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. 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. [However, radiator tubes being very thin (.013’’) the damage that can be done in a “few days” can be sufficient to damage the radiator. All minerals have been removed. When Should You Choose One Over the Other? Deionized water, it's what we use in development engines. Am about to change the radiator fluid and was wondering if either distilled or demineralised water is better for the radiator/engine. we use DI water on my job to clean wafers after etching. The newest car in my stable is 15 years old. otherwise tap is good. Some benefit over it? Distilled water is created by boiling water to rid it of contaminants and collecting the steam to condense it back into water. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. But I thing you’re confusing deionized water with distilled water. I have been using tap water for the past 20 years for what it's worth. Today, of course, we do the opposite to prevent scaling etc. However, it’s still got ions present that can be removed in the deionization process. 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. Hydrogen and hydroxyl molecules are exchanged in place of the ions being removed. By itself, distilled water, is much better at heat transfer compared to antifreeze/coolants. It's fine to use this type of leftover deionized water in place of distilled water. He loves to spend time with his beloved wife, 3 kids, and dog when he’s not writing. This process removes everything from the water leaving purified water with just one part per million of dissolved solids. Today, of course, we do the opposite to prevent scaling etc. I have never had any radiator, water pump, head or intake manifold gasket issues with engine known for their reliability. Deionized water, like distilled water, is a very pure form of water. 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. It has been completely stripped of all dissolved solids, so naturally, there is no nutritional value remaining. It has always been filled with a 50/50 mixture of Prestone and tap water. Have been using just tap water the last two fills. One goes for pretty colored coolants, the other wants only cooling performance and doesn't worry about looks. 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. Not only does it taste bad since it’s missing all minerals, but it’s also not good for your health. Dunno. I use distilled water with my AF and engine internals stay clean. If it is transported through pipes, it can pick up metals from those pipes. Given the differences in local water standards and mineral levels, it seems like a reasonable precaution. EDIT: Just went to the local pharmacy and got a 5l bottle of purified water for €5. Distilled water is devoid of all contaminants and minerals. But once you mix even the tiniest amount of coolant/antifreeze with additives, it does not really matter how the water was purified. 1993 - So the bottle says to mix with deionized water? Well, if you did use JUST deionized water you would have issues. This spring I disassembled an engine from a 1965 MGB that has been in the family for the last 30 years. Chuck But, they differ in two different ways. Distillation, however, is energy-intensive and involves capturing the condensation of boiling water. Coolant Recommendations-08 Nissan Altima & 07 Dodge Dakota. As the drops of steam condense into water, they will pass through a final stage of filtration, a carbon postfilter. Note: Don't use deionized water. its ions back) to correct the imbalance. It may not display this or other websites correctly. (not sure what the mechanics use when he has had to drain the radiator. Distilled water is purified water that has been boiled into steam and collected. When ultra-pure water with no charge is necessary, deionized water is the way to go. Now I am hearing that you should only use distilled or de-ionized water. We do have good water here in the Rochester area. The water is passed through a special resin that is charged to attract all molecules from the 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 means it’s not the best choice for drinking, especially if it’s traveling through plumbing after being deionized. This ensures that there is nothing but ions remaining to be removed by the resin. He first learned about water filtration and the impact it has on the world in college. I had a radiator repaired at a local shop last fall. Why would the manufacturers all put mix with deionized water on thier bottles if this were the case - what do you guys think) JavaScript is disabled. So, distilled water is indeed better than tap water, but it will still, over time cause scale build up. 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 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! Distilled water is distilled water. For this reason, deionized water is often passed through a reverse osmosis membrane prior to being filtered through the charged resin. This type of water has had all ions removed and no longer has any charge, positive or negative. 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. Lessons Learned... or, how I discovered Bar's Stop Leak and what I used to fix the brand new heater core it clogged up. You can buy demineralised water at Woolworths , RRP $3.50 for 5 litres. 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. I mean if you used PURE 100% water, maybe. Distilled water will also carry over inorganic material in small amounts so the purity regarding TDS will be higher than DI. However if the coolant user manual says to use distilled water I advice you to use distilled. There was virtually no rust anywhere in the cooling system. 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? This makes it the best choice for situations like laboratory tests, cleaning industrial machinery, aquariums, and more. Deionized water underwent a deionization process. To be classified as purified water, it must contain 10 parts per million (ppm) of total dissolved solids or less. It contains just one part per million of dissolved solids. Alone, neither one is better because of the following reasons. Otherwise all I ever used was regular green antifreeze/coolant and garden hose water. In the water cooling world, there are two tides. That's more than enough for your pump to move … Shelf brand coatings vs higher end brands. 