Those "Dealerships" you worked at didn't care about maintaining their customers' batteries with the longevity of the batteries NOT their concern. Tap water in the customer's batteries means more battery SALES later on. THEY get to go "ha ha" at the fools who believe their bulls**t while they sell 'em a new battery that would have lasted MUCH longer with the use of Distilled Water.
@Davemike27 Because the "subject matter" turned out to be Distlled Water being used in both Radiators AND Batteries. In both instances, only DISTILLED WATER should be used -- due to huge variations in water hardness across the entire U.S.A. . Pity the fools who refuse to believe science when they say Tap Water "is just as good".
@@Davemike27because idiots put tapwater in their batteries which ruins the expected life of the battery by introducing sulphides into the lead plates. And adding tapwater to coolant completely negates using corrosion inhibitors and biocides and will cause the pump to work harder and is not the fluid the car was supposed to use ultimately reducing cooling performance and system performance overall
I'm a 30 plus year professional mechanic and have been told for many years that you have to use distilled water in cooling systems and batteries. I have in fact used both in the radiators and never seen a problem with either. Unless you use straight coolant or straight water. Either of those are bad. Now in a battery I only use distilled or DI water. Here's my theory, a cooling system is mixed with coolant which is going to dilute the water and condition it. So there won't be a build up especially if you flush it at the manufacturers recommend schedules. And it will just leave (at the worst case scenario) a thin film of scale and, when you flush your system, if you throw in some C.L.R. and flush it with that it will clean the mineral scale. As far as the battery is concerned, I never use tap water cause its impurities will stick to the sides of the lead plates shortening the life of the battery or shorting one or more of the cells and you can't just flush a battery.
So actually the reason to use distilled water is because distilled water is none conductive. Electrolysis in the system can cause damage to the engine faster this especially plays a part when you have iron to aluminum parts. I was under same impression for years that tap water made no difference but after dealing with a antifreeze rep for way to long there is a massive improvement of the life of the antifreeze which also means less radiator and heater core issues.
And that's totally fine. But for the price of one of those premixes, you can make 2 gallons of 50/50. Which is more beneficial if your car has a high capacity cooling system.
It makes your anti-freeze cost twice as much. The premix is 50/50 and cost the same as concentrate. The 50/50 mix is good for topping off only. If you get the Prestone yellow, it will mix well with any type anti-freeze.
Good point, I guess I overlooked the extra costs of it some how. Lol Thanks for pointing that out, I will keep that in mind next time I need to replace the coolant.
If the car is old and you don't want to throw money into it - it's ok. If you want to sell the car and pour in three tubes of leak patching dust - then that's a bitch move and these people should burn in hell.
@@edwardautrey3671 YES, but a lot depends on it's size and where the City is located. All Water Treatment Plants are not exactly the same, and produce differing results. Phoenix, AZ has excellent water treatment facilities, and they issue a Water Quality Report that keeps us informed on our water issues. At home, we have a 2-Cartridgee, Under-Sink-type water filtering system for our Cooking/Drinking water. As Frank Zappa said: "Nothin' but the best for MY dog !" 😁
I’ve used tap water to mix coolant, and when I pulled the motor apart a couple years afterward, it had kidney stones in the water passages. Always use distilled water, especially if you have hard water
For all the naysayers here - • Distilled water has zero minerals or impurities that can corrode the radiator and engine parts. • Distilled water has a higher heat transfer rate than most of the anti-freezing coolants available in the market. • Distilled water prevents electrolysis in the car’s cooling system and prevents scale formation. Tap water contains minerals that will eventually form deposits inside your radiator, plumbing, and water pump. This is also referred to as the hard water scale. This is all types of tap water we are talking about here, no matter where you live.Tap water has mineral deposits in it by nature. When tap water is repeatedly used in your cooling system, you will start to get a buildup of calcium and magnesium. This build-up is also referred to as a hard water scale, and you’ve likely seen it on your household appliances. When your radiator gets mineral buildup or hard water scale, it becomes less effective at cooling off those hot engine parts. And even just a little build-up is a huge problem. A 1/16-inch hard water scale will make your cooling system 40% less effective. That means your engine can get 40% hotter than it should, which can cascade into many other engine-related issues. A less effective cooling system can lead to your engine overheating. When your engine overheats, it can, and if untreated, will cause damage to your engine. Some engine parts will warp with the heat they are not meant to withstand. Common parts that break and require repairs after engine overheating include a cracked head gasket (average replacement cost $1500), warped cylinders (average replacement cost $500), and water pump replacement ($350- $700). It is much cheaper to be proactive and replace your coolant with the proper ingredients before negligence or laziness leaves you without the convenience of your vehicle because it is in the shop undergoing a costly repair.
Dude you explained this so perfectly. People seriously don't understand the ramifications of using tap water in their car. I believe that's why none of my cooling system components have gone out yet. My aunt used to always get it maintained at a local shop that does great work and does not skimp. I'm sure he's sold her coolent flushes and anytime it was topped off she never used water. I've only ever used coolant to top off and have always been good.
Everyone here should stop reading other comments once they've read this since the facts are here. Why use tap water on a multi thousand dollar vehicle? Distilled water is less than $2 a gallon. It's what cooling systems are designed to run on. Idk, all I do know is that people who care about their cars and want them to last indefinitely maintain them immaculately
The reason why you don't want to use tap water is because of electrolysis. It will cause build up and corrosion in your cooling system over time. It also makes quick work of the plastics which have become so commonplace now on newer engines. Distilled water doesn't contain ions, therefore it doesn't conduct electricity. It literally costs under a dollar at the supermarket. Just buy a couple gallons and store it at home for future use. In case of an emergency, it can be drank. 👍🏽
You're actually talking about deionized water. Distilled water is basically close, and available which is why the bottle says that. Go ahead and try to buy deionized water.
