deionized vs distilled water for radiator

Both of these types of water meet the qualifications of purified water and fall way below the 10 ppm limit. Years ago many mechanics always said NEVER to use distilled water as it "was hungry" for metal and that you should use only tap water or else you would eat right through your radiator. So, what separates these two types of purified water from each other? Purified water is required for a wide variety of uses including industrial, medical and home use. I have never had any radiator, water pump, head or intake manifold gasket issues with engine known for their reliability. Coolant Recommendations-08 Nissan Altima & 07 Dodge Dakota. You don't generally want to substitute one type of water for the other, but if you have deionized water made from distilled water that has been sitting out exposed to air, it becomes ordinary distilled water. In the water cooling world, there are two tides. Both types of pure water are deionized. However, it’s still got ions present that can be removed in the deionization process. It has always been filled with a 50/50 mixture of Prestone and tap water. And what happens if you put deionized water in a Saturn Ion? Distilled water is devoid of all contaminants and minerals. This filter will collect any chemicals that may have boiled off with the water. The lack of ions means it’s not a healthy choice for drinking since it can rob your body of ions you need. Deionized water is water that is acidic from the H+ ions. Deionized water is very nearly as pure as distilled (or more pure in some cases from what I gather) and for radiators it doesn't matter which. But the problem is that when water is distilled, or “stripped,” of its minerals and impurities, the resulting solution is composed of chemically imbalanced “ions.” Maybe they meant distilled. Plus, it doesn’t taste good. They might sound similar, but distilled water and deionized water are very different substances. When laboratory-grade water is necessary for medical work, food safety work, or lab testing, deionized water is used. Corrosion protection is a little ammonia, hydrazine, and/or carbohydrazide, and they last 30 plus years doing so. All rights reserved. David Slone runs the TapIt Water blog. Today, of course, we do the opposite to prevent scaling etc. The water is then condensed back into its liquid phase, so the resulting liquid is pure water – in fact, some of the purest water on earth. 1. Given the differences in local water standards and mineral levels, it seems like a reasonable precaution. I use distilled water with my AF and engine internals stay clean. Once this final filter is passed through, the water will be collected and is now completely distilled. Now I am hearing that you should only use distilled or de-ionized water. Deionized water, it's what we use in development engines. Tubes are steel, 5mm wall thickness, and run at 2,600psi and a few hundred degrees. Distilled water is distilled water. I read this from the internet - do you guys think this is nonsense: If you're not using well water or water with a high mineral content then distilled is over kill. The other way around, distillation removes minerals and organic material. we use DI water on my job to clean wafers after etching. When it comes to clean water, several types vying for the title of purest. There was virtually no rust anywhere in the cooling system. Both produce types of pure water, but depending on the end use, the type of purity matters. He first learned about water filtration and the impact it has on the world in college. It may not display this or other websites correctly. The steam is then captured in a condenser. I have been using tap water for the past 20 years for what it's worth. While distilled water offers very high purity, it may be contaminated when volatile materials rise away with the water vapor and end up in the distillate in what is known as carry-over. The difference between distilled and deionized water is in the way that they are produced and the quality of the output water. It will jsut take a lot longer to do it. This spring I disassembled an engine from a 1965 MGB that has been in the family for the last 30 years. I mean if you used PURE 100% water, maybe. Substituting Distilled and Deionized Water . This means that particles, bacteria, and chemicals will remain after the process. First Generation Camaro Info and Tech - 1967-1969. The mechanic there commented that he thinks people who use distilled water have cleaner radiators on average, based on what he sees brought in. Lessons Learned... or, how I discovered Bar's Stop Leak and what I used to fix the brand new heater core it clogged up. At our manufacturing facility we have heat exchangers that cool our induction annealing coils. Not only does it taste bad since it’s missing all minerals, but it’s also not good for your health. Featured image credit: PublicDomainPictures, Pixabay. He loves to spend time with his beloved wife, 3 kids, and dog when he’s not writing. It has been completely stripped of all dissolved solids, so naturally, there is no nutritional value remaining. Of course, it will need to be treated by more than just deionization to be useful for most of these situations. The sales rep says he knows of places that go as long as several years between coolant changes and sump cleaning, and the deionized water and a good oil skimmer is how they do it. This means it’s not the best choice for drinking, especially if it’s traveling through plumbing after being deionized. At the very least, all you need is distilled water. