Less expensive deionized water

[wensteph]

The search function didn't show that this has been posted before. I live in the SE, bought my first black car and started searching for preventing water spots. I came across this thread on a motor home forum. Seems like all the purchases are for the CR system, Simple Chuck, or DI Rinse Pro; all over $400.

They came up with a DIY system for less than $100 and everyone that has built one seems to be very impressed with it. Short version is they use canisters from a whole house filter system and resin from aquarium supply houses.

I can't vouch for it as I just ordered the parts last night. If you read the thread, read all the way through. They changed the housing in the first post to one Dupont makes with a built in bypass valve.

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f278/if-you-would-like-to-assemble-a-10-in-di-rinse-unit-339615.html

 

[StevieC]

Cool

 

[sloinker]

As a bonus, take a sip of the DI water when you're done making it. A taste treat!
Where I work we take glacier derived river water and send it though a floc plant that utilizes activated carbon and diatomaceous earth and is passed on to a typical resin style water softener. From there it goes to a set of R/O's and finally through an ultraviolet stream before adding it to storage tanks for boiler use. It truly is amazing what it does to your mouth when you take a sip.

 

[cdlamb]

Originally Posted by sloinker
As a bonus, take a sip of the DI water when you're done making it. A taste treat!
Where I work we take glacier derived river water and send it though a floc plant that utilizes activated carbon and diatomaceous earth and is passed on to a typical resin style water softener. From there it goes to a set of R/O's and finally through an ultraviolet stream before adding it to storage tanks for boiler use. It truly is amazing what it does to your mouth when you take a sip.


Take a pull of the distilled water that is bottled for automotive use!
I was working out in the garage late one evening into the early hours of the morning, & didn't want to disturb the family sleeping to come in for a glass of water.

I have seen distilled water for sold for preparing infant formulas, so figured this must be same stuff.
Couldn't get the taste of that bittering agent from my mouth for a long time. I guess they don't want you drinking it.

 

[SZR48207]

Back in the early 2000s, the Mr Clean brand sold a spotless rinse system at Walmart that worked the same way. A wand at the end of the hose with a replaceable filter.

In your case I would also advise you seek waxes or sealants that cause water to sheet instead of bead. This will help keep the spots down. Off the top of my head I believe Meguiars NXT is known for sheeting.

 

[Rand]

Cheap would be buying distilled water. 3 gallons = 2.49

less cheap using RO water.. Since I like the taste it would be basically free to use it for car wash rinse.

My system i good for 2000+ gallons per year. Filters are 35$ for the set(for 2 out of 3 years) then 100$ every 3rd year 3 filter set + RO+ 5th filter

Using a tester my hot water is around 450-700ppm, cold water 350-400ppm RO water 12-28ppm

 

[kschachn]

Originally Posted by cdlamb
Take a pull of the distilled water that is bottled for automotive use!
I was working out in the garage late one evening into the early hours of the morning, & didn't want to disturb the family sleeping to come in for a glass of water.

I have seen distilled water for sold for preparing infant formulas, so figured this must be same stuff.
Couldn't get the taste of that bittering agent from my mouth for a long time. I guess they don't want you drinking it.

Never mind, I guess there is special distilled water with a bittering agent for use when mixed with coolant without such an additive.

The stuff from Walgreens or Walmart does not have that.

 

[PimTac]

Originally Posted by Reddy45
Back in the early 2000s, the Mr Clean brand sold a spotless rinse system at Walmart that worked the same way. A wand at the end of the hose with a replaceable filter.

In your case I would also advise you seek waxes or sealants that cause water to sheet instead of bead. This will help keep the spots down. Off the top of my head I believe Meguiars NXT is known for sheeting.





I agree with this. There are some excellent sealants that help with sheeting. The newer SIO2 based sealants and coatings are excellent in this regard.

 

[MParr]

I have a black car and I don't get water spots after washing it. I start with a cool car and wash it in the shade. When I'm finished washing it, I dry it right away. After drying, I go over it with Meguiar's Ultimate Quick Detailer.

 

[SZR48207]

If the wife permits and you have the room, wash it inside the garage.

 

[69GTX]

Healthiest water for human consumption is just the opposite of DI/Demin/Distilled water. Those minerals like Mg, Ca, K, etc. are there for a reason. Your body needs them. "Zero water" may sound good....but it's not particularly good for us.

Used to get all the DI water I could carry at the power plant. Would bring home 5 gallon jugs to use on my car's coolant systems as needed. That was good zero water using standard carbon filters + HOH resin beds. The high pressure boilers liked it.

 

[Linctex]

Originally Posted by cdlamb
distilled water that is bottled for automotive use.......... the taste of that bittering agent from my mouth for a long time. I guess they don't want you drinking it.


I never heard of this stuff. I get distilled water from the grocery store.

 

[jimbrewer]

To avoid spots, Use a rinseless wash with the "Garry Dean" method.

1. Knock the heavy dirt (if it has any) off with a stream of pressurized water.

2. Get some mail-order rinseless car wash. They are all good.

3. Get at least 20-30 el cheapo microfiber towels from Walmart. You never want to feel like you have to economize in towels.

4. Using a kitchen scale, measure an ounce of rinseless into a 16 oz. sprayer. Measure two ounces into two gallons in a bucket. Maybe three ounces to three gallons water if it's a truck.

5. Hold back a couple or three towels for buffing. Soak the others in your bucket of hooch.

Spritz a dirty panel with your concentrate. Slap a saturated rag on the panel and swipe lightly until the panel is clean or the rag is noticeably dirty. Never do more than one panel to a rag. If in doubt, discard the dirtyish rag into an empty bucket and use another, before completing the panel.

6. Wipe the newly clean panel with a wrung out clean rag. It should show little or no dirt. Unlike the saturated towels it can be used for several panels so long as it looks clean.

7. Follow with a dry buffing towel as you complete each panel.

May or may not be the best way to clean your car, but no spots. You can do it in the garage, too.

 

[atikovi]

Originally Posted by MParr
I have a black car and I don't get water spots after washing it. I start with a cool car and wash it in the shade. When I'm finished washing it, I dry it right away. After drying, I go over it with Meguiar's Ultimate Quick Detailer.


I think the point of this thread is that you DON'T need to dry the car if you rinse with DI water. I'd love to use this system since drying with a chamois and a towel can be hard work when it's 80+ degrees out and half the car is dry and spotted before you can get to it all. I just couldn't justify the average $5 per use cost for resin.

 

[DejaVue]

Originally Posted by atikovi

I think the point of this thread is that you DON'T need to dry the car if you rinse with DI water. I'd love to use this system since drying with a chamois and a towel can be hard work when it's 80+ degrees out and half the car is dry and spotted before you can get to it all.

I avoid that by washing one section of the car at a time. Roof first, obviously.