Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[kevin2306]

i will be draining the cooling system of the singer tomorrow so i can flush the system out, remove and flush the radiator (and repaint it), fit a new thermostat and new hoses throughout.
i need to go buy some antifreeze next week which in itself is no problem, my question is..do i mix it with tap water or do i need deionised/distilled water?
whats the general consensus?

kev

[petermeachem]

tap. deionised is just for batteries

[ajlelectronics]

Or you seize the opportunity to install waterless coolant!
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[Bitumen Boy]

Depends on your tapwater, really. If it's nice and soft bung it in. If it's hard water, then rainwater is a better bet and free to boot

[petermeachem]

why would water hardness make a difference? A radiator is not like a kettle (or shouldn't be), it doesn't get refilled much so shouldn't generate much limescale

[Phil - Nottingham]

Tap and good quality Glycol antifreeze at at least 40% such as Comma Do not use OAT antifreeze's
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[kevin2306]

[solomorris]

I have 2 tanks to collect rainwater and is highly recommended for years that is what mesclada use for radiators with a little antifreeze

[Bitumen Boy]

[hornchurchmale]

As relatively new owner of a classic car. Have looked into deionised versus tap.
Use Deionised , macro and other stores sell it 5 litres at a time. Cheap.
Reason to avoid tap water is it still has minerals initial that can settle out when engine isn't run often. Thus causing particles and or clumbs of corrosion that are hard and cause issues. Eg heating, blockages etc.
Though rare, not ideal way to look after an important piece of heritage.
That said tap water in normal engines is fine. Anti freeze mix is now recommended at 50-50per cent. Though lower levels can be used if following anti freeze supplier guides major car manufacturers supply brand new cars at high levels of 50/50.

[rvdmikej]

Just an idea, but if you have a condensing tumble dryer it is a good source of distilled water. Mike

[petermeachem]

Yesterday I put some (remarkably thin) oil into my daugter's new Fiat 500. Out of interest I looked up anti-freeze in the handbook and that said deionised water.

[norustplease]

More importantly, when you buy your antifreeze, make sure it is suitable for your car. Older cars don't like the modern OAT long life type (usually pink). It attacks certain kinds of gasket seal, etc. in your cooling system
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[jessejazza]

BS6580 is the correct spec to look for.

I found this last couple of years that at motor factors this isn't stamped on the container. Only place I have found worth buying antifreeze and oil from (25L) is at agricultural suppliers and at a fair price.

[stevel98]

Deionised water and distilled water are not the same thing.

Deionised water is electronically filtered of charge meaning its had ions removed.

This is an unnatural state for water and all it wants to do is re-ionise itself again from any surface it contacts, i.e. it will corrode these surfaces.

Distilled only for coolant..