - you go it - bascally distilled water. And it's hungry for your truck! :{