You have to use distilled water because tap water has minerals and other things that can build up on the sides of the passages over time and it makes the cooling system less efficient
YEP. Vehicles with aluminum radiators and other Cooling System parts are sensitive to electrolysis damage. Test the Coolant with a Voltmeter. If electrolysis is present, run a Ground Cable from the Engine Block to the NEGative Battery Terminal. Problem SOLVED.
That's why I service my Battery and Radiator MYSELF -- I don't rely on others for simple service items. I live in the desert -- where heat kills EVERYTHING -- I use Distilled Water in my Battery AND Radiator -- for that last bit of protection.
Just get a bucket and pure both the antifreeze concentrate and the one gallon of distilled water. Pure what you need in to your radiator and the rest in to antifreeze bottle.
It is cheaper to mix your own with concentrate and distilled water. You can make 2 gallons versus 1 gallon of the 50/50 mix and save yourself a couple dollars
I hate those jugs. You can't even tell where the 5th quart line is. I never use those jugs for mixing. I use a kitchen JAR with all the marked lines on the side for more accuracy
I buy the Mobil1 oil in the 5 quart jugs and those also don't have a 5th quart line so my workaround is..... 🤫 When I buy the jug new, I use a sharpie to mark where the oil level is. I hope it's accurate. 😆
I was standing at autozone Waiting to talk to the manager.. And I noticed on their signs they changed it to "just add distilled water" and "use only distilled water" posted everywhere now.. Most of the jugs said it too.. instead of "just add water" like yours
So long as the concentrate contains > 95% ethylene glycol (which has a boiling point of 200° Centigrade) and the water is distilled/demineralised. A telling feature of the concentrate is density; must be greater than 1090g/litre..
That is if, you have one of the lame GM vehicles that came with orange coolant. And then of course you’re looking forward to having coolant leaks and corrosion problems in the future no matter what, unless you get it all flushed out and replaced with a quality coolant mixture. 👌
50/50 mix is the bare minimum to mix it. Have not done that in 40 years, I always do a 70/30 mix antifreeze being the 70 percent, you have a higher boil temperature and lower freeze protecting.
Been doing it the other way for as many years as I’ve been working on cars and trucks and everybody I know does too. We have done this on thousands of vehicles, never had not one problem!
Never use faucet water in a radiator it will scale up over time and plug up its channels always have distilled water 💧 after you put in your concentrated anti-freeze.
keeping your coolant clean and changing it every few years will counter any issues the average person has with tap water over the average life span of the vehicle. Basically, you can go to ridiculous measures, but what do you really gain in the long run, unless you keep the car for like 30 years.
They say to use distilled water because the minerals in regular water can mess up your thermostat and clog up your cooling system. Distilled water is also recommended for water cooled PC’s. Same principal on a smaller scale.
@@SD-pi9co no water softener and minerals make no difference cause they dont create more of themselves from nothing and build up like people claim. It's just another excuse for stealerships to charge you more for basic service work that doesn't take long and doesn't require much to do. Go ahead and believe everything else you read on the internet. Lol
Tap water is full of heavy metal & mineral salts, which plate out in your engine’s cooling system, and eventually lead to corrosion problems. This is especially critical in aluminum engines, as some of the minerals/metals are horribly corrosive to aluminum. Distilled water is cheap.
Yes. Tap or hose water has ions and particles in it that will solidify in your coolant loop and are very difficult to remove and at some point, impossible. Distilled water has nothing in it, no ions to stick to hoses or anything. But it's really bad to drink 😅
Fur reals! I used to use tap water for headlight fluid and it made the lens really chalky! Now that I've been using distilled water with a custom-made funnel, my headlight lenses are crystal clear! =D
I worked at a dealer for 10 years. They never had distilled water in the parts department and we always filled batteries and radiators with tap water. Never had a comeback due to using tap water.
This method will easily leave the engine under-dosed with concentrate. Read the manual. Add the correct % volume to the cooling system (eg 50%). Top up with distilled water. This ensures that anything trapped in the system cannot dilute your coolant below its correct concentration.
NOPE! You gotta remember, not everyone is like us! 😂🤣😂. Same concept with computers.... we have very computer illiterate people in 2023. Everyone has their own specialty.... i might know how to drop a trans engine and tear down everything, but i wont know baking welding or fishing like the next person 👍
I thought everyone knew that Donald Trump is and always was a ticking time bomb -- but he's still around, spreading hate and discontent wherever he goes. President Joe Biden's the guy who "reads the instructions". Joe Biden was the People's Choice. 2wice-impeached, disgraced, ex-President Trump is the guy who "knows better" than anybody about anything. Trump never won the Popular Vote. He was NOT the People's Choice. Makes ya wonder.
I used to only use 50 50 in my cars, I had a honda that would take on long distance trips and I would notice after a few months that my levels got lower, I started adding a bit of concentrate, about half a bottle, and I didn't have anymore overheating issues or it boiling out..
I got rid of DEX-COOL…….was going through radiators and water pumps for quite a while. Went back to the old school yellow and never had the problem again.
They used to sell distilled water at O’Reilly for that purpose. FUN FACT. In the winter a 60/40 mix is more stable, and in summer a 40/60 mix is more stable. That’s why it’s 50/50. Also, no need to be so precise. Shoot from the hip, you’ll be fine.
