Choreo

I am getting ready to flush the radiator system on my 2001 and wondered if there was any downside from a corrosion/boiling point standpoint as to why using Distilled Water might be a bad idea. The tap water out here is VERY HARD, so I was thinking Distilled may be a good idea for the flush and refill. Any thoughts?

chriswtx

always use distilled water mixed with coolant in the radiator, never tap water.. Distilled water will work fine for flushing as well...

AU N EGL

Distilled water is fine and put in "water wetter." Water wetter is a lubricant.

Water is a better heat conductor then coolent, and you live far enough south to not worry too much about freezing temps

Burgie

I believe your owners manual recommends the use of distilled water in concert with your anti-freeze

Midwest Vette

SteveDoten

$2 investment, use distilled water with Dexcool; don't buy the 50/50 Dexcool, it's the same as paying double for the 100% bottle

funny what people pay for convenience

jfrc

i always keep an extra few gallons
the cars usually use it before people do

oldschoolvette

TEXHAWK0

Just remember that the coolant is mixed with water, not just for freeze protection, but for corrosion resistance.
That is why you should never run 100% water, even though it provides more heat transfer capacity.

Also, I always use distilled water to avoid buidling up deposits from minerals found in most tap water. Prestone used to sell de-ionized water, but I guess they quit selling it because people would not pay the same for water as they were paying for antifreeze. Distilled water is cheap ($.50/gal) and provides most of the same benefits.

Tigershark3

I've always used distilled water; even in my 20 year old DD that I purchased new. It still has the original radiator and heater core w/ almost 300k miles.

Choreo

Thanks to everyone for your advice - distilled water it is!

Bill Dearborn

I never use distilled water. The service manual calls for drinkable tap water.
Bill

vettenuts

If you go with distilled, Wally World has it very cheap.

JPEAK

That mybe true if you don't have a hard water issue, but just to play it safe distilled water mixture can't hurt.

99 vett babycar

cruisemon

Is that in the Helm factory manual somewhere? I can't find it. If you have a minute, could you post the section and subsection number? Thanks.

Charlie

cliff_ford

In the owner manual under How to Add Coolant to the Coolant Surge Tank

(page 5-32 in the 2003 book)

It says......clean drinkable water and Dex-Cool

B-ras

FWIW- I just did mine this past weekend. I drained, refilled, cycled, drained twice with distilled water, and used less than four gallons total. I had to pay up for the stuff at Publix since WM was out of stock, so it cost me about $1 per gallon--pretty cheap when spread over a five year service cycle. I've seen the deposites left by our tap water, and I don't want that **** in my cooling system.

Blue Lightening

I don't use tap water in my vette either but think it's pretty funny that we won't use the same water in the radiator our cars that we have no proble with drinking.
Norm

B-ras

I don't drink the stuff either. I have a Pur filter on my faucet which I use for drinking or cooking.

But, your point is well taken--I probably do take better care of the car than I do of myself.