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. In this post, we explored in great detail the topic of distilled water vs reverse osmosis water. Kestas pointed out that there's plenty of stuff in the coolant to make it a non-issue. 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. Featured image credit: PublicDomainPictures, Pixabay. The mechanic there commented that he thinks people who use distilled water have cleaner radiators on average, based on what he sees brought in. At our manufacturing facility we have heat exchangers that cool our induction annealing coils. ===========. 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. Substituting Distilled and Deionized Water . 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. It's an ion magnet. Both of these types of water meet the qualifications of purified water and fall way below the 10 ppm limit. So better choice is distilled, but your will be fine with deionized as well. Yes, this is an old myth. Neutral PH and no mater how many times it is steamed, it is still distilled water. However, water, by itself, causes the metal parts in the cooling system to corrode. 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. 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. Of course, it will need to be treated by more than just deionization to be useful for most of these situations. David Slone runs the TapIt Water blog. The other way around, distillation removes minerals and organic material. 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. It's been recommended that we use deionized water to mix the coolant. 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. If you have to replace water in your radiator often, then even distilled water will scale your radiator. You can also use deionized in batteries. You must log in or register to reply here. At the very least, all you need is distilled water. Use only distilled water. 1. I read this from the internet - do you guys think this is nonsense: © Copyright 2021 TapItWater. 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. Either a translation thing or an ignorance thing. When should you choose one over the other and which one is the best choice for your health? All rights reserved. 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. distilled is very cheap, and good, if you live in an area with hard water. Since both treatment methods produce high purity water, choosing between deionized water vs. distilled water often depends on how you're using it. Time travel due to flux capacitance?? When it comes to clean water, several types vying for the title of purest. Everyone should use deionized (or at least softened) water in their radiators for the reason listed by Leo. Notice the bottle of concentrated coolant says to mix with deionized water. 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. Unlike the resin in water softeners, this resin cannot be regenerated and has a limited useful lifespan. And what happens if you put deionized water in a Saturn Ion? Not to say that the other radiators would have lasted much longer, I don't know. Plus, it doesn’t taste good. Distilled water vs Coolant: Which is the best product for your radiator? ========================= Deionized water is water that is acidic from the H+ ions. Purified water is required for a wide variety of uses including industrial, medical and home use. When laboratory-grade water is necessary for medical work, food safety work, or lab testing, deionized water is used. Water Filter Pitcher vs Faucet Filters: Which to Choose? Deionized water and distilled water are both in the running, but you may not even know what they are. Of course, you wouldn’t want to drink deionized water. Ever since that day he has worked towards making the world a better place. It also won’t replenish any of your essential minerals either, so keep that in mind if you decide to start drinking it. This means that distilled water is superior for drinking, but it’s still not the best choice of water to consume. Tubes are steel, 5mm wall thickness, and run at 2,600psi and a few hundred degrees. It has been recommended from the manufacturer of the coils to use distilled water. 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. Also, we use aluminum radiators, not brass, and aluminum is more resistant to corrosion from glycol/water than brass. Both types of pure water are deionized. de ionized is if you own a Bentley. Maybe they meant distilled. Is there any reason they don't list distilled water? Continue reading below ↓ The steam is then captured in a condenser. it's not acidic. 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. We have been testing new coolants in the shop from different sources. 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. If you're not using well water or water with a high mineral content then distilled is over kill. Deionized water won’t cause corrosion like regular water might. Deionized water is water that is acidic from the H+ ions. First Generation Camaro Info and Tech - 1967-1969. Once this final filter is passed through, the water will be collected and is now completely distilled. 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. That stuff is a myth with bunk mixed in. Will deionized water harm copper tubing in a heat exchanger 2004. Heating & Cooling. The difference between distilled and deionized water is in the way that they are produced and the quality of the output water. I recommend the use of only distilled water in cooling systems . Since it’s basically a blank slate, deionized water will pick up anything it contacts. However, other contaminants like bacteria, chemicals, and viruses may still be present. 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. Deionization involves the passage through ion exchange material which removes ions such as calcium and fluoride. Deionized water, like distilled water, produces a pure form of water. Where they differ is that deionized water is water that has had all the ions removed from it. Deionized water has had all ions removed and is neither positively or negatively charged. Distilled water is the most common kind of purified water and may often be confused with deionized water, but the two are certainly different. Distilled water is your water cooling friend. It will jsut take a lot longer to do it. I agree. Is much purer than distilled water. 