WTF are you talking about !?? The "stability" of a chemical mixture DOES NOT vary with the 4 Seasons. It's 50/50 for convenience AND accuracy, plus the 50/50 mixture fits exactly within the normal temperature range of engines operated in the U.S.A.
@@SlikLizrd yes, and the thermal stability of a 60/40 mix in winter is better than a 50/50 mix. And a 40/60 mix is more stable I. The summer. That’s what the HELL I’m talking about. Do you have google, read some articles on coolant principles and applications.
@@MechanicalTriage Oh, I see -- in order to maintain that "stability" that you suggest, I just need to change out my coolant 2wice per year. Gotta keep that "stability", eh !?? NAH. It's 50/50, year 'round -- just like the Car Makers and the Coolant Makers recommend -- and the ratio that I have used succesfully since Ethylene Glycol was introduced as an automotive coolant, several decades ago.
This is moot if you have a filter. Added one to my truck about 5 years ago. Best part is, you can get replacement filters that have conditioners in it to revitalize your coolant so you dont need to flush it under normal circumstances.
I was rather surprised how many local mechanics use tap water. I've always used deionized water (typically good ole distilled water from the grocery store).
I've used Water from a garden hose for over 100 demo derby cars with no issues. Lol. But, I've also used that water mixed with 100% coolant and never had issues in any vehicle over the past 30 years. Now, the oldest in my fleet now is from 2000. So it's only 23 years old. But it still runs fine, and has NEVER had a coolant issue. I'll ask you. Why don't you run well or city water in the system, if that water is clean enough to drink??? Here's why it's on there. Distilled water lacks impurities, but clean drinking water has such a small amount that it's "safe" to consume. You're coolant system will be fine if you use well or city water. However, there is a possibility your cooling system will corrode premature, however, with clean water, it's so slow, it'll never happen in our lifetimes. With older copper and brass radiators, it can happen in years, but all new systems are plastic and alum. So why is it on the bottle, to use distilled??? To save them from lawsuits when older cars fail, and it never left from the early 80s when those brass/copper rads were used. If you have a 1989 or never Chevy (not sure for others) you are fine using the drinkable tap.😊
All my mechanic friends and I always used distilled water after doing cooling system repairs in the early 80’s …😆😂🤣. Technically you should use distilled water,but I guarantee you if you had cooling system repairs done at any repair shop,the water is coming from a hose,not a bottle. All the owners manuals (far back as the 60’s & 70’s said “distilled water”. On a newer car you should drain and refill every other year when the car hits 40-50,000 just to keep the acidity low so you don’t blow gaskets as much. Antifreeze isn’t good for 100 grand just like oil change intervals shouldn’t be 10 grand either…if you plan on keeping it!!
Over the decades I've only used tap water, never a problem. But the last couple of vehicles I bought a couple gallons of distilled water. It's cheap and for the couple of times it's done over the years...why not?
Using Dex-Cool is a mistake... according to some people. Seems fine in my 2003 GMC 4.3, but I do change it every 3 years (rather than the 5 GM recommends). Five seems fine for the green stuff in my 1999 Ford. My 1997 Toyota gets only the proper Toyota red specification stuff.
The reason for concentrate is when you flush your coolant there's still some water left in the system so if your car takes say 6 gallons of coolant you'd put 3 in of concentrate and top off with water
Actual distilled water is not as easy to find as you might think. Check that it has nothing added. I always buy premix 50/50 and if you need 70% antifreeze add concentrate to the premix.
It is in every grocery store in my town, right next to the gallon jugs of drinking water. It is also usually found in drug stores. I have never had a problem finding distilled water.
as a mechanic i want everyone to know ur car at a dealership or shop is getting tap water mixed with concentrate. i’m just giving you the facts. never seen it cause a problem.
I've read not to use distilled water either. Says something about it stripping electrons from metal. Said soft water is what to use. I have no fkn clue so I just starting buying the pre mixed.🤯
I think the last time that I did my radiator draining & fill. Instead of mixing containers, I drained the system, flushed it with a bit of hose water. Waited for it to drip out. Filled up the system with the concentrate and the water and let the system do the mixing for me!
This is just as saying the #1 mistake when put transmission in park is not using hand, parking or e brake, before after or not at all, it doesn't matter, it doesn't ruin the transmission... AT ALL!!!
The problem with mixing 50/50 is, you still have coolant in the system, even after a flush, and you don't know if that was 50/50. The 50/50 you put could and will probably be more diluted from the liquid still in the engine,
The #1 mistake is putting dexcool death back in their gm vehicle. Flush that dex out with white vinegar and water then put traditional green and distilled water in
This comment section is making my head hurt lol. Hard tap water will destroy your cooling system over time a lot faster than using pre mix or distilled water. Try running straight hard tap water in there next time if you don’t live in a freezing climate and you’ll see the rust develop quickly. This will ruin your water pump, radiator, heater core and eventually your engine. The system will get clogged from all the rust and the heater core will probably be the first thing to go. If you have money to blow then get the premix, nothing wrong with that. When you have multiple cars to service the savings of mixing it yourself is pretty good.
