Distilled Water in Radiator
 

I have had my motor rebuilt and hopefullly it is as clean as can be inside. Also I had a radiator recored so I'm thinking that is as clean as it will get. Question: Is it a good pratice to use Distilled Water in the cooling system and add alcohol for winter operation? If it is good to do how much alcohol should I add? Lastly, where could I get enough alcohol to do the job and are there different types for this application?
Thanks for your time.
Joe Grobleski

Re: Distilled Water in Radiator
 

Yes on the distilled water, with plenty of rust inhibitor added (I use 2 little bottles of the stuff -- the coolant looks like diluted milk).

Why mess with alcohol? Why not just use modern antifreeze in the winter? You can dump it back into the original jugs in the spring, if you want, and run straight water through the summer (with rust inhibitor added, of course) if you are concerned about overheating in the summer. Depending on how cold it gets there, you can run something in the range of 30% to 50% antifreeze with distilled water.

Re: Distilled Water in Radiator
 

Distilled only, battery and radiator.

I also like some "soap" in the radiator in the summer; Water Wetter or similar. I've definitely seen a difference in 95 degree touring, as evidenced by a Rexaco gauge reading off the head between plugs 2 and 3.

Re: Distilled Water in Radiator
 

I do not use distilled water as it contains no minerals. I use Crystal Geyser spring water as it contains minerals. The reason I use spring water is that it prevents electrolsyis. The process of electrolsysis will begin to take minerals such as iron from the block if no minerals are available in the water. My water is relatively rust free after each year of driving (about 2500 miles). I generally drain the water for the winter and refill the raditor with Crystal Geyser and two bottles of water wetter in the spring. JMO

Re: Distilled Water in Radiator
 

Dick M, You've got to be pulling my leg.

Re: Distilled Water in Radiator
 

If I recall distilled water is not electrically conductive and does NOT cause rust where normal water like spring water DOES conduct and DOES cause rust.

I think Dick M has it backwards.

Re: Distilled Water in Radiator
 

roccass & others,
Questions: I've seen oily like radiator coatings from using too much soluable oil for too long for a rust preventative, I wonder if that would inhibit heat transfer out of the tubes. Also, Chief always drilled & tapped for temp guage in the left side of head at the rear as he thought that was the most accurate place. Many other brands of flathead engines used this spot. WHAT DO OTHERS THINK? I marked a good open area when I had the head off.
When installing a new temp guage in your Model A, I suggest you boil it in a pan of water, don't let the bulb touch the bottom of the pot, to check it for accuracy. It should only go up to 212 degrees. We've found numerous new ones that read WAY TOO HIGH!!:eek::eek:
Seems that I recomember that SOME old guages had a hole with Scotch Tape over it where you could adjust it with a small screwdriver to make it read 212 degrees while boilin' it. Bill W.

Re: Distilled Water in Radiator
 

Well O.K... Perhaps I am dead wrong... I was told by an old timer that which I relayed. All I know is that what I relayed works for me. Again, JMO.

Click n Clack
 

I think you are on to something ....

I was listening to Car Talk on NPR awhile back

Tom & Ray were talking about research showing that distilled water
may not be the best thing for your cooling sytem

Some believe it is " Hungry Water " and actually promotes
corrosion by attracting corrosive elements naturally occurring
in the cooling system from the metals present

It seems that a ' sacrificial anode ' combined with
purified water with minerals might be the way to go



Jim

Re: Distilled Water in Radiator
 

Bill - I didn't quite understand as the question was about using distilled water. Not trying to be disrespectful but what does "using too much soluable oil " and " installing a new temp guage " have to do with distilled water.
To Alll Others - thanks for your remarks and opinions. I'm leaning toward using tap water with Prestone or Sierra (sp?) would be the way to go.
Again thanks to all.
Joe Grobleski

Re: Distilled Water in Radiator
 

I think you are using the incorrect terminology here. Electrolsyis is chemical decomposition produced by passing an electric current through a liquid or solution containing ions.

There is very little if any electrolsyis in distilled water because it does not readily conduct electricity. That's the whole idea of using distilled water.

