Tap water for a car radiator?

  1. Infrequent Poster Joined: Dec 2013 Posts: 242
    #1
    hi, i brought a new radiator about a month ago, i was to lazy to fit it so a friend did it for £10. the cars new radiator deals with the heat so much better,but he filled the radiator with normal tap water, also i only managed to get 1/2 litre of antifreeze in it,is that ok? or do i now need to drain it and fill it with distilled water and the right amount of antifreeze. i dont really want to do that encase i get an airlock or something. thanks
  2. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.
    #2
    Wtf distilled water is never used in a radiator,you need a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water.
  3. Infrequent Poster Joined: Dec 2013 Posts: 242
    #3
    i been reading on the internet apparently tap water can cause corrosion over time with whats in it to sterilise it and the minerals and that distilled is much more pure water.
  4. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Oct 2008 Birtley Posts: 22253 VTR Turbo, 106 xsi track slag, Transit recovery, B
    #4
    distilled water would be better..but 50/50 tap & af as above is fine
  5. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.
    #5
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by blackie_2k5 View Post
    distilled water would be better..but 50/50 tap & af as above is fine
    No disputing what you are saying but that's the first time i've heard of distilling water mate.
  6. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2003 United Kingdom (England) Posts: 7064
    #6
    Anti-freeze has corrosion inhibitors in it!
  7. Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Oct 2008 Birtley Posts: 22253 VTR Turbo, 106 xsi track slag, Transit recovery, B
    #7
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by stevo67 View Post
    No disputing what you are saying but that's the first time i've heard of distilling water mate.
    basically.. distilled water has all the crap taken out of it..and has a higher boiling point being "pure" water..so its better than normal water in the way it works

    BUT...as above and below...the AF has anti corrosion agents..so the benefit will be slim

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Quick View Post
    Anti-freeze has corrosion inhibitors in it!
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  8. Established Member Joined: Jan 2009 killin,perthshire Posts: 1561 Audi a3 1.8sport,kawasaki zx9r c2,Yamaha R1 track
    #8
    50/50 mix of anti-freeze and distiller water......I thought that was common knowledge.

    As for the boiling point I thought that was purely down to pressure......as the coolant system is pressurised,the boiling point is raised to 110 degrees as opposed to the usual 100 degrees.