I remember my friend wanted me to flush his trucks radiator. The rust was so bad it looked like mud and I had to break it loose with a clothes hanger. I didn't bother doing a flush with cleaning chemicals it was so bad I opened the bottom shove a garden hose in the top ran the truck at the same time till it was only clear water the I took clean and distilled water and did a final washout with that then used 50/50 mix then he wrecked it a week later 😂
I use distilled water except on block flushes. I then run the coolant for the full 150k miles. Usually the radiator fails before that and it gets fresh 50/50 again. Ps got 325k out a water pump till the radiator failed and i had to run tap water for months as a emergency situation.
Good video, would you make another video showing why it is important to use distilled water, and why coolant/anti freeze is mixed with distilled water. As a young man i had no clue about this info. In modern cars, they have many different metals in the system. * Also - how often should the coolant be changed. Doing the correct maint. can prolong the life of things in system like, water pump, thermostat, radiator. Not to mention avoiding over heating and a frozen engine block in freezing temps. There is alot to this subject for the DIY folks who are new to car maint. I like your videos, good job.
No sense making another video on this subject, because at least half of the respondants are arguing against the use of Distilled Water, claiming that "it doesn't matter" which kind of water is used in Batteries and Radiators. I use ONLY Distilled Water in our Batteries and Radiators. What other people do is none of my business.
It so much easier if you just use Shell Rotella 50/50 prediluted, it cost more, it pre mixed and it's good for 5 years! I have used it in hundreds of Diesel Engines for over 20 years it's the best I have ever used!!!
Damn i must be lucky.i used straight tap water for two years in my Camry because of a small leak in radiator.. finally replaced it and added correct coolant didn't notice anything different
All the dealerships I've worked at must have distilled water in their taps, haha
True dat 🤣
Those "Dealerships" you worked at didn't care about maintaining their customers' batteries with the longevity of the batteries NOT their concern.
Tap water in the customer's batteries means more battery SALES later on.
THEY get to go "ha ha" at the fools who believe their bulls**t while they sell 'em a new battery that would have lasted MUCH longer with the use of Distilled Water.
@Davemike27 Because the "subject matter" turned out to be Distlled Water being used in both Radiators AND Batteries.
In both instances, only DISTILLED WATER should be used -- due to huge variations in water hardness across the entire U.S.A. .
Pity the fools who refuse to believe science when they say Tap Water "is just as good".
@@Davemike27because idiots put tapwater in their batteries which ruins the expected life of the battery by introducing sulphides into the lead plates. And adding tapwater to coolant completely negates using corrosion inhibitors and biocides and will cause the pump to work harder and is not the fluid the car was supposed to use ultimately reducing cooling performance and system performance overall
Yes because dealers sell cars and add ons like fake warranties so they can destroy your vehicle to sell you a new one later on
I'm a 30 plus year professional mechanic and have been told for many years that you have to use distilled water in cooling systems and batteries. I have in fact used both in the radiators and never seen a problem with either. Unless you use straight coolant or straight water. Either of those are bad. Now in a battery I only use distilled or DI water. Here's my theory, a cooling system is mixed with coolant which is going to dilute the water and condition it. So there won't be a build up especially if you flush it at the manufacturers recommend schedules. And it will just leave (at the worst case scenario) a thin film of scale and, when you flush your system, if you throw in some C.L.R. and flush it with that it will clean the mineral scale. As far as the battery is concerned, I never use tap water cause its impurities will stick to the sides of the lead plates shortening the life of the battery or shorting one or more of the cells and you can't just flush a battery.
Excellent write up! Agreed.
@@skylined5534 Thanks.
same here
@@lonelamon i guess we are the three smart amigos then. 🤣
So actually the reason to use distilled water is because distilled water is none conductive. Electrolysis in the system can cause damage to the engine faster this especially plays a part when you have iron to aluminum parts. I was under same impression for years that tap water made no difference but after dealing with a antifreeze rep for way to long there is a massive improvement of the life of the antifreeze which also means less radiator and heater core issues.
they say used distilled water because the manufacturer can't guarantee the quality of the water in your area. you may have very high mineral levels.
In some places it has chlorine. Where I grew up the city water had a lot of it.
We have funky water. Id use it for a quick flush but then flush it again with distilled. There's slight suds that last a few seconds in our tap water.
I just purchase the 50/50 mix so no mixing is needed. It seems to be working for me all of these years.
And that's totally fine. But for the price of one of those premixes, you can make 2 gallons of 50/50. Which is more beneficial if your car has a high capacity cooling system.
It makes your anti-freeze cost twice as much. The premix is 50/50 and cost the same as concentrate.
The 50/50 mix is good for topping off only. If you get the Prestone yellow, it will mix well with any type anti-freeze.
Good point, I guess I overlooked the extra costs of it some how. Lol
Thanks for pointing that out, I will keep that in mind next time I need to replace the coolant.
Lol these penny pinchers acting like premixes cost an arm and a leg to buy, get over yourselves
@@LynxStarAuto
And if you get it wrong we’ll let’s just say it’s not good
Guys, no matter what. Don't use any leak patch for your radiator. I completely flushed my system and it still clogged
Yeah, temp is a key word. But just like you said it can clog other area's
If the car is old and you don't want to throw money into it - it's ok. If you want to sell the car and pour in three tubes of leak patching dust - then that's a bitch move and these people should burn in hell.
@Jason Puddy, Pepper is more of a urban legend than truth. Best to buy that which has the best odds of working for one's problem.
I just use a old juice jug. Eye ball a little over half and half antifreeze. And of course, tap water.
Enjoy your blown head gasket well in advance of your engine's average anticipated lifetime
The point went way over your head 😂
City water has many additives
No, distilled only, What?
@@edwardautrey3671 YES, but a lot depends on it's size and where the City is located.
