Distilled water
 

I just read a post recommending distilled water in the radiator, and Paul Shinn's video does the same. Why distilled? I don't understand how hard water would affect an engine block or radiator.

Re: Distilled water
 

limescale...

Re: Distilled water
 

Re: Distilled water
 

Distilled water is hungry for ions, it will eat at your iron block ! Soft or softened water !

Re: Distilled water
 

Technically correct but only important if you are using water by itself... which you shouldn't be doing. Antifreeze contains additives, specifically sodium molybdate, that supply the ions to balance distilled water.

Re: Distilled water
 

If your just using your car during warm months. Rust inhibitor and regular water.

Water is a better cooling agent than anti freeze, or anti freeze and water.

60 plus years, no issues. Never overheated.

Re: Distilled water
 

I run distilled water and antifreeze, back in the days of steam on the railroad, hard water was an issue with them too , an uncle that worked on the Erie to Sunbury Division said they would treat the water .

Re: Distilled water
 

It all depends on the quality of the water where you live. Where I live the water if fairly free of dissolved minerals. Even though pure water is better at heat transfer than a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water, you can use the mix year around. There is not that much difference in heat transfer to worry about and the mix has additives that help. And you can buy it pre mixed at the auto parts store so you don't have to buy distilled water and mix your own. If you do decide to buy water, just buy regular drinking water in gallon containers. Save the distilled water for your battery.

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Yep, I'm with nkaminar, 50/50 mix from auto parts store, works great, no overheating, and able to store car in winters no worries..

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Glycol based antifreeze tends to foam...... Just sayin'.

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I always use 50-50 in my vehicles

Re: Distilled water
 

If you have a Reverse Osmosis water system, I would think that would work well. Our electric hot pot for boiling water is spotless after nearly 20 years of every day use. Our water here is VERY full of minerals. Healthy, but not good for equipment.

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Distilled water is $1.25 a gallon. The savings is not buying the 50/50 premix.

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I run Evans coolant in every vehicle I own. Doesn't foam ,very high boiling point,Does not corrode any thing.Good Stuff.Very expensive but worth it to me.

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If I recall, Paul Shinn said he runs a distilled water and antifreeze mixture. Let's go ask him. Oh, wait....

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Ron, do you put in 3 gallons of the Evans coolant. Is it better than regular 50-50 coolant?

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Same here, but I put a little bit of soluble oil aka water pump lube & antirust.

Re: Distilled water
 

The antifreeze takes care of that.

Re: Distilled water
 

I run 500 psi steam pressure in my coal fired steam locomotive. Which has nothing to do with the subject at hand.