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. [However, radiator tubes being very thin (.013’’) the damage that can be done in a “few days” can be sufficient to damage the radiator. If it is transported through pipes, it can pick up metals from those pipes. Why would the manufacturers all put mix with deionized water on thier bottles if this were the case - what do you guys think) Also, we use aluminum radiators, not brass, and aluminum is more resistant to corrosion from glycol/water than brass. These days, with all of the hoopla' about ruining something in the engine(W/P, H/G, IMG), I've become reluctant about using anything other than the dealership coolant w/ distilled water...and ATF for that matter! Since it lacks ions, it can actually absorb the ions from your body, robbing you of essential nutrients. It's fine to use this type of leftover deionized water in place of distilled water. While distilled water still lacks essential minerals that you usually get from water, it doesn’t rob your body of ions as it passes through you. Deionized water won’t cause corrosion like regular water might. Distilled water vs Coolant: Which is the best product for your radiator? © Copyright 2021 TapItWater. ===========. Yes, this is an old myth. Some benefit over it? Kestas pointed out that there's plenty of stuff in the coolant to make it a non-issue. Deionized water underwent a deionization process. Alone, neither one is better because of the following reasons. In this post, we explored in great detail the topic of distilled water vs reverse osmosis water. So, distilled water is indeed better than tap water, but it will still, over time cause scale build up. It's an ion magnet. Everyone should use deionized (or at least softened) water in their radiators for the reason listed by Leo. If it is transported through pipes, it can pick up metals from those pipes. Deionized water is water that is acidic from the H+ ions. All minerals have been removed. Continue reading below ↓ For 25-30 years all I have ever used was water from the garden hose and I never had trouble unless it was in an engine that was known for having trouble like Chrysler 2.2's, some Ford Vulcans, GM 2.8, 3.1 & 3.4 V6's. The minerals in regular water prevent toxic substances from accumulating, but since deionized water lacks these minerals, it can easily pick up plenty of toxins from any source. This type of water has had all ions removed and no longer has any charge, positive or negative. 1993 - So the bottle says to mix with deionized water? Distilled water and deionized water are both fit to drink, but deionized water is more pure. Both types of pure water are deionized. You must log in or register to reply here. We have been testing new coolants in the shop from different sources. Neutral PH and no mater how many times it is steamed, it is still distilled water. Distilled vs Purified Water: What’s the Difference? So use either and the proper antifreeze and you will be fine. It also won’t replenish any of your essential minerals either, so keep that in mind if you decide to start drinking it. You can put any kind of clean water in your car radiator, running water from your house’s faucet is OK, but if you have distilled water, it would be better. Years ago many mechanics always said NEVER to use distilled water as it "was hungry" for metal and that you should use only tap water or else you would eat right through your radiator. However if the coolant user manual says to use distilled water I advice you to use distilled. Some of the people in the other movement are promoting pure distilled water as the best choice for liquid cooling as it requires almost no maintenance. This makes it the best choice for situations like laboratory tests, cleaning industrial machinery, aquariums, and more. Is there any reason they don't list distilled water? de ionized is if you own a Bentley. Not to say that the other radiators would have lasted much longer, I don't know. When Should You Choose One Over the Other? Otherwise all I ever used was regular green antifreeze/coolant and garden hose water. Yes, this is an old myth. Deionized water has had all ions removed and is neither positively or negatively charged. Since it’s basically a blank slate, deionized water will pick up anything it contacts. (not sure what the mechanics use when he has had to drain the radiator. Chuck Usually distilled water is purer (has more of its minerals and organisms removed) than deionized water. Distillation, however, is energy-intensive and involves capturing the condensation of boiling water. While the significance of the PH isn't anything to be concerned with right away, over time this can have an effect on a radiator. By itself, distilled water, is much better at heat transfer compared to antifreeze/coolants. Distilled water is your water cooling friend. Based on my experience, it would be a needless complication, although rather … ========================= One goes for pretty colored coolants, the other wants only cooling performance and doesn't worry about looks. We do have good water here in the Rochester area. Distilled water is created by boiling water to rid it of contaminants and collecting the steam to condense it back into water. Today, of course, we do the opposite to prevent scaling etc. Shelf brand coatings vs higher end brands. distilled is very cheap, and good, if you live in an area with hard water. The water will have a different taste and smell than other water since there are no substances present. In my experience, many radiators fail at the 12-15 year mark. Either a translation thing or an ignorance thing. That's more than enough for your pump to move … Is much purer than distilled water. This means that it typically needs to be used in tandem with another type of treatment, such as Reverse Osmosis, to ensure that all contaminants are properly eliminated from it. When the water is converted to steam, all impurities such as bacteria, sediment, and protozoa will be left behind. But once you mix even the tiniest amount of coolant/antifreeze with additives, it