All Water Treatment Plants are not exactly the same, and produce differing results.
Phoenix, AZ has excellent water treatment facilities, and they issue a Water Quality Report that keeps us informed on our water issues.
At home, we have a 2-Cartridgee, Under-Sink-type water filtering system for our Cooking/Drinking water. As Frank Zappa said: "Nothin' but the best for MY dog !" 😁
I’ve used tap water to mix coolant, and when I pulled the motor apart a couple years afterward, it had kidney stones in the water passages. Always use distilled water, especially if you have hard water
Used tap water for months on a leaking radiator for emergency situation and it had mud in rad when I broke the side tanks off.
For all the naysayers here -
• Distilled water has zero minerals or impurities that can corrode the radiator and engine parts.
• Distilled water has a higher heat transfer rate than most of the anti-freezing coolants available in the market.
• Distilled water prevents electrolysis in the car’s cooling system and prevents scale formation.
Tap water contains minerals that will eventually form deposits inside your radiator, plumbing, and water pump.
This is also referred to as the hard water scale.
This is all types of tap water we are talking about here, no matter where you live.Tap water has mineral deposits in it by nature.
When tap water is repeatedly used in your cooling system, you will start to get a buildup of calcium and magnesium.
This build-up is also referred to as a hard water scale, and you’ve likely seen it on your household appliances.
When your radiator gets mineral buildup or hard water scale, it becomes less effective at cooling off those hot engine parts.
And even just a little build-up is a huge problem.
A 1/16-inch hard water scale will make your cooling system 40% less effective.
That means your engine can get 40% hotter than it should, which can cascade into many other engine-related issues.
A less effective cooling system can lead to your engine overheating.
When your engine overheats, it can, and if untreated, will cause damage to your engine.
Some engine parts will warp with the heat they are not meant to withstand.
Common parts that break and require repairs after engine overheating include a cracked head gasket (average replacement cost $1500), warped cylinders (average replacement cost $500), and water pump replacement ($350- $700).
It is much cheaper to be proactive and replace your coolant with the proper ingredients before negligence or laziness leaves you without the convenience of your vehicle because it is in the shop undergoing a costly repair.
Dude you explained this so perfectly. People seriously don't understand the ramifications of using tap water in their car. I believe that's why none of my cooling system components have gone out yet. My aunt used to always get it maintained at a local shop that does great work and does not skimp. I'm sure he's sold her coolent flushes and anytime it was topped off she never used water. I've only ever used coolant to top off and have always been good.
Everyone here should stop reading other comments once they've read this since the facts are here. Why use tap water on a multi thousand dollar vehicle? Distilled water is less than $2 a gallon. It's what cooling systems are designed to run on. Idk, all I do know is that people who care about their cars and want them to last indefinitely maintain them immaculately
@@austinr8501 I couldn't agree more
@Assembled Existence I've never heard of that. I may have to try that out
The reason why you don't want to use tap water is because of electrolysis. It will cause build up and corrosion in your cooling system over time. It also makes quick work of the plastics which have become so commonplace now on newer engines.
Distilled water doesn't contain ions, therefore it doesn't conduct electricity. It literally costs under a dollar at the supermarket. Just buy a couple gallons and store it at home for future use. In case of an emergency, it can be drank.
👍🏽
Over time you have to replace your system anyways so your point is moot
Electrolysis occurs when an electrolyte is touching two different metals causing an electrical arc that eats away metal where they meet.
You're actually talking about deionized water. Distilled water is basically close, and available which is why the bottle says that. Go ahead and try to buy deionized water.
horse carp it's due to the minerals and chemicals that can be harmful to the system'
😂🤷♂️ y'all do you. Only giving me more work. 5 years left on my mortgage too. So I want to thank y'all. 😘
You have to use distilled water because tap water has minerals and other things that can build up on the sides of the passages over time and it makes the cooling system less efficient
This dude never drank from the hose as a kid.
Good water quality is very important in aluminum radiators
YEP. Vehicles with aluminum radiators and other Cooling System parts are sensitive to electrolysis damage.
Test the Coolant with a Voltmeter.
If electrolysis is present, run a Ground Cable from the Engine Block to the NEGative Battery Terminal.
Problem SOLVED.
To all the boat owners. Make sure your lake is distilled water
dis a joke right?
Thanks. Made my day!
😊
Its usually distilled from the ocean
Lake water and distilled big difference in bacteria idiot
Never trust a 50/50 protection level, always verify with a refractometer.
How many have a refractometer?
How many shops/service centers/dealerships you think keeps jugs of distilled water around? None. They keep a sink or a hose.
That's why I service my Battery and Radiator MYSELF -- I don't rely on others for simple service items.
I live in the desert -- where heat kills EVERYTHING -- I use Distilled Water in my Battery AND Radiator -- for that last bit of protection.
Lol what's your point? That shops do it incorrectly and it's bad? Ur acting like saying shops do it makes it okay
That's why I always buy premixed coolent. I only buy Honda fluid for my Honda.
Can't always trust it, I had an unopened jug and left it outside overnight and found it frozen the next day.
I only buy Honda for my Honda.
Too late, I filled your brand new chevy with dexcool and tap water when it had 7 miles on it at the dealership. :3
😂
Just get a bucket and pure both the antifreeze concentrate and the one gallon of distilled water. Pure what you need in to your radiator and the rest in to antifreeze bottle.
It is cheaper to mix your own with concentrate and distilled water. You can make 2 gallons versus 1 gallon of the 50/50 mix and save yourself a couple dollars
More than a couple bucks. You save 20+ dollars.
