Water in Coolant...

[David C Klasse]

What kind of water should be used with the coolant?
I have heard people used bottle water, mineralized water, or just tap water.

I think I used demineralized (? maybe mineralized) water. I have another gallon of it and i want to suck some of the old stuff out and put that water in, but I want to make sure I'm putting water that is OK for the system, and not premature corrosion, etc.
Thanks.

[cf]

Some information I found a while back below from...ehhh, another site. Hope you find it useful.

Bottom line. If you have distilled water, fine. Tap water in LA should be just as good.


quote:
.......................................

The MB service manual states a mixture of "55%water and 45% antifreeze" is
added at the factory for year round use. No mention of using distilled water.
The manual also states;"losses caused by evaporation can be compensated by
adding tap water.
Bill Lewallen; Lexington,Ky.

and............

MB Section 1.2.1 Fresh water specifications/treatment
of water

Clean water which is not too hard, should be used for processing the
coolant. Drinking water frequently, but not always, satisfies the desired
requirements.

Not suitable are seawater, brackish water, brines and industrial waste
water. The content of dissolved substances in the water may differ very
greatly depending on its origin (ground water, spring water, surface water)
and is of particular significance for the occurrence of corrosion.

Water which is too hard is detrimental because of the possible formation of
scale or sludging. Salt contents, primarily chlorides, greatly promote
corrosion. If doubt exists, the water should be analyzed. Information
regarding the quality of drinking water can be obtained from the local
water works or the water supply company on request. If no information is
available regarding the quality of the water, distilled or fully
demineralized water should be used.

If the water does not satisfy the permissible analysis levels, it should be
processed in a suitable manner for even good anticorrosion/antifreeze
agents are affected detrimentally in their corrosion-protecting effect if
the quality of the water is poor. Should it not be possible to soften the
water, the water should be set to the permissible hardness by adding soft
or distilled (fully demineralized) water.

An excessively high content of chloride or total ions in the water can also
be reduced by adding fully demineralized, in other words on-exchanged or
distilled water.

Depending on the impurities which are present in the water, it may be
necessary to use appropriate processing methods (desalination and softening
or partial methods). Information regarding processing the water can be
obtained from the local water works or water supply company as well as from
companies and engineering offices specialized in this field.

Depending on the coolant composition, the analysis values of the water
should be within the following limits:

1.2.2 Fresh water quality with coolant composition conforming to par 1.1.1
(car and CV engines)

Total of alkaline earths (water hardness): 0 to 3.6 mmol/l (O to 200 d)*
pH value at 20C: 6.5 to 8.5
Content of chlor ions: max. 100 mg/I
Total of chlorides+sulfates: max. 200 mg/l

* Common designations for water hardness in various countries:
1 mmol/1=5.6' d=10' f--7.02' e=100 mg/kg Ca C03.10 d
(German degrees=10 dGH)=1,780
(French degrees)= 1,250 e
(English degrees)=1,79 mg/kg Ca C03 (USA hardness).

If doubt exists, contact Daimler-Benz AG, Department EP/QWB
(Betriebsstoffe), H 120, D-70546 Stuttgart.

From: David C. Allen

...........unquote.

Excellent post. Too techical for me though. I would simply interpret "demineralized" as distilled. It's really cheap at your friendly neighborhood grocery store!

Primo

[rudy]

super-excellent post. We just receive a crash course on water chemistry . A supply of soft water will do, ...anti-freeze has the chemical that inhibit corrosion...In order to remove the accumulated total dissolved solids in the system, ...just drain and flushed every two years will do.

[David C Klasse]

What a good peice of info. I guess that my demineralized (/distilled) water is good to go.

THanks!

Tap water is all you need. I forgot the issue, but remember that distilled water can cause its own problems.

[David C Klasse]

Now what... DISTILLED or TAP? That is the question...

[cf]

Yes I am aware of the discussion on possible harm of distilled water to aluminium parts. The issue has to do with `very' pure distilled water may react rapidly ionically with bare metal surface. This does not bother me much as we do not usually have sure high purity in our distilled water and as long as the coolant is pre-mixed before being poured in, we are safe. I would opt for MB coolant ot be safe though I realize some member have good experience with aftermarket ones.

C.F.

[rudy]

I agree with cf, ...nothing to worry with distilled water. Less contaminants, ...the chances to build up scale formation in the cooling system is minimal. Less chances for radiator failure due to silicon deposits and better heat transfer as long as a 50/50 mixture is attained....

[David C Klasse]

No, I have a 50/50 mixture of coolant to water in the system now, but I want less coolant and more water. I want to do what JimF suggests, more water, less coolant. I put a bottle of watterwetter in a while back, and i took out about 3 cups of the mixture in the system, and added 3 cups of distilled water.
It didn't help much, I think I need to take more of the mixture out and put in some more water so that it will cool better when idling or stopped.
I guess I'll just use my distilled water, as I'm not sure if I have hard water or not.