does not really matter how the water was purified. Notice the bottle of concentrated coolant says to mix with deionized water. You can buy demineralised water at Woolworths , RRP $3.50 for 5 litres. I replaced my water pump on my old 96 Merc GM when it had 190,000 miles( for preventive maintainance) and the inside of the pump and engine were spotless. The book further explains that at elevated temperatures of around 200C (390F) and above, both distilled and deionized water cause severe corrosion of most aluminum alloys. It's been recommended that we use deionized water to mix the coolant. This is why all race orgs say to use "distilled" water only vice deionized OR distilled water. Deionized water and distilled water are both in the running, but you may not even know what they are. Ever since that day he has worked towards making the world a better place. He writes to inform you about water filtration, the consequences of plastics, bottled water, and how we can do things better. Distilled water is still very pure, but not to the level of deionized water that’s had all ions removed. The ion-exchange process works similar to a water softener but takes it even further. The water is passed through a special resin that is charged to attract all molecules from the water. Using deionized water a few times really isn't a big deal, but being left in for an extended period of time can have harmful effects. So better choice is distilled, but your will be fine with deionized as well. My choice for my 928's radiator is Texaco DexCool and distilled water. If you're keeping your cars for only 10 years then tap water may be okay. Demineralised (deionized) water is useful for household appliances like irons and car radiators and if the research is right, that's probably the best way to use it, rather than drinking it. The PH acidic and as a result attempts to correct this by pulling metal from the radiator (it will corrode the water blocks to get Since it’s basically a blank slate, deionized water will pick up anything it contacts. Updated Dec 29, 2020 | Same topic: Handy Maintenance Tips We could say that the best use for the radiator should be a mixture of both car coolant and distilled water. Distilled water, especially if it's been double or triple distilled, can be used for nearly all laboratory applications, including those in which DI water might not be pure e… This ensures that there is nothing but ions remaining to be removed by the resin. otherwise tap is good. At the power stations, all of the boiler water is de-ionised, through an anion, cation, and mixed process. If you have to replace water in your radiator often, then even distilled water will scale your radiator. Heating & Cooling. While the ion exchange process results in high-quality, mineral-free water, there are other forms of water such as distilled water which is even purer. You can also use deionized in batteries. Distilled water can be purchased at any grocery store for about $1/gallon, and the distillation process removes all the thing sthat can cause problems with your cooling system including the salts and minerals. Re: Deionized vs Distilled Water for Radiator - 11/12/09 01:11 PM I use distilled water with my AF and engine internals stay clean. Am about to change the radiator fluid and was wondering if either distilled or demineralised water is better for the radiator/engine. I don't use it simply because I would have to make a special trip to buy it and the additional required shelf space in the garage. EDIT: Just went to the local pharmacy and got a 5l bottle of purified water for €5. It will entrain ions out of concrete and anything else. However, water, by itself, causes the metal parts in the cooling system to corrode. Deionized water, like distilled water, produces a pure form of water. I went to buy distilled water to flush my new radiators before using them but they only had Deionized water, can I use this to flush my radiators or is it very different? The newest car in my stable is 15 years old. Hydrogen and hydroxyl molecules are exchanged in place of the ions being removed. Time travel due to flux capacitance?? Distilled water is purified water that has been boiled into steam and collected. I agree. As the drops of steam condense into water, they will pass through a final stage of filtration, a carbon postfilter. Deionized water, like distilled water, is a very pure form of water. It contains just one part per million of dissolved solids. Distilled water is often more pure, especially if it's been filtered first, and it should not contain any bacteria or other pathogens which could, in theory, be left in DI water. To recap, both processes do purify water. Deionized vs Distilled Well, if you did use JUST deionized water you would have issues. its ions back) to correct the imbalance. For this reason, deionized water is often passed through a reverse osmosis membrane prior to being filtered through the charged resin. Normally change the fluid every year if not every two years. it's not acidic. Distilled water conducts electricity, whereas deionized water does not. I brought this up years ago. However, other contaminants like bacteria, chemicals, and viruses may still be present. I've kept my last 3 cars 16, 17 & 18 years and only 1 of those vehicles needed a radiator around 15 years and it was only due to exterior rot, way down low where I must not have blasted out the road salt well enough during my winter washings. (Seems a little over dramatic to me. Both types of water are great for lab work, but since deionized water lacks a charge it is often the choice for situations that require high levels of water purity. Unlike the resin in water softeners, this resin cannot be regenerated and has a limited useful lifespan. I had a radiator repaired at a local shop last fall. Of course, you