I just go to the dealer and pay 16 British pounds for the correct factory fill stuff in a 5 litre pack, in this case Renault type D.
This is one reason why I don't use tap water at the coffee maker.
And humidifiers...
Just find a DEF jug. 2.5 gallons. Easily cleaned. Has a spout. Translucent so you can see volume. Perfect.
Imagine using DEF
@@slyfox4564
Whew... That would stink.
Look up the MSDS for DEF.
Urea and distilled water.
MSDS is a magical thing.
16 years professionally and never had a problem not using distilled water 😂
Just get the 50/50 pre mix if you're that worried about it.
Never had a problem...right away. It takes time for precipitates to form and start to cause issues.
Better yet you should explain why distilled water is recommended versus tapwater. Because I know I have never personally used distilled water.
I hate those jugs. You can't even tell where the 5th quart line is. I never use those jugs for mixing. I use a kitchen JAR with all the marked lines on the side for more accuracy
I buy the Mobil1 oil in the 5 quart jugs and those also don't have a 5th quart line so my workaround is..... 🤫 When I buy the jug new, I use a sharpie to mark where the oil level is. I hope it's accurate. 😆
I don't think a few ounces off is gonna make a big difference buddy lol
are you really worried about that 3 degrees difference when 50/50 is already good to about -25 degrees F?
There is no fifth quart mark because it's a gallon jug.
@@adamhorton1601 😆
This is absolutely correct! That's how I mix mine, great video!
Never had a problem with tap water!!
Not right away, but it slowly kills your cooling system through time. Especially if you have a newer car that is heavy on the plastics.
@@LynxStarAuto
Cooling systems slowly die over time anyways so your point is moot 😂🤦♂️
@@LynxStarAuto what kills a cooling system is PH swing. Not minerals from tap water.
truth
@@LynxStarAuto not within the 2 years. You’re suppose to flush it.
I was standing at autozone Waiting to talk to the manager.. And I noticed on their signs they changed it to "just add distilled water" and "use only distilled water" posted everywhere now..
Most of the jugs said it too.. instead of "just add water" like yours
Really depends how good your water is. I fortunately live where the water is really good. However some places you definitely cannot add hose water.
Seems extremely silly to not spend a buck or two for a bottle of distilled water.
how good is your "good water" anyways
You can get free distilled water from your condensing tumble dryer. Use Distilled water also for screen wash dilution.
True!
So long as the concentrate contains > 95% ethylene glycol (which has a boiling point of 200° Centigrade) and the water is distilled/demineralised. A telling feature of the concentrate is density; must be greater than 1090g/litre..
GM's DEX COOL should ALWAYS
be purchased already 50/50 mixed..they use the proper distilled water so you don't have to..👍
That is if, you have one of the lame GM vehicles that came with orange coolant.
And then of course you’re looking forward to having coolant leaks and corrosion problems in the future no matter what, unless you get it all flushed out and replaced with a quality coolant mixture. 👌
50/50 mix is the bare minimum to mix it. Have not done that in 40 years, I always do a 70/30 mix antifreeze being the 70 percent, you have a higher boil temperature and lower freeze protecting.
Too strong unless you in major freeze zone
Been doing it the other way for as many years as I’ve been working on cars and trucks and everybody I know does too. We have done this on thousands of vehicles, never had not one problem!
Never use faucet water in a radiator it will
scale up over time and plug up its channels
always have distilled water 💧 after you put
in your concentrated anti-freeze.
keeping your coolant clean and changing it every few years will counter any issues the average person has with tap water over the average life span of the vehicle. Basically, you can go to ridiculous measures, but what do you really gain in the long run, unless you keep the car for like 30 years.
They say to use distilled water because the minerals in regular water can mess up your thermostat and clog up your cooling system. Distilled water is also recommended for water cooled PC’s. Same principal on a smaller scale.
Good Job It saves customers money. Prevent Calcification. 😊
Yes tap water has minerals that can build up
I also put a zip tie on the bottle so I know it’s a mixed bottle
I use a sharpie and write mixed on my bottle.
Sharpie
Have done it with hose water my whole life and never had any problems. Lol
You like minerals floating around inside your engine? And the salt added by your water softener. Shade tree mechanic.
@@SD-pi9co no water softener and minerals make no difference cause they dont create more of themselves from nothing and build up like people claim. It's just another excuse for stealerships to charge you more for basic service work that doesn't take long and doesn't require much to do. Go ahead and believe everything else you read on the internet. Lol
and use distilled water and the wiper washer mix so you don't have hard water spots on the paint
If I have left over real anti-freeze, I mix it with distilled water for when the reservoir gets a bit low.
Mistake: Shake container to mix contents, then allow to sit for air bubbles to dissipate.
Tap water is full of heavy metal & mineral salts, which plate out in your engine’s cooling system, and eventually lead to corrosion problems. This is especially critical in aluminum engines, as some of the minerals/metals are horribly corrosive to aluminum. Distilled water is cheap.
If tap water was full of heavy metal, we would have much more pressing issues to be dealing with.
I try to explain this to people at my parts job and they never understand...
