Distilled vs tap water

Sean d

Sean d

Zorg Expert (I)
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British Zeds
Joined
Sep 29, 2015
Points
201
Location
Lincolnshire
Model of Z
Z3 2.8
I have been driving over 30 years and never used distilled water, to be honest I've never really given it a thought and still don't unless someone can give me very good reason to change my mind, my thinking is that its a closed system and the water is only changed every 2 years. I boil gallons of water every week in my kettle at work and there are virtually no deposits on it, its been in the shop for over ten years
Whats your thoughts
 
A lot depends on where you live, around here the water is very hard and leaves a lot of limescale so I always use de-ionisded water. Years ago the garage where my ex wife worked had an Imp brought in with the engine in pieces in the back due to overheating. They told the owner it was the usual Imp head gasket problem and was only good for scrap. I bought it for a few pounds, de-scaled the engine and reassembled it properly and it was perfect. The radiator had been blocked solid with limescale.
I suspect where you live the water is softer and wouldn't be such a problem. If I ws keeping a car long term though I would still use de-ionised or distilled water.
 
Sean d said:
I have been driving over 30 years and never used distilled water, to be honest I've never really given it a thought and still don't unless someone can give me very good reason to change my mind, my thinking is that its a closed system and the water is only changed every 2 years. I boil gallons of water every week in my kettle at work and there are virtually no deposits on it, its been in the shop for over ten years
Whats your thoughts
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Never given it a thought TBF mate but like you I live in a soft water area with no scale in the kettle.
 
If you lived in Kent you wouldn’t drink the stuff that comes out of the tap let alone give it to your car.

Even the dog gets filtered water =))

You’ll scale up your throat in year with the water here!
 
The anti freeze I bought said only dilute with distilled water. Which is what I did, but only because thats what it said
on the container. I never ever thought about the hardness of tap water when topping up radiators.

But as it happens, the tap water in Sussex is rock hard!!!! Have to descale the kettle every couple of weeks with Kilrock, so probably not a good idea to use is in the car.
 
Tap water contains minerals that are corrosive to the metal components found in the engine. However, the tiny amount of minerals in a single fill of coolant is harmless, unlike the kettle analogy that gets a new mineral dose every fill! No harm in using distilled water though and no point in using De-Ionized as it will collect all the minerals again when exposed to the engine.
 
Now think back to when your water came to you through cast iron, lead and copper pipes instead of the clinical plastic of today. What were you drinking then? My old dad used to work for the local water board and I sometimes went out with him to burst mains and I saw the inside of those things.:eek::eek::eek:

Tony.
 
We are not in a soft water area but obviousley no where near as hard as some of you guys have to put up with
 
t-tony said:
Now think back to when your water came to you through cast iron, lead and copper pipes instead of the clinical plastic of today. What were you drinking then? My old dad used to work for the local water board and I sometimes went out with him to burst mains and I saw the inside of those things.:eek::eek::eek:

Tony.
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I still see it m8 when I work on old houses round here. 50 shades of....orange!! lol
 
Never had to worry about using water from the tap to be honest. Once augmented with antifreeze and corrosion inhibitor I wouldn’t give it a second thought. But then.... Engines have components made from different metals so there’s opportunity for electrolytic action on anything in the water and resultant corrosion and scaling. I can understand why distilled water may be recommended. Makes sense - yes. Essential? Not universally but in some exotic alloys then maybe.
 
Best go the whole hog and use waterless coolant then?

Tony.
 
Oxygen is the enemy.

As long as you have the correct coolant mix I wouldn't be worrying about a few litres of tap water, unless you have a leak and have to top up regularly or are running with no antifreeze :wtf:.
 
Again from my perspective our water is very soft and good quality so always use tap water for me .
But also appreciate what some are saying when we go to Great Yarmouth never leave home without a few bottles of tap water with me water there makes rubbish tea :rolleyes:
 
I've always used tap water for topping up. Never even thought about using distilled water till this thread popped up, (thanks @sean). I think the tiny amount of limescale in a closed system wont be a problem.
 
Just a thought, but could a build up of scale from hard water be one of the causes of overheating that some people experience?
 
In the worst case scenario yes, but it would take a long time with modern antifreeze.

Tony.
 
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