Cooling system renewed - question about MB coolant and "water"
Being a firm believer in fixing things before they break...I noticed a little calcium buildup in the top of my radiator when inspecting under the cap. So, I removed the radiator and ran it over to the local shop. It was on the verge of being blocked and did not respond to sonic treatments. Rodding did not work either. (I have never had an overheating problem with this vehicle.) A new core is being installed between my tanks and side rails today. While in the mood and having all of the parts on hand, I replaced the water pump, all hoses, and thermostat. An interesting aside here, the hoses are somewhat thicker than those on other MB vehicles I own/have owned. I obtained the "hose kit" from Europa.
I had MB brand coolant on hand, but there are no indications of the type of water to use to come up with the 50/50 -/+ mixture for antifreeze and water. In fact, the MB coolant bottle does not even indicate mixing with "water" at all. Oddly silent on this whole issue. Might have to do with US environmental and water quality issues, or perhaps they assume that no one is so inclined to use, say, beer instead.
I have settled on Prestone "purified water". Has anyone used this product?
...I have settled on Prestone "purified water". Has anyone used this product? ...
Hmm. Never even heard of the stuff! I would be interested in hearing what they say it is, and what they say the advantages are.
I've always used distilled water in the cooling system. I think I was told once NOT to use De-Ionized Water, but I don't remember why, or even if it was in relation to cooling systems or not for sure.
Distilled water is about as "pure" as water gets and it eliminates any minerals and salts from the water, the main things that will give cooling systems fits. I thought the big antifreeze manufacturers used to recommend use of distilled water in their instructions, but I have to confess I haven't actually READ an antifreeze bottle in a long time.
I've always used distilled water in the cooling system. I think I was told once NOT to use De-Ionized Water, but I don't remember why, or even if it was in relation to cooling systems or not for sure.
Distilled water is about as "pure" as water gets and it eliminates any minerals and salts from the water,
Working in an antifreeze formulation and testings lab was one of my former lives.
Unless your water is excessively hard (and I don't have any hardness numbers - sorry), you should use tap water.
Distilled water is too clean and the chemical equilibrium reaction will accellerate corrosion until some salts are built up in the solution. Normal tap water already has some of this stuff in there, so the corrosion reaction is slower.
That fits my "old husband's tale" (credit due Harold) memory
I had heard for years that if you want to create a great environment for electrolysis, add distilled water to an engine with alloy heads, iron block, and cooper radiator. The alloy head then mirgrates into the radiator over time. This might be an old husband's tale since it seems to borrow from battery applictions of distilled water and electricity. But Dutch, you seem to support the notion that distilled water is not the best idea, for what sounded like rational reasons.
However, the bottle on the Prestone product warns (sales pitch) that tap water now continues too much chloride and sulfate, as well as calcium, iron, magnesium, and other minerials. They warn that aluminum pitting and other harmful events will occur when tap water is used. Their water is claimed to be 99.99 pure water!!
That seems mighty close to medically clean distilled water to me. It also notes that it is not for human consumption, but can be used in irons, vehicle batteries, and yes, windshield washers. It is also deionized.
Perhaps the German Bier purity laws of 1516(?) might come into play here. Maybe Preston wants to get in on the sale of water, which goes for more than diesel fuel these days.
....the chemical equilibrium reaction will accellerate corrosion....
Can you give a little more detail on what's involved in the chemical equilibrium reaction? Will it damage the 1.21 gigawatts flux capacitor?[:D][:D][:D]
Seriously though, this question has always fascinated me. Maybe spending lots of time where the tap water was highly questionable (one of my friends refered to it as "Indiana ground squeezin's") has caused me to get over paranoid and revert to distilled as a "known quantity" that had to be better than my well water which reeked of sulfer and oxidized the corners of the aluminum fittings on the glass shower doors, and the town water that smelled worse than any six swimming pools I was ever around.
But yeah, some more information on what's happenning in the cooling system would be really interesting.
Maybe spending lots of time where the tap water was highly questionable (one of my friends refered to it as "Indiana ground squeezin's") has caused me to get over paranoid and revert to distilled as a "known quantity" that had to be better than my well water which reeked of sulfer and oxidized the corners of the aluminum fittings on the glass shower doors, and the town water that smelled worse than any six swimming pools I was ever around.
-Dave G.
As said in the earlier post, if the water is really lousy, use distilled or deionized water.
The chemical equilibrium reaction and equation is a whole weeks worth in a beginning chemistry class.
Re: Dutch - You are allowed to bore me. I have had chemistry, so it would be interesting for a
Thanks, but I used to teach it; and it bores me too. I really don't have any interest in teaching a chemistry lesson.
Go with whatever product you are comfortable with. However, my guess is that generic distilled or deionized water from your local supermarket will have equal performance and be a lot more cost effective than a name branded product.
It is not that I disagree or doubt you, in fact I think we are of similar opinions. I was just interested (truly) in various considerations of this issue. I called my nephew who is a chemical engineer (he got all the hard-science genes in the family) and left him a message. He will likely come up with something of interest, and if I can repeat it without using psychological terms, metaphysics, homilies, or methophors, I'll try. But don't hold your breath [:(]
It is not that I disagree or even doubt you, in fact I suspect we have similar opinions about this. It is just that I am truly interested in what might be at work here chemically. I called my nephew who is a chemical engineer. Left him a message with some of the particulars. He will likely come up with something of interest, and if I can repeat what he tells me without resorting to psychological terms, metaphysics, homilies, or methophors, I'll try. If I can't, I just say its pretty darn complicated, and let it go at that.
Linear Mode