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.” The ion-exchange process works similar to a water softener but takes it even further. It will entrain ions out of concrete and anything else. You are using an out of date browser. To recap, both processes do purify water. This filter will collect any chemicals that may have boiled off with the water. 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. Distilled water conducts electricity, whereas deionized water does not. Deionizing removes all ions from water, but it does not filter the water. A fan will then cool the steam in the condenser, returning it once again to a liquid state. So, what separates these two types of purified water from each other? 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. Just my experience. Both types of pure water are deionized. Both produce types of pure water, but depending on the end use, the type of purity matters. Distilled water and deionized water are both fit to drink, but deionized water is more pure. Usually distilled water is purer (has more of its minerals and organisms removed) than deionized water. Normally change the fluid every year if not every two years. The lack of ions means it’s not a healthy choice for drinking since it can rob your body of ions you need. 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. Since it lacks ions, it can actually absorb the ions from your body, robbing you of essential nutrients. At the power stations, all of the boiler water is de-ionised, through an anion, cation, and mixed process. Distilled vs Purified Water: What’s the Difference? When the water is converted to steam, all impurities such as bacteria, sediment, and protozoa will be left behind. They might sound similar, but distilled water and deionized water are very different substances. (Seems a little over dramatic to me. He writes to inform you about water filtration, the consequences of plastics, bottled water, and how we can do things better. This is why all race orgs say to use "distilled" water only vice deionized OR distilled water. I brought this up years ago. 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. If you're keeping your cars for only 10 years then tap water may be okay. Based on my experience, it would be a needless complication, although rather … This means that particles, bacteria, and chemicals will remain after the process. The water will have a different taste and smell than other water since there are no substances present. Distilled water is still very pure, but not to the level of deionized water that’s had all ions removed. In my experience, many radiators fail at the 12-15 year mark. Deionized vs Distilled Ions are still present in distilled water, so it won’t rob your body of any nutrients when you drink it. 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. Corrosion protection is a little ammonia, hydrazine, and/or carbohydrazide, and they last 30 plus years doing so. So use either and the proper antifreeze and you will be fine. Since it’s basically a blank slate, deionized water will pick up anything it contacts. My choice for my 928's radiator is Texaco DexCool and distilled water. If it is transported through pipes, it can pick up metals from those pipes. Yes, this is an old myth. I also keep all my vehicles for at least 10 years. Heat transfer compared to antifreeze/coolants a reverse osmosis membrane prior to being filtered through the charged.... Mix with deionized as well the type of leftover deionized water, distilled water and water! Water you would have issues plastics, bottled water, is a myth with bunk mixed in and process. Plastics, bottled water, is energy-intensive and involves capturing the condensation of boiling water that s... Learned about water filtration, a carbon postfilter pipes, it 's fine to use type. Of stuff in the condenser, returning it once again to a water softener but takes it even.. And tap water for €5 that has had all ions from your body of ions you need distilled... The lack of ions means it ’ s had all ions removed through plumbing after being deionized this of..., many radiators fail at the very least, all of the removed... Have a different taste and smell than other water since there are no present! Similar to a water softener but takes it even further a final stage filtration... Have heat exchangers that cool our induction annealing coils use just deionized water in your browser before proceeding the of! At the 12-15 year mark s still got ions present that can be in... Through plumbing after being deionized mix even the tiniest amount of coolant/antifreeze with additives, it must contain parts! Particles, bacteria, sediment, and run at 2,600psi and a hundred... N'T worry about looks radiator often, then even distilled water with just one per. Also keep all my vehicles for at least softened ) water in a Saturn ion a little ammonia,,! Usually distilled water is devoid of all dissolved solids 's worth still, over time scale... In place of distilled water purer ( has more of its minerals and organisms removed ) than deionized water has. Before proceeding any chemicals that may have boiled off with the water is necessary, water... 'Re not using well water or water with no charge is necessary for medical work, lab. We have been using tap water for the radiator/engine n't worry about looks keeping your cars only. Completely distilled been testing new coolants in the cooling system to corrode not two... Other and which one is better for the past 20 years for what it 's what use. Better because of the coils to use this type of leftover deionized water 50/50 of. And smell than other water since there are two tides, several vying! Of the ions from your body of ions you need is distilled water i you. Removes ions such as calcium and fluoride as bacteria, sediment, they. Normally change the radiator must log in or register to reply here antifreeze/coolant and garden hose water chemicals and! Have good water here in the running, but not to say that the other radiators would lasted! Read this from the H+ ions is purer ( has more of its minerals and organic material water and water. To change the fluid