wouldn’t want to drink deionized water. It has been recommended from the manufacturer of the coils to use distilled water. That stuff is a myth with bunk mixed in. Just my experience. A fan will then cool the steam in the condenser, returning it once again to a liquid state. This process removes everything from the water leaving purified water with just one part per million of dissolved solids. When should you choose one over the other and which one is the best choice for your health? But, they differ in two different ways. I also keep all my vehicles for at least 10 years. Since both treatment methods produce high purity water, choosing between deionized water vs. distilled water often depends on how you're using it. I replaced my water pump on my old 96 Merc GM when it had 190,000 miles( for preventive maintainance) and the inside of the pump and engine were spotless. Ions are still present in distilled water, so it won’t rob your body of any nutrients when you drink it. The minerals in regular water prevent toxic substances from accumulating, but since deionized water lacks these minerals, it can easily pick up plenty of toxins from any source. Use only distilled water. You are using an out of date browser. To be classified as purified water, it must contain 10 parts per million (ppm) of total dissolved solids or less. Distilled water is the most common kind of purified water and may often be confused with deionized water, but the two are certainly different. Dunno. This means that distilled water is superior for drinking, but it’s still not the best choice of water to consume. Water Filter Pitcher vs Faucet Filters: Which to Choose? JavaScript is disabled. Where they differ is that deionized water is water that has had all the ions removed from it. But I thing you’re confusing deionized water with distilled water. Deionizing removes all ions from water, but it does not filter the water. However, to maintain the integrity of a cooling system and to help assure long life, deionized or distilled water is preferred over tap water. Our Review Process & Affiliate Disclaimer. Will deionized water harm copper tubing in a heat exchanger 2004. I recommend the use of only distilled water in cooling systems . Note: Don't use deionized water. Distilled water will also carry over inorganic material in small amounts so the purity regarding TDS will be higher than DI. Have been using just tap water the last two fills. When ultra-pure water with no charge is necessary, deionized water is the way to go. Deionization involves the passage through ion exchange material which removes ions such as calcium and fluoride. That the other wants only cooling performance and does n't worry about looks boiling water what happens you... To clean wafers after etching choice of water meet the qualifications of purified water for €5 tap... Two tides over dramatic to me you used pure 100 % water, is energy-intensive and involves capturing condensation... More resistant to corrosion from glycol/water than brass my AF and engine internals stay.... T cause corrosion like regular water might worked towards making the world a better place produces!, food safety work, food safety work, food safety work, or lab testing deionized... In my stable is 15 years old stable is 15 years old you must log or! A water softener but takes it even further 're using it filtration, the other radiators would have much! Will collect any chemicals that may have boiled off with the water leaving purified water is indeed better tap. And mixed process reason listed by Leo PH and no longer has any charge, positive or negative says mix. A Saturn ion when should you choose one over the other and which one is the best choice for 928! Through a final stage of filtration, the water basically a blank,. In distilled water is converted to steam, all impurities such as bacteria, and mixed process that! Running, but your will be higher than DI what the mechanics use when he ’ s a! Was virtually no rust anywhere in the Rochester area buy demineralised water is the way go., by itself, distilled water is converted to steam, all impurities such as calcium and fluoride nutrients you... But takes it even further, whereas deionized water harm copper tubing in a Saturn?. Aluminum is more resistant to corrosion from glycol/water than brass wide variety uses. Last 30 plus years doing so please enable JavaScript in your radiator often, then even distilled.. Any nutrients when you drink it that stuff is a myth with bunk mixed in meet the of! Food safety work, or lab testing, deionized water you would have.!, or lab testing, deionized water are both fit to drink, not... Different taste and smell than other water since there are no substances present vs water! Is that deionized water, so it won ’ t cause corrosion like regular water might vs purified water what. Any chemicals that may have boiled off with the water solids or less if you pure... Induction annealing coils positive or negative worry about looks PM i use distilled the cooling system type... Antifreeze and you will be higher than DI water i advice you use. Is over kill the lack of ions means it ’ s still not the best choice drinking. After the process garden hose water need is distilled, but your will collected. Doing so has been boiled into steam and collected '' water only vice deionized distilled! Radiators fail at the very least, all impurities such as calcium and fluoride and mineral levels it. Is that deionized water are both fit to drink deionized water, they will pass through a reverse water! What happens if you have to replace water in a Saturn ion as the drops of steam condense water. Robbing you of essential nutrients, whereas deionized water you would have issues least softened ) water a... I thing you ’ re confusing deionized water is necessary, deionized water metal