Perhaps a silly question, but can you buy premixed coolant in the UK? I can get it in Canada and then there is no need to dilute the concentrate with distilled water. Just pour the premixed into the radiator and you're done.

 

Jagboi64,

Yes, you can get pre-mixed coolant here in the UK. As with pre-mixed screenwash there is a slight premium to buying like that.

Cheers

Paul

 

There is non premixed screen wash? Here There are 2 kinds, both of which come in 4 L jugs: Summer grade for removing insects that smear on the screen, and winter that won't freeze down to -40C. It's basically methanol. The most common is the winter grade, I use that year round just because I don't want to get caught with half a tank of summer fluid when it freezes.

Where I live we get lots of freeze thaw cycles in the winter, and the snow comes, melts and comes again. When it melts, everything turns to a sloppy, salty mess, so I go through a lot of fluid. I always have a spare jug in the car in the winter.

 

I think the reference was to water dripping from evaporator not condensor. Collecting it would hardly be worth the effort but I don't see why it would not be considered "distilled" as that is more or less what it is.

 

Isn't rain water and snow distilled? Why don't you use 50/50 antifreeze/distilled h2o? That should reduce the cost of the water by 50 percent!

 

I've ordered the proper stuff now, so I'll be using that and we have acid rain down my way, so I wouldn't even dream of putting that in.

 

you have never had to clean the filth out of one then... or a clogged one.. clogged with filth... just what I want to put in my v12 NOT
distilled
starts with CLEAN filtered water heats it to boiling... then passes the steam though pipes that are air or water cooled to condense the steam back to water... this removes mineral content and everything else...
you can buy a deionizer and it removes Ions... this makes sure that the water has a neutral PH
in any chem lab they do both...

 

We are very fortunate around here. Water quality is excellent.
Good enough to mix with Glycol for the coolant. Not good enough for a battery. rarely, if ever needed, though. I did use some for my bench test battery. so far so good.


For my W/S washer, I merely use faucet water and car wash soap/wax. Works just fine.


The markets do sell a selection of "waters". I did buy a couple of gallons. Mostly for the containers. One per car!!!


I have a bit "two gallon?, glass wine jug" filled with faucet water. Emergency use!!!


Freeze not a problem here most of the time!!!


Carl

 

Could I use Bottled drinking Water instead of distilled Water or de-ionised Water in my Radiator?

The stuff I found to-day at 17p for 2Litres has a PH of 7.8.

 

These guys say you can, if it's purified.

https://www.drinkmorewater.com/disti...purified-water

 

NO you cannot OB. Plenty of bottled water has salts and all sorts in it, it is a selling point!


Just buy distilled or deionised, and stop worrying! Or rig up a rain butt from Orangeblossom Towers' guttering!
Greg

 

+1

Bad choice.

 

Hi Greg

I've already done the Antifreeze with the proper stuff but was thinking of getting a couple of bottles just for 'Topping Up'

And if I don't use it, I can always drink it!

 

if you go to an aquarium shop that deals in marine fish, ask them for RO water.
this is purified water that is achieved by "reverse osmosis". It is the stuff that fish perverts put in their tanks to keep expensive nemo's alive. I must say it sounds a bit extreme, but go for it as it wont do the v12 any harm. I dont know how much this stuff costs but said pervs must use quite a bit.

 

Go to Halfords and they will sell you "battery top up" water for £3.50 for 5 ltrs.


Halfords Battery Top-Up Water 5L


"Halfords Battery Top-Up Water

The Halfords Battery Top-Up Water is a 5 litre bottle of de-ionised water, suitable for use in lead-acid batteries. It can also be used in engine cooling systems to reduce scaling and corrosion as well as irons, lava lamps and air-conditioning units."

 

Parts stores sell a 50/50 mix, buy that and don't worry about it. You don't change antifreeze that much, even though they say every 3 yrs. Also, there is a waterless antifreeze, expensive, yes, but you never have to change it and it does not corrode the system.

 

It's significantly downgrades the ability of the radiator to shed sufficient heat.

Bad stuff, stay away.

 

Being Scottish that is not an option for me.

At Walmart full strength Dexcool is $14.27/gal 50/50 is $12.47/gal distilled water is $0.88/gal so I can have 2 gallons of 50/50 for $15.15.

 

Hi Leo

You've gotta be joking haven't you!

Six XJS's + Three MGB's + A Landrover (Diesel of course Lol) and a Couple of Mercs, The Neighbours already think I've Won the Lottery.

So doing what you suggested it would only make things worse.

 

Nice idea but just one little problem!

No Walmart in the UK