Really Stupid Question

[GBUK101]

This to most of you will be a really silly question but it's got me flummoxed! I need to top up my coolant and it says in the manual to mix 50% anti freeze with 50% distilled water. Where do you get the distilled water from or do you just use tap water?

[Fbyte]

Hi,

You should be able to get some distilled water from a petrol station
, try also halfords, i bought a bottle there for my pc some months ago.

[veeeffarr]

Distilled water is basically water that have been evaporated and condensed again, thus removing impurities (That are heavier and won't evaporate)

Try a local supermarket, they should have some.

[Vespa]

.

[Sheepy1209]

Filtered water (e.g. Brita) is better than nothing - stops limescale in irons so must do the same in engines!

No doubt somebody will tell me I'm wrong, but it's better than being tempted to use tap water.

[mchaggis]

Use tapwater at your peril, unless you actually want blocked coolant channels. Okay for emergencies - after which you want to empty and flush the system and refill it with the correct mix, but in general stay well away.

Distilled water is cheap enough from all sorts of places.
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I must not be a troll...
Mmmm, Guinness
Discovering the delights of Hammerite and a 3/4" brush.

[0ddball]

Is this distilled water thing just something specific to bikes? I've always used tap water in my car engines. Yes it does cause a bit of limescale but nothing worth worrying about.

[mchaggis]

I've not looked at too many owner manuals for cars, but the ones I remember have said use distilled water. It's the coolant pump I'd be worried about, depending on what type it is. Perhaps the radiator too.

Distilled water is necessary for batteries anyway, though I suppose most new batteries will be sealed units.
____________________
I must not be a troll...
Mmmm, Guinness
Discovering the delights of Hammerite and a 3/4" brush.

[edd]

they have distilled water at most petrol stations, its expensive there (about £1 per litre) but if you go to a decent motor factors (most towns have one) then it will be the same price for a gallon.
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Bluespark Automotive - Diesel Tuning for Performance and Economy

[The Old Geeza]

I don't know why, but these days a lot of producers have moved away from calling it distilled water, and prefer to call it...

De-Ionised Water.

Which is basically the same bloody thing. Most commonly used in steam irons and car batteries to reduce the build-up of limescale. Which is the same purpose it's recommended for your bike.

It's drinkable too, but tasteless

If you're really desperate to top up your cooling system, just use a couple of bottles of mineral water. The ones with the sports caps are better, because you can squirt them where you want



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Horse Power was safer when the Horses had it!

[Ork12]

Its sold at focus only sold one bottle of it in like 2 months though :o
Alex

[0ddball]

Yeah, most people just use tap water. It's the antifreeze that is most important. Apart from it's obvious function it helps prevent corrosion of the internal waterways, especially in aluminium heads/blocks.
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ZXR750L

[ZZRman]

Pick some de ironised water from your local Teco's, they use it in irons for doing your clothes..... unless you know of course you live in a soft water area then its ok to use tap water, limescale is a big problem otherwise, check on the anti freeze you are buiyng, some of it comes ready mixed in Halfords and such

[Wooly R6]

just use water from the kettle that has boiled and cooled down again

[GBUK101]

Thanks for all the help. Got some from my local morrisons but got some funny looks when I asked for it, then they said did I mean de-ionised water and the penny dropped!

[yambabe]

[John C]