Cooling system question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 257
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Cooling system question
I was wondering what the consensus among the educated here was about using “tap-water” vs. “distilled, de-ionized” water in the cooling system?
Two schools of thought I have come across doing a search within the forum;
1) Using tap water will introduce minerals which could corrode the cooling system.
2) Using distilled, de-ionized water will lead to the water wanting to dissolve metals from the cooling system and motor to “stabilize” itself into its natural state (where water normally contains such minerals).
While I am no expert it appears that using clean tap water (not from a well but rather community water supply) would be the most logical approach. What are your opinions?
Two schools of thought I have come across doing a search within the forum;
1) Using tap water will introduce minerals which could corrode the cooling system.
2) Using distilled, de-ionized water will lead to the water wanting to dissolve metals from the cooling system and motor to “stabilize” itself into its natural state (where water normally contains such minerals).
While I am no expert it appears that using clean tap water (not from a well but rather community water supply) would be the most logical approach. What are your opinions?
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You can buy DEXCOOL in a pre mix version....and save yourself the headache
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Originally Posted by pewter99
You can buy DEXCOOL in a pre mix version....and save yourself the headache
But if you mix your own, distilled water is best, because the Dexcool has corrosion inhibitors. Tap water has minerals which can leave deposits. 
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 257
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Thanks for the responses, my concern with using distilled water is the chance that it causes the metal within the cooling system and/or engine to actually get pitted (dissolve).
I wasn't aware you could get the Dexcool in a pre-mix, sounds like a great way to go.
I wasn't aware you could get the Dexcool in a pre-mix, sounds like a great way to go.
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Using distilled, de-ionized water will lead to the water wanting to dissolve metals from the cooling system and motor to “stabilize” itself into its natural state (where water normally contains such minerals).
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I didn't know that "distilled" water had an element in it that is capable of corrosion.
Using distilled, de-ionized water will lead to the water wanting to dissolve metals from the cooling system and motor to “stabilize” itself into its natural state (where water normally contains such minerals).
________________________________________ ______________
I didn't know that "distilled" water had an element in it that is capable of corrosion.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
After digging into this deeper I've come to the conclusion that worrying about using distilled water is crazy. I don't know where I originally read that using distilled / de-ionized water will attack metal but it just doesn't appear that it would be a problem here.
