[Healeys] Coolant

[Bob]

Well your 2 years of college chemistry trumps my one year of high school 
chemistry.  But I'll ask this question.  Once the anti-freeze is added is there 
any resemblance to distilled water left?. And if there is do the anti corrosive  
additives in the anti freeze overcome any possible adverse effects from it?.

YMMV sure might be true between cars with just distilled water and cars with 
anti freeze added. Once anti freeze is in the picture the whole discussion of 
water type may be moot. It is required in NJ, a cracked block is a far bigger 
issue than sediment.

Bob




On 5/16/2014 12:06 AM, Bob Spidell wrote:
> OK, the List has been pretty quiet lately--the ongoing mail server problems 
> notwithstanding--so I'm going to resurrect an old controversy: what kind of 
> water to mix with antifreeze (i.e. some form or glycol or alcohol).
>
> I've had online, er, 'discussions' with people who maintain, adamantly, that 
> distilled water is 'ion hungry' and will in no time reduce an iron engine 
> block to a mound of iron oxide, aka 'rust' (according to Wikipedia, there are 
> at least 16 different chemical forms of iron oxide).  I've only got a couple 
> years of college chemistry, but I remember that distilled water is chemically 
> inert--with a perfect balance of H+ and OH- ions and pH of slightly less than 
> 7.0  due to its tendency to dissolve atmospheric CO2 and form mild carbonic 
> acid--but would, however, dissolve more mineral salts due to it not having any 
> minerals already dissolved (if you accidentally dumped a pound or two of 
> Morton's finest in your block distilled water would dissolve more of it than 
> tap water).
>
> Anyway, I had to drain the coolant in my BJ8 in order to change the water pump 
> (thanks Michael!), and the mixture--which I estimate at 40/60 
> antifreeze/distilled H2O--was absolutely clear with no sediment, and I could 
> not see or detect any sediment in the block. The visible portions of the block 
> and cylinders developed a thin film of rust due to exposure to air after they 
> dried.   This coolant has been in the engine for at least 3 years/15K miles, 
> and possibly 4 or 5 years (I really should track this stuff).  Maybe the 
> distilled H2O is slowly dissolving my engine, but it's doing so with no 
> visible evidence.
>
> In my mind, this settles the argument but, as usual, YMMV (also, all the 
> 'pros' I've heard lately have recommended distilled H2O). Also, I've heard 
> some negative things about Water Wetter but I've been adding it to the coolant 
> for quite a while with no apparent adverse effects.
>
> Bob