Water with minerals in it will conduct electricity.

Corrosion is different. Use a rust inhibiter in your distilled water.

Re: Distilled Water in Radiator
 

I was having some seeepage at the top tank seam, I needed water on the road and put in some mud puddlewater, now I no longer have a leak---perhaps the heavy metals from the nearby polluted dump put the lead solder back.

I have never used distilled water in radiators or batterys ---and I have poured alot of water in batterys maintaining golf car fleets and habe always had good life with both radiators and batterys

Re: Distilled Water in Radiator
 

we always used distilled water in batteries in the old submarines
and I used 600 GALLONS every other day
in the two batteries

Re: Distilled Water in Radiator
 

Joe,
Well excuse me! I ain't perfect either.:eek: You'll notice that Jim mentioned "lots" of rust inhibitor & a "milky" look & others mentioned using "soap," so why are you cranky with me?:confused: I may not sleep tonight. Bill W.

Re: Distilled Water in Radiator
 

I drive my 1931 Town Sedan year round and use a 50/50 mix of distilled water and Sierra antifreeze. My engine runs great and stays about 140-150 degrees in normal "flatland" driving and about 180 degrees going up the mountains of Western Maryland (no thermostat) plus is freeze protected. This mix seems to work well for me.

Re: Distilled Water in Radiator
 

I mentioned soap as that is the "in" word with race mechanics who break the rules against using anything slimy in the radiator in case of a collision that would cause a spill of slippery stuff on the track. Oil is a necessity, but Water Wetter or it's ilk are generally forbidden on track.

There is also a "non-urban" legend that the good 'ole boys discovered that soap in a flathead would help prevent the dreaded condition of the water pump spinning uselessly trying to pull steam off the top of a boiling engine whilst running (with gallons of sweet sweet shine) from the Revenuers!

In any case I've seen in numerous publications with specific prohibitions against using well water in any radiator or battery because of the overload of minerals and the deleterious effects on Detroit iron.

Then there is the emergency source of coolant, human urine, again; a non-urban myth???

Re: Distilled Water in Radiator
 

[QUOTE=roccaas;507808]I mentioned soap as that is the "in" word with race mechanics who break the rules against using anything slimy in the radiator in case of a collision that would cause a spill of slippery stuff on the track. Oil is a necessity, but Water Wetter or it's ilk are generally forbidden on track.

There is also a "non-urban" legend that the good 'ole boys discovered that soap in a flathead would help prevent the dreaded condition of the water pump spinning uselessly trying to pull steam off the top of a boiling engine whilst running (with gallons of sweet sweet shine) from the Revenuers!

In any case I've seen in numerous publications with specific prohibitions against using well water in any radiator or battery because of the overload of minerals and the deleterious effects on Detroit iron.

Then there is the emergency source of coolant, human urine, again; a non-urban myth???[/QUOTE]

At my age and the rate of flow this would be an all day fill job!

"Red Dawn" - "now get up there and ...."
 

Re: Distilled Water in Radiator
 

This question has been kicking around on car forums for quite a while.

Do we have any Barners who are industrial chemists by trade that could / would comment on the theory that "Distilled water = "hungry" water" ?


I have always heard / read the recommendation for distilled water in batteries and steam irons. (To prevent issues caused by presence of dissolved minerals)

In steam systems, we add chemicals to the make-up water to keep the pH level neutral (7.0) or slightly alkaline, to reduce / prevent system corrosion.

I think we tend to believe that "distlled water" is, in addition to being chemically pure ( free of minerals ), is also chemically neutral ?

From my limited knowledge on the subject, the big issues with minerals present in cooling water are along the following lines: iron= scale, sulhpur=acid, lime=calcium scale...

The common recommendation I have seen through the years is that for most circumstances, any water that is safe to drink is acceptable to use in cooling systems / batteries. Perhaps not ideal, but acceptable ?

???

Re: Distilled Water in Radiator
 

alcohol for winter operation

it will evaporate ! the water is a good idea , but depending on your area , use anti-freeze for protection . i lived in the high desert & always had -40* in mine for winter . temps were below zero .