I've heard multiple arguments -

Distilled/RO/etc is good because it doesn't contain any dissolved minerals/solids that can precipitate out of the solution and clog up radiators.

Distilled/RO/etc is bad because a pure water acts like a solvent, and acts like a leech on metal, eating at it.

And, if purified is better, is RO better then distilled or viceversa?

I bring this up because - I have about 10-12k miles on my motor now, and for the first few thousand I was running tap water with antifreeze. For the remaining, I was running RO water. Today, I look into the radiator and I see there is some white specs of crud in the tubes. I'm not sure if those specs came from when I was running the tap water years ago or if it was a new development.

Which brings up another topic - what radiator flush do you prefer?

I'm kinda bummed out - I put in a brand new ~$225 radiator with the engine and now this.

The first argument you recap (distilled is good) is correct. The second (distilled is bad) is a myth. Go to www.caranddriver.com and search on Turcotte. You will get two results; read both.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

The first argument you recap (distilled is good) is correct. The second (distilled is bad) is a myth. Go to www.caranddriver.com and search on Turcotte. You will get two results; read both.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Ideal would be, distilled/deionized water. Mixed 50/50 with antifreeze/coolant. At the very least use a rust/corrosion inhibitor. Never run just water.
If any one has found a good flush, please let me know. Years ago, there were several good ones on the market. These are no longer available to the general public, do to enviromental concerns.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

I ONLY use deionized or distilled water, preferably the latter, and I can get that in my lab. The dissolved minerals in tap water promote corrosion.

This also goes for topping off battery cells. Never use tap water as the minerals can poison the battery electrodes.

What is RO water?

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

RO Water is Revere Osmosis Filtered Water. I've seen a lot of people use this for Hydroponic Gardening.

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The old white brick

Funny how where you live can affect what you do. I use our tap water,,,,but it comes down a mountain (about a mile from my house) in a series of waterfalls about 5000 vertical feet. It tests like distilled water. It originates as snow meltwater. It gravity feeds to my house. The water permit costs $30/year.

I take it with me when I travel cuz chlorinated water tastes like poison when your used to non-chlorinated.

We just bottle it in 2 litre pop bottles and carry it in plastic milk boxes.

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Yeah....Im the one who destroyed this rare, vintage automobile.....

Sandy, I need to visit your house...

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Generally Distilled water is more "pure" water than dionized. Distilled water is boiled to evaporation than cooled and collected, this removes all the minerals and organic compounds. Dionized water is the equivalent of most home water softners, it doesnt purify the water it more or less neutralizes the water.

With Reverse Osmosis the water is passed by a membrane filter which allows the water to pass through but blocks the minerals.

What it all comes down to is Distilled is less likely to leave deposits in your radiator which would cause blockage. Dissolved may still leave deposits because there are still minerals present in the water. RO water is probably on par with distilled if it is available to you.

Pure water does act as a solvent, and will suck minerals out of other solutions which is why it is a bad idea to drink distilled water it will remove iron and other minerals directly from the blood stream. However, in the case of your radiator distilled is better than dionized which is better than Tap water.

Brian
water boy for teh slant six community.

Being a chemist, I can tell you that the deionized water we get in our labs is very pure, and I'm pretty sure is better than grocery store distilled. I don't know about "garden variety" deionized. I don't see why RO would not remove organics, sediments, or whatever else, but I'm not an expert in that process.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Come on down Lou!

Caveats: 3 hours to nearest airport,,,6 hours to nearest big airport.
2.5 hours to nearest fast food/stoplight.

NO SHOPPING (well,,,you can get beer, gas, fishing license at post office)

Nearest ambulance or police 20 miles(RCMP)
No cell phone\No wireless internet/cable TV
No enforcement for canabis offences
2 out of 3 routes require free ferry ride (northern route: no ferry midnight to 6 am)
Snow tires REQUIRED Oct 31 to March 30

Attendance at Full Moon Party: mandatory

http://www.arrowtipi.com/english/real_world_site.htm

Lou,
I can only speak relative to the store bought stuff, I am sure anything you are using in a chem lab is of far different quality than store bought. Your lab grade Dionized is probably cleaner than distilled from the store. Most people don't realize that for the most part the bottled water industry is relatively underregulated. For instance most spring water that you buy in the store is processed water..not straight from a spring, the water is often chlorinated then dechlorinated with a little UV throw in to kill off some of the bacteria that maybe present.

AS far as RO removing other constituents, that is true but generally it results in lower membrane life, typically in most industrial applications there is a pre-treatment process which removes the sediment, organics, etc so that what is actually brought into contact with the membrane is water with dissolved inorganics.

of course this is all extraneous to the topic, but my belief is still that distilled water is what he wants in his radiator if its store bought. For those of you Georgia boys, if you wanna take the corn mash out you can distill your own water in that contraption in the backwoods.


Brian

Brian, I agree - distilled from the store is probably best.

Sandy - someday, my friend...

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Distilled water is the most pure water. deionized water is better than R.O. water. any good distiller will first run the water through a softener then an R.O. then a deionizer, finally they distill it. you lab probably uses LPC grade water which is made they way I described. Using distilled water alone is not a good idea. it is mildly corrosive and can cause the cast iron in your block to rust. It is even harder on aluminum.

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Hey Sandy... gee man, you almost get me on that nice advertising about that place of yours'.... I may get the snow tires

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Juan Ignacio Caino

Please use e-mail button istead of PM'ing. I do log in sometimes but I'll be answering quicker thru e-mail.