MericaMade
Active Member
When ya'll do a flush do you prefer distilled water or hose water?
ATTENTION: Know Your Jeep JK Wrangler Coolants and Save Your Engine!
- Thread starter NFRs2000NYC
- Start date
FFPulley77
Hooked
I did distilled when I flushed mine. I read somewhere that hose water could lead to corrosion or something down the road… don’t know how true it is, but I didn’t want to risk it.
Spazbyt
Hooked
I have heard two different thoughts on this. I'm still not sure what camp I'm in.
The first is the advantage of distilled water over tap is that it won't contain minerals and additives in it to potentially build up or negatively react with engine components or coolant. Same reason you don't use tap water in batteries I would assume.
The second is that water dissolves more substances than any other know liquid so it's only going to be "denatured" or "distilled" until you pour it out of the plastic jug.
I try to use distilled but realistically that rarely happens for me.
MericaMade
Active Member
Yeah I read some very contradicting opinions just doing a quick Google search. Some say using hose water will be the death of your vehicle and other say using distilled can just be as bad LOL.
BlacknRedJK
Member
Question for all those smarter than me: water pump said no more and I’m doing all new coolant while I’m at it. I want to confirm that for a 2010 JK, running Mopar 68051212AC will not be problematic. Bottle says 5 year/ 100,000 miles and I believe it is the HOAT. The part number is where I’m hung up as I have only been able to find it in a case of 6, 1 gallon bottles, from everything I can tell, it is the same coolant but the part number is different due to the being sold in a case of 6 gallons. Any guidance here?
Sinlessearth
New member
First, I'll admit I didn't read all 14 pages of this thread but...has anyone just gave up on the HOAT/OAT concerns and just went with a Prestone All Vehicle coolant, good for 10yr/300,000 miles for the regular stuff and 15yr/350,000 for the MAX? I started using it in my Ram and I think the next time I do anything coolant related on the Jeep, I'll flush it then just swap to the Prestone. Just curious on other's thoughts.
jeeeep
Hooked
been using Prestone yellow 50/50 on my 2010 JKU since the 1st flush years ago
kevman65
Hooked
Just to add more debate to distilled or tap.
Tap water already has minerals (metals) in it, distilled and/or de-ionized water are deficient in minerals and will rob them from anything containing minerals (metals). I know that distilled and de-ionized water will attack any ferrous metal. They are usually ran through stainless steel tubing of 316L or higher grade.
Now, I do NOT know how it will react with aluminum, as it's non-ferrous, BUT there is always the risk it can start reacting with any bits that are ferrous and trapped in/on the thin sections of the radiator.
Okay, enough of that shit, party on......
Oh wait, this is also why you shouldn't drink distilled or de-ionized water, it will remove vital minerals from your system.
Tap water already has minerals (metals) in it, distilled and/or de-ionized water are deficient in minerals and will rob them from anything containing minerals (metals). I know that distilled and de-ionized water will attack any ferrous metal. They are usually ran through stainless steel tubing of 316L or higher grade.
Now, I do NOT know how it will react with aluminum, as it's non-ferrous, BUT there is always the risk it can start reacting with any bits that are ferrous and trapped in/on the thin sections of the radiator.
Okay, enough of that shit, party on......
Oh wait, this is also why you shouldn't drink distilled or de-ionized water, it will remove vital minerals from your system.
OverlanderJK
Resident Smartass
Can I drink the coolant instead?
Sinlessearth
New member
At least once
duktrx
Active Member
Distilled water and deionized water are not the same. Distilled water is safe to drink and is what you need to use in your cooling system. Deionized water can be consumed but will rob your body of vital minerals, will cause dehydration, and more than likely give you the shits. Deionized water is a strong solvent, typically stored in glass containers and in a manufacturing environment, transported in plastic piping/tubing. Its chemical properties can accelerate the degradation of steel, aluminum, and copper: so a poor choice for cooling systems.
kevman65
Hooked
Distilled water will still rob minerals from your body. Part of the distillation process removes minerals, water seeks out minerals.
De-ionized water (purified water) is generally ran in hygienic stainless steel tubing, not plastic, anywhere that needs to stay 100% sterile.
The point I was trying to make and you missed, with dissimilar metals in contact with distilled water in the cooling systems in modern engines, there could very well be bits of ferrous metals in the aluminum radiator, which is very thin wall, and the distilled water hitting cast iron which is already in an electrolysis fight with the aluminum, could cause unexpected problems.
woof359
Member
I think my 2012 was a month old when the check engine light started coming on , I knew I was gonna get a new head but after I got home with the new head it was low on anti freeze, o biggie I thought added almost 2 qts, then the heater started blowing cool air on hot I thought it was just the mode acuator like I had read, they ended up replacing the mode motor and the heater core (-:, other than that 11 year later, just normal service, well maybe paint on the door hinges curdling
JunctionRubi
New member
Any problems with it? I Have new block and flushed the radiator and heatercore. I like the idea of being able to go to any parts store and getting fluids for a top off.