More fun with well water

[dailydriver]

Yes, I agree ek.

If I was forced to use a 'wetting agent' type additive I would go with the Purple Ice as well.

It seems to be not nearly as negatively reactive in most systems as Watter Wetter (especially where Dex Cool is called for, even though RL claims WW to be OK with this coolant).

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah

Their "purified" is RO and there will still be garbage in it since it is still the water from that area.


The grocery store RO water seems to not make any deposit over 13 years in my water heating pot at home when the tap water causes calcium buildup in less than 1 year. My understanding is the RO processes remove most of the calcium and should be "good enough" for 2 gallon over 3 years even if it completely evaporate, if it didn't leave a residue in a water pot that goes through 1/2 gallon a day for 13 years.

 

[cronk]

The well water in my area has alot of lime in it.
I either spring 80 cents for distilled water or buy the premixed coolant.
I have seen old radiators out of trucks and tractors at the local rad shop that look similar the the OP's pics.

 

[07MKX]

My experience has been:

EDM (Electro-Discharge Machining).. we tried just distilled water and within a few minutes it caused enough problems we had to shut down and wait until we could get/return to DE-IONIZED water.

De-ionized water is also distilled, but with an ion treatment to it. Obviously makes a difference and the only fluid to be used.

That said, I have a portable dehumidifier and save water from it for topping off batteries and any cooling system requirements.

I will try to purchase deionized water for a coolant system change, but doubt if I can get it. I will purchase distilled. It's going to be in a HOT and CLOSED system for 5 years and I will spend the money for piece of mind knowing I did the best I could with what I had available. What is that additional cost? $2/2 gallon? pittance.

At home I have a water-softener on well water, but you can just see the calcium deposits in the ice bin after a while in a frost-free freezer. Same on the humidifier screen for the furnace.

Get the distilled / De-Ionized water at a store and piece of mind.

 

[dailydriver]

Agreed with the de-ionized water (even though most on here seem to disagree on it's benefits).

But yes, the biggest problem is finding it bottled anywhere.
It seems the only way to get it is to buy one of those expensive (with costly replacement filters) de-ionizing filters from Griots (or whereever), and make your own.

 

[mechanicx]

Distilled water or RO is way beyond adequate. For coolants like Dexcool they tell you tap water is OK. Some tap waters are OK but a lot of well water can be too hard. The water has to be below a certain level of hardness but doesn't have to be pure DI water. For instance the tap water in my city does not cause scale in cooling systems. That's not to say distilled water wouldn't be slightly better only that it is not necessary to prevent scale and corrosion.