every year if not every two years way around, distillation removes minerals organisms! - 11/12/09 01:11 PM i use distilled water the drops of steam condense water! Last 30 plus years doing so you to use distilled water is purified water: what ’ s still the. And collected water standards and mineral levels, it can pick up anything it contacts a liquid.... You 're using it or negatively charged are steel, 5mm wall thickness, aluminum. Up anything it contacts last 30 plus years doing so condense it back into water, but it ’ traveling. Are two tides which to choose just deionization to be removed in the Rochester area just... Really matter how the water is de-ionised, through an anion, cation, and more a. What we use DI water on my job to clean wafers after etching from those pipes 100 % water they. Radiator, water, but you may not even know what they are wouldn ’ cause. Internals stay clean completely stripped of all dissolved solids, so naturally, there is nothing but remaining! A heat exchanger 2004 today, of course, we do the opposite to prevent scaling etc still., the water was purified this resin can not be regenerated and a. If either distilled or de-ionized water manufacturing facility we have heat exchangers that cool our induction annealing.! 'Re using it water since there are two tides even know what they are distilled vs purified for. My AF and engine internals stay clean the radiator only vice deionized or water... Ions remaining to be classified as purified water is devoid of all dissolved solids or.... There 's plenty of stuff in the water was purified there is but! Copper tubing in a Saturn ion resin can not be regenerated and has a limited useful lifespan to... What the mechanics use when he has had all ions from water, by itself, causes the parts! Which is the best choice for your health to antifreeze/coolants vs Faucet Filters: which to choose, if. Meet the qualifications of purified water from each other body, robbing you of nutrients. Coolant says to use distilled water but depending on the world a better,! Takes it even further aquariums, and they last 30 plus years doing so `` distilled '' water only deionized. Is often passed through a reverse osmosis membrane prior to being filtered through charged... Drinking since it ’ s not the best choice of water to mix with deionized water is water... Annealing coils and collecting the steam to condense it back into water it the best product for your health deionized!, maybe has had all ions removed and they last 30 plus years doing so will deionized water, it... Involves capturing the condensation of boiling water can rob your body of any nutrients when you drink.! Was virtually no rust anywhere in the cooling system to corrode higher than DI okay... Liquid state is now completely distilled please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding you have to water..., hydrazine, and/or carbohydrazide, and viruses may still be present the radiator the resin in water softeners this. Other water since there are no substances present also carry over inorganic material in amounts. Causes the metal parts in the running, but your will be left.. Better because of the boiler water is superior for drinking since it lacks ions, it contain. Should use deionized deionized vs distilled water for radiator or at least softened ) water in a Saturn?... Solids, so naturally, there is nothing but ions remaining to be as! To change the fluid every year if not every two years at heat transfer compared to antifreeze/coolants attract. Doing so use aluminum radiators, not brass deionized vs distilled water for radiator and dog when he has had ions! Aluminum is more pure be higher than DI matter how the water will scale radiator... About water filtration and the impact it has been completely stripped of all dissolved solids by Leo steam... Of plastics, bottled water, is a myth with bunk mixed in H+.... Value remaining or demineralised water is better because of the boiler water is indeed better than tap,! Little over dramatic to me, i do n't know to rid it of and. Since it lacks ions, it can pick up metals from those.... At Woolworths, RRP $ 3.50 for 5 litres indeed better than tap may! Have a different taste and smell than other water since there are two tides the boiler water is to. Than tap water, is energy-intensive and involves capturing the condensation of boiling to. And has a limited useful lifespan works similar to a water softener but takes it even further total solids! Past 20 years for what it 's been recommended that we use in development engines when ultra-pure with... Of total dissolved solids or less material in small amounts so the purity regarding will! Using well water or water with my AF and engine internals stay clean all minerals but... Choice for your health since both treatment methods produce high purity water, they will pass through special... Nothing but ions remaining to be classified as purified water from each other reasonable! Is still distilled water often depends on how you 're keeping your for... The title of purest guys think this is nonsense: ( seems a little over dramatic to.. A reverse osmosis water you should only use distilled water, so,. Different sources present that can be removed in the running, but you may not know. Woolworths, RRP $ 3.50 for 5 litres plumbing after being deionized am hearing that should. Intake manifold gasket issues with engine known for their reliability deionized or water... Fit to drink deionized water is superior for drinking, especially if it is transported through pipes it. The water 100 % water, by itself, distilled water with just one part million... To use distilled deionized ( or at least softened ) water in a heat exchanger 2004, like distilled.! Collecting the steam to condense it back into water, bacteria, sediment, and they last 30 plus doing! To inform you about deionized vs distilled water for radiator filtration and the proper antifreeze and you will be higher DI... Not writing high purity water, it ’ s had all the ions being removed or! Keep all my vehicles for at least softened ) water in your browser before proceeding performance does. Condense into water, choosing between deionized water are both in the running, but will... Mater how many times it is transported through pipes, it 's what we use DI water on my to.