Distilled water to coolant

pro_gmh · #1 25-02-2006, 10:51 PM

Hey jus wonder on the proper method of changing from the use of distelled water to coolent?
Empty the radiator and fill her with coolent or what?

Shounak · #2 25-02-2006, 10:54 PM

Flush the system out well.. Using water in a cooling system will mean a build up of rust..

And don't just empty the radiator.. You also want to flush the block.. I'd recommend flushing and reverse flushing both the radiator and block with a garden hose..

Fill the system up with water and add a flush treatment to it.. Run the treatment through the cooling system..

Then fill up with your desired concentration of coolant..

pro_gmh · #3 25-02-2006, 10:57 PM

Thanks for quick reply, how do i go about flushing the block also, i have only done radiator.

Whats conentration should i also use, ive been a country boy, and always used water.

Shounak · #4 25-02-2006, 11:06 PM

When I wrote this in the other thread, I left out taking out the thermostat.. I was corrected, rightfully so.. So start off by taking off your thermostat..

I just disconnect lower hose at radiator and top hose at the radiator.. Put a garden hose in the lower hose and let the water flush through the block until it's clean..

Put the garden hose in the bottom of the radiator and put your hand at the top the block off the other opening.. Then fill the radiator with water and then let it all drain.. Do it a few times..

Turn on heater to high and full blast. Connect all the hoses back up and fill the system with clean water and even a flush treatment if you want.. Run it through the car and drop the lower hose.. The water will be a little green..

Do it again, drop the lower hose and fill up with water, run it through the system and then drop the lower hose..

One step I left out is disconnecting the heater hoses, but I just run the heater on high and let the water flush all the coolant out of it..

Oh and you can disconnect the knock sensor wires to drain the block, if you so wish..

About removing the knock sensors.. I'm not sure if that's right on the VN.. But it's just to get rid of all the water/coolant in the block.. It's most probably got a drain plug..

Shounak · #5 25-02-2006, 11:07 PM

With Coolant, if you've always used water. You could get away with 33% Coolant, 67% Water..

But if you're running your car strenuously or if over heating has ever been a problem go 50/50..

I'd personally go the 50/50..

pro_gmh · #6 25-02-2006, 11:31 PM

Do i have to take out the thermostat?

Can i just disconnect the lower radiator hose, shove a garden hose up there and flush, and the water will come out the bottom of the radiator?

Also can i just disconnect the heater hoses and flush the heater core?

Shounak · #7 25-02-2006, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adox

Do i have to take out the thermostat?

Can i just disconnect the lower radiator hose, shove a garden hose up there and flush, and the water will come out the bottom of the radiator?

The thermostat is what regulates the flow of water.. You could try it with it, but it would be better to take it out..

Quote:

Also can i just disconnect the heater hoses and flush the heater core?

Yeah I'm pretty sure you can. But I've never done it before..

I just fill system up with water and run the heater on high..

pro_gmh · #8 25-02-2006, 11:48 PM

Yer as you have probably heard of that problem with S1 VN's having a problem with the thermostat being hard to take off and can be wrecked in the process.

VT-565 · #9 26-02-2006, 07:13 AM

i've never heard of distilled water being used in a radiator before! maybe demineralised.....i've posted up a few times here the effects of certain minerals in your cooling system, that is if your water source has a higher than normal percentage of various minerals it could be detrimental to the system. i play it safe here and use a premix coolant, a good one at that, then i dont have to worry about percentages, just fill her up.

Shounak · #10 26-02-2006, 10:11 AM

What do you use in your VT? Which premixed? Most oft hem are premixed 33/67

VT-565 · #11 26-02-2006, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shounak

What do you use in your VT? Which premixed? Most oft hem are premixed 33/67

i use some nulon stuff. cant remember the specifics, will have a look after work

pro_gmh · #12 26-02-2006, 03:48 PM

Yer i use tap water atm lol (distilled water?)

I intend on usin premix stuff too.

vlv8vic · #13 26-02-2006, 07:37 PM

tap water isnt distilled. quite the opposite.

Shounak · #14 26-02-2006, 07:43 PM

Distilled water is pure water.. Think back to year 8 science..

You boiled water and collected the steam and let the steam condense back into water.. Leaving behind a bunch of muck in the water you had before..

Distilled water is free of any impurities.. Very least, tap water has chlorine.. It'll have lots more stuff though.,.