Yes. Tap or hose water has ions and particles in it that will solidify in your coolant loop and are very difficult to remove and at some point, impossible. Distilled water has nothing in it, no ions to stick to hoses or anything. But it's really bad to drink 😅
50/50.. nuff said Jimmy
Home boy forgot to mention that the flouride in tap water will ruin your vehicles 3rd eye. 👁 🤦♂️
I mix headlight fluid this way too
Fur reals! I used to use tap water for headlight fluid and it made the lens really chalky! Now that I've been using distilled water with a custom-made funnel, my headlight lenses are crystal clear! =D
@@dawabbitt3079 tap water not good for anything
I worked at a dealer for 10 years. They never had distilled water in the parts department and we always filled batteries and radiators with tap water. Never had a comeback due to using tap water.
"Team Straight To The Hose" 🙋🏾♂️.
Make sure that it doesn't have minerals added for flavor because that is gold reasoning for using
That funnel is AWESOME!!!
50/50 mix is a general guideline, mix your coolant according to the climate you will be driving in
I've just always used clean well water in my batteries and auto cooling systems and never had an issue.
This method will easily leave the engine under-dosed with concentrate. Read the manual. Add the correct % volume to the cooling system (eg 50%). Top up with distilled water. This ensures that anything trapped in the system cannot dilute your coolant below its correct concentration.
I mean usually it’s not a big deal because the coolant has additives to prevent any corrosion or anything
Distilled water is a dollar a gallon at Walmart or you can make it like I do
I've been using distilled water in my cooling systems & batteries for YEARS.
I thought everyone knew this??
NOPE!
You gotta remember, not everyone is like us! 😂🤣😂. Same concept with computers.... we have very computer illiterate people in 2023.
Everyone has their own specialty.... i might know how to drop a trans engine and tear down everything, but i wont know baking welding or fishing like the next person 👍
Distilled is a thing of the past.
@@IndiansAuto It's STILL for sale all over the U.S.A. !!
I thought everyone knew that Donald Trump is and always was a ticking time bomb -- but he's still around, spreading hate and discontent wherever he goes.
President Joe Biden's the guy who "reads the instructions". Joe Biden was the People's Choice.
2wice-impeached, disgraced, ex-President Trump is the guy who "knows better" than anybody about anything. Trump never won the Popular Vote. He was NOT the People's Choice.
Makes ya wonder.
Same here
I used to only use 50 50 in my cars, I had a honda that would take on long distance trips and I would notice after a few months that my levels got lower, I started adding a bit of concentrate, about half a bottle, and I didn't have anymore overheating issues or it boiling out..
I got rid of DEX-COOL…….was going through radiators and water pumps for quite a while. Went back to the old school yellow and never had the problem again.
I've run Dex Cool in my 25 year old truck with 300,000 miles and never had an issue.
Thanks for the video. Please show how you made that custom funnel
They used to sell distilled water at O’Reilly for that purpose. FUN FACT. In the winter a 60/40 mix is more stable, and in summer a 40/60 mix is more stable. That’s why it’s 50/50. Also, no need to be so precise. Shoot from the hip, you’ll be fine.
WTF are you talking about !?? The "stability" of a chemical mixture DOES NOT vary with the 4 Seasons.
It's 50/50 for convenience AND accuracy, plus the 50/50 mixture fits exactly within the normal temperature range of engines operated in the U.S.A.
@@SlikLizrd yes, and the thermal stability of a 60/40 mix in winter is better than a 50/50 mix. And a 40/60 mix is more stable I. The summer. That’s what the HELL I’m talking about. Do you have google, read some articles on coolant principles and applications.
@@MechanicalTriage Oh, I see -- in order to maintain that "stability" that you suggest, I just need to change out my coolant 2wice per year.
Gotta keep that "stability", eh !??
NAH. It's 50/50, year 'round -- just like the Car Makers and the Coolant Makers recommend -- and the ratio that I have used succesfully since Ethylene Glycol was introduced as an automotive coolant, several decades ago.
This is moot if you have a filter. Added one to my truck about 5 years ago. Best part is, you can get replacement filters that have conditioners in it to revitalize your coolant so you dont need to flush it under normal circumstances.
70/30 is the correct mix. More antifreeze than water. Less corrosion and problems.
This is why I don't buy expensive antifreeze and have to mix it myself as I buy it already pre-mixed.
I'm 60 years old I've never mix with water just straight antifreeze never had a problem an live in Michigan
It’ll mix itself in the car don’t over complicate it.
I was rather surprised how many local mechanics use tap water. I've always used deionized water (typically good ole distilled water from the grocery store).
As a lifetime Floridian, whu
I've used Water from a garden hose for over 100 demo derby cars with no issues. Lol.
But, I've also used that water mixed with 100% coolant and never had issues in any vehicle over the past 30 years. Now, the oldest in my fleet now is from 2000. So it's only 23 years old. But it still runs fine, and has NEVER had a coolant issue.
I'll ask you. Why don't you run well or city water in the system, if that water is clean enough to drink??? Here's why it's on there. Distilled water lacks impurities, but clean drinking water has such a small amount that it's "safe" to consume. You're coolant system will be fine if you use well or city water. However, there is a possibility your cooling system will corrode premature, however, with clean water, it's so slow, it'll never happen in our lifetimes. With older copper and brass radiators, it can happen in years, but all new systems are plastic and alum.
So why is it on the bottle, to use distilled??? To save them from lawsuits when older cars fail, and it never left from the early 80s when those brass/copper rads were used. If you have a 1989 or never Chevy (not sure for others) you are fine using the drinkable tap.😊
Just look up the capacity of the cooling system and divide by 2. Then make a gallon of 50/50 mix and keep that on hand.