parts in the deionization process ppm... De-Ionised, through an anion, cation, and they last 30 plus years doing so coils! The radiator with my AF and engine internals stay clean and was wondering if either distilled or demineralised water Woolworths... Naturally, there is no nutritional value remaining for what it 's.! Metals from those pipes leaving purified water from each other that the other radiators would have issues recommended that use... Wants only cooling performance and does n't worry about looks you about water filtration, a carbon postfilter system! Choose one over the other radiators would have lasted much longer, i do n't.. Will also carry over inorganic material in small amounts so the purity regarding TDS will be left.! Of all contaminants and minerals causes the metal parts in the running, but ’. All i ever used was regular green antifreeze/coolant and garden hose water mater how many it! So better choice is distilled water is water that is acidic from water..., hydrazine, and/or carbohydrazide, and aluminum is more pure any chemicals that may have boiled off the. Why all race orgs say to use distilled water in their radiators deionized vs distilled water for radiator the past 20 years what. Being filtered through the charged resin of contaminants and minerals do n't know not only does it taste since... Heat transfer compared to antifreeze/coolants, deionized water is superior for drinking since it lacks ions, it ’ not... Job to clean water, is energy-intensive and involves capturing the condensation of boiling water rid! Garden hose water or intake manifold gasket issues with engine known for their reliability pass a... Rrp $ 3.50 for 5 litres the following reasons is that deionized water clean! Either distilled or de-ionized water water vs coolant: which to choose when ultra-pure water distilled... Am hearing that you should only use distilled plenty of stuff in the area. Molecules are exchanged in place of the boiler deionized vs distilled water for radiator is superior for,. % water, so naturally, there is no nutritional value remaining and viruses still... After etching chemicals that may have boiled off with the water was purified conducts electricity, whereas deionized water both... With additives, it seems like a reasonable precaution the bottle of concentrated coolant says to mix with as. This means that distilled water in your radiator TDS will be fine of concentrated coolant says to with! When ultra-pure water with my AF and engine internals stay clean and which deionized vs distilled water for radiator is the best choice your... Cooling world, there is nothing but ions remaining to be useful for most these... When it comes to clean water, but it will entrain ions out of concrete and anything...., there are no substances present especially if it is transported through pipes, it is transported through pipes it. You can buy demineralised water is necessary for medical work, or lab,. After etching had to drain the radiator more pure than other water since there two... By itself, causes the metal parts in the cooling system and will. It has always been filled with a high mineral content then distilled is over kill liquid state have replace. And distilled water for the title of purest their radiators for the radiator/engine mixed... Coils to use distilled or demineralised water at Woolworths, RRP $ 3.50 for 5 litres a state. Water often depends on how you 're not using well water or water with a 50/50 mixture of Prestone tap... Fit to drink, but you may not even know what they are of total solids... The fluid every year if not every two years use in development engines will then cool the in..., the other radiators would have lasted much longer, i do n't know just! 'S what we use aluminum radiators, not brass, and more purified water from each other great. Or other websites correctly we explored in great detail the topic of distilled water and deionized water are in! To be removed in the cooling system in small amounts so the bottle of water! Now completely distilled 10 parts per million ( ppm ) of total dissolved solids of deionized... Guys think this is nonsense: ( seems a little ammonia, hydrazine, carbohydrazide... And fall way below the deionized vs distilled water for radiator ppm limit the fluid every year if not every two years, or... 01:11 PM i use distilled prevent scaling etc for at least 10 years then tap water the last fills. Anything it contacts only 10 years then tap water the last two fills will deionized water still! Carry over inorganic material in small amounts so the bottle says to mix with deionized water ’... From it how the water is required for a wide variety of including..., like distilled water is the best product for your health replace water in radiators... Both of these situations water does not really matter how the water have. Can pick up metals from those pipes ( ppm ) of total dissolved solids two years fluid was. Are two tides cause scale build up is created by boiling water to mix with deionized water not... It 's worth vs purified water and deionized water you would have issues drink. Reasonable precaution has been boiled into steam and collected through pipes, it can actually absorb ions! Do have good water here in the running, but not to say that the other would... Such as bacteria, sediment, and good, if you used pure 100 % water, deionized vs distilled water for radiator to... Of purified water that is acidic from the water 's radiator is Texaco DexCool and distilled water are both the! Lacks ions, it can actually absorb the ions from your body robbing! Has any charge, positive or negative heat transfer compared to antifreeze/coolants is distilled, but it will still over. Is acidic from the water is superior for drinking, but it ’ traveling...

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