I'm in the process of flushing my radiator and changing hoses on my Saab 9-3. I've done a series of drains and have refilled with water. How long can I run with straight water? I plan to swap out some hoses, but may do it over a couple of weeks.
Running Straight Water-How Long?
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The corrosion starts instantly but is your block made of aluminum or iron? I think a couple of weeks will make no difference unless your block is iron in which case the water will start to get brown and make a mess when you drain it. Still, two weeks is pretty short.
Originally Posted By: Snagglefoot
The corrosion starts instantly but is your block made of aluminum or iron? I think a couple of weeks will make no difference unless your block is iron in which case the water will start to get brown and make a mess when you drain it. Still, two weeks is pretty short.
Hey I just flushed my cooling system, what is the fastest way to ruin it?
The corrosion starts instantly but is your block made of aluminum or iron? I think a couple of weeks will make no difference unless your block is iron in which case the water will start to get brown and make a mess when you drain it. Still, two weeks is pretty short.
Hey I just flushed my cooling system, what is the fastest way to ruin it?
I run straight water in the old t/a during the summer. It doesn't "ruin" anything.
Circle track racers here run water all summer, and I don't think too many of them use "Water wetter" or similar additives.
I would stick to your schedule though.
I flushed my cutlass ciera by drain and filling once a week, all week, then putting pure antifreeze in at the end (as I only got 50% each time.) Solved a ping that I figured was caused by crud buildup/ hot spot.
I would stick to your schedule though.
I flushed my cutlass ciera by drain and filling once a week, all week, then putting pure antifreeze in at the end (as I only got 50% each time.) Solved a ping that I figured was caused by crud buildup/ hot spot.
I ran plain ol' hose water for 2 weeks until the right water pump came. It was leaking from the seal. It used a 1/2 gallon each way. Zero damage incurred. I normally run 50/50 coolant in a tight system.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
Circle track racers here run water all summer, and I don't think too many of them use "Water wetter" or similar additives.
I would stick to your schedule though.
I flushed my cutlass ciera by drain and filling once a week, all week, then putting pure antifreeze in at the end (as I only got 50% each time.) Solved a ping that I figured was caused by crud buildup/ hot spot.
Because the OP's Saab 9-3 is his circle track race car. I'm sure he's going to pull the engine at the end of the season and rebuild it, anyway.
Circle track racers here run water all summer, and I don't think too many of them use "Water wetter" or similar additives.
I would stick to your schedule though.
I flushed my cutlass ciera by drain and filling once a week, all week, then putting pure antifreeze in at the end (as I only got 50% each time.) Solved a ping that I figured was caused by crud buildup/ hot spot.
Because the OP's Saab 9-3 is his circle track race car. I'm sure he's going to pull the engine at the end of the season and rebuild it, anyway.
You’d be ok for a couple of weeks. My dad ran straight water for a long time in my f150. You should have seen the mess hat made. Rust stains all down the driveway. I replaced the radiator and expansion tank because they had crud in them. This was already a replacement radiator because the original cracked during winter. While the rust was bad it was cleaned out eventually and my truck still runs great.
I would think that tap water is different depending on location. Some places have heavily chlorinated water(is chlorine a mineral? Don't know) or lots of minerals or both so why not add a little antifreeze/coolant until you can fill properly.
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Originally Posted By: 555
I would think that tap water is different depending on location. Some places have heavily chlorinated water(is chlorine a mineral? Don't know) or lots of minerals or both so why not add a little antifreeze/coolant until you can fill properly.
+1
I would think that tap water is different depending on location. Some places have heavily chlorinated water(is chlorine a mineral? Don't know) or lots of minerals or both so why not add a little antifreeze/coolant until you can fill properly.
+1
Never use tap water, only use distilled. Don't use deionized because guess what? It will leach ions from metals in your cooling system.
Distilled water is less than $1/gal. Do it right, buy concentrate & cut with distilled- don't set yourself up to be stranded someday in the near future especially since summer is coming quickly.
Distilled water is less than $1/gal. Do it right, buy concentrate & cut with distilled- don't set yourself up to be stranded someday in the near future especially since summer is coming quickly.
Originally Posted By: SubieRubyRoo
Don't use deionized because guess what? It will leach ions from metals in your cooling system.
Where did you hear that? I think most Anti-freeze manufactures use DI water. I personally think either one is fine.
Don't use deionized because guess what? It will leach ions from metals in your cooling system.
Where did you hear that? I think most Anti-freeze manufactures use DI water. I personally think either one is fine.
Originally Posted By: SubieRubyRoo
Never use tap water, only use distilled. Don't use deionized because guess what? It will leach ions from metals in your cooling system.
Distilled water is less than $1/gal. Do it right, buy concentrate & cut with distilled- don't set yourself up to be stranded someday in the near future especially since summer is coming quickly.
My well water is on par with Poland Spring.
Even if you have nasy limestone minerals in your water, you can use it as a "first flush" then bring fancier stuff in for make-up later.
I did my "drain a day" to cool down and to use the sanitary sewer at work for disposal vs my own septic system.
Never use tap water, only use distilled. Don't use deionized because guess what? It will leach ions from metals in your cooling system.
Distilled water is less than $1/gal. Do it right, buy concentrate & cut with distilled- don't set yourself up to be stranded someday in the near future especially since summer is coming quickly.
My well water is on par with Poland Spring.
Even if you have nasy limestone minerals in your water, you can use it as a "first flush" then bring fancier stuff in for make-up later.
I did my "drain a day" to cool down and to use the sanitary sewer at work for disposal vs my own septic system.
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