Howd you make the funnel? Good idea
It's the mineral content of the water that causes blockage of the core
All my mechanic friends and I always used distilled water after doing cooling system repairs in the early 80’s …😆😂🤣. Technically you should use distilled water,but I guarantee you if you had cooling system repairs done at any repair shop,the water is coming from a hose,not a bottle. All the owners manuals (far back as the 60’s & 70’s said “distilled water”. On a newer car you should drain and refill every other year when the car hits 40-50,000 just to keep the acidity low so you don’t blow gaskets as much. Antifreeze isn’t good for 100 grand just like oil change intervals shouldn’t be 10 grand either…if you plan on keeping it!!
Had a coolant leak while on the road and used Mountain Dew to top it up. Car ran for years after that.
Over the decades I've only used tap water, never a problem.
But the last couple of vehicles I bought a couple gallons of distilled water. It's cheap and for the couple of times it's done over the years...why not?
Using Dex-Cool is a mistake... according to some people. Seems fine in my 2003 GMC 4.3, but I do change it every 3 years (rather than the 5 GM recommends). Five seems fine for the green stuff in my 1999 Ford. My 1997 Toyota gets only the proper Toyota red specification stuff.
The reason for concentrate is when you flush your coolant there's still some water left in the system so if your car takes say 6 gallons of coolant you'd put 3 in of concentrate and top off with water
Actual distilled water is not as easy to find as you might think. Check that it has nothing added. I always buy premix 50/50 and if you need 70% antifreeze add concentrate to the premix.
It is in every grocery store in my town, right next to the gallon jugs of drinking water. It is also usually found in drug stores. I have never had a problem finding distilled water.
@@eilliwwasniahc a lot of it has minerals added. Last time I checked there was nothing.
It's 5 aisles over from the Antifreeze at Walmart.
I don't actually need it.
as a mechanic i want everyone to know ur car at a dealership or shop is getting tap water mixed with concentrate. i’m just giving you the facts. never seen it cause a problem.
That's some good looking Kool-Aid
Yeah most tracks require water. Only ran hose water in alot of dirt track cars. Never had a issue
Would reverse osmosis pure water be just as good as distilled water?
I've read not to use distilled water either. Says something about it stripping electrons from metal. Said soft water is what to use. I have no fkn clue so I just starting buying the pre mixed.🤯
I usually get my water from the pond next door.
I think the last time that I did my radiator draining & fill. Instead of mixing containers, I drained the system, flushed it with a bit of hose water. Waited for it to drip out. Filled up the system with the concentrate and the water and let the system do the mixing for me!
😀👍🏿Great Tips,Good Stuff
Pro tip. If you are in a pinch most fluids (no sugars) can be used as coolant. I mean if you really need to. Piss in that radiator.
I maintain over 250 of the same engines some for over 30 years, I've never used distilled water. just saying. but I like that funnel
This is just as saying the #1 mistake when put transmission in park is not using hand, parking or e brake, before after or not at all, it doesn't matter, it doesn't ruin the transmission... AT ALL!!!
The problem with mixing 50/50 is, you still have coolant in the system, even after a flush, and you don't know if that was 50/50.
The 50/50 you put could and will probably be more diluted from the liquid still in the engine,
The #1 mistake is putting dexcool death back in their gm vehicle. Flush that dex out with white vinegar and water then put traditional green and distilled water in
As a factory trained GM technician I can tell you that Dexcool has stop leak built into it. Edited to say I don't like it either.
This comment section is making my head hurt lol. Hard tap water will destroy your cooling system over time a lot faster than using pre mix or distilled water. Try running straight hard tap water in there next time if you don’t live in a freezing climate and you’ll see the rust develop quickly.
This will ruin your water pump, radiator, heater core and eventually your engine. The system will get clogged from all the rust and the heater core will probably be the first thing to go. If you have money to blow then get the premix, nothing wrong with that. When you have multiple cars to service the savings of mixing it yourself is pretty good.
I remember my friend wanted me to flush his trucks radiator. The rust was so bad it looked like mud and I had to break it loose with a clothes hanger. I didn't bother doing a flush with cleaning chemicals it was so bad I opened the bottom shove a garden hose in the top ran the truck at the same time till it was only clear water the I took clean and distilled water and did a final washout with that then used 50/50 mix then he wrecked it a week later 😂
I use distilled water except on block flushes. I then run the coolant for the full 150k miles. Usually the radiator fails before that and it gets fresh 50/50 again. Ps got 325k out a water pump till the radiator failed and i had to run tap water for months as a emergency situation.
Good video, would you make another video showing why it is important to use distilled water, and why coolant/anti freeze is mixed with distilled water. As a young man i had no clue about this info.
In modern cars, they have many different metals in the system. * Also - how often should the coolant be changed. Doing the correct maint. can prolong the life of things in system like, water pump, thermostat, radiator. Not to mention avoiding over heating and a frozen engine block in freezing temps. There is alot to this subject for the DIY folks who are new to car maint. I like your videos, good job.
No sense making another video on this subject, because at least half of the respondants are arguing against the use of Distilled Water, claiming that "it doesn't matter" which kind of
water is used in Batteries and Radiators.
I use ONLY Distilled Water in our Batteries and Radiators.
What other people do is none of my business.
It so much easier if you just use Shell Rotella 50/50 prediluted, it cost more, it pre mixed and it's good for 5 years! I have used it in hundreds of Diesel Engines for over 20 years it's the best I have ever used!!!
Looks good, next step is to taste test it... LOL
Damn i must be lucky.i used straight tap water for two years in my Camry because of a small leak in radiator.. finally replaced it and added correct coolant didn't notice anything different