Hey, I am using the instructions from motorvate.ca. Quick question though...do you guys use regular tap water and mix it with the rad coolant, or do you purchase special soft water?

Thanks

 

i've always used tap water (city water) without any problems but iv'e heard that you should distilled water because it's cleaner/less ions that may form deposits. well water with with a high iron content can't be good for something with rust potential.
my $0.02 (american money)

 

Depends on the quality of the tap water where you live. My tap water is good enough. A few dozens miles away from my town the well water is too hard. Demineralized water is inexpensive anways: 2$ for 4 litres available at Crappy tire or in drug stores.

 

Use soft water, don't buy it though.
It will reduce the amount of corrosion.

 

tap water big no no go to the grocery store and get a couple of gallons of steam distilled water your radiator will thank you. Better to be safe than sorry

 

Soft water has a high sodium content, bad choice, dont use it.

Use distilled water as recommended by most auto mfg's. It has the lowest content of minerals which you don't want in your engines cooling system.

 

Thanks all for the clarification. I will be getting distilled water shortly.

 

So I changed my rad fluid as per Motorvate's instruction. Now after reading bill99gxe's threads about changing rad fluid, I noticed he never pre mixed water with rad fluid in a bucket, yet motorvate did. I followed motorvate's instructions. Who is at fault?

 

law of diffusion, itll problaby mix itself thoroughy, and use distilled water, wahts the definition of soft water anywya, i think it means without magnesium chlorine potasium SODIUM calcium and carbonate ions, so you can use softwater, best bet is distilled or brita filter the water or something if your so concerned, better safe....

 

Nobody...both methods work. The coolant and distilled water will begin to mix once the car is started. Bill's method is great in that after several flush & refills, the radiator will drain completely clear thus telling you that all of the old stuff is out of there.

Also, make sure to keep an eye on the coolant reservoir for the next week or so and top it off as necessary with coolant/H2O mix.

 

After refilling the coolant, install the radiator cap and idle the car until hot water is circulating in the radiator. Turn heater to max, then run the engine to about 2000 RPM a few times ( 5 - 10 seconds each time) to purge air from engine block. Keep doing this (fast idle) until you don't hear the water running in the heater core. Let the car cool down (45 minutes or so) and you should be able to add about 1/4 gallon to the radiator. Watch the temperature gage, don't let the car overheat.