Holts radiator coolant/flush

[5936]

Distilled water is those nice to have thing only.

 

[Weiming]

I run my cooling system (double-core alu radiator) on just plain tap water and a bottle of WW. Don't see the need for anti-freeze or coolant in our climate.

[Yeobh]

Tap water contain choride which is corrosive very bad for alum tube radiator. Anti-freeze is either P or E glycol, it fucntions as anti-freeze, impove coolant boiling temp and also act as rust inhibitor.

[5936]

Water Wetter also contain rust inhibitors. and water lubricant.

 

Tap water used sometimes no choice as coolant being changed by workshop.

 

For me Kia Si, besides 50-50 LLC, I added cooling system treatment.

 

 

[Weiming]

Yes I noticed that all workshops just use plain tap water when topping up the radiator or overflow reservoir :)

 

I agree that distilled or de-ionized water is the best. I use tap water out of pure convenience and experience has shown no side effects in my cooling system.

 

To take water constitution/type out of the equation completely, one can always try a waterless coolant:

Evans Coolant

[Yeobh]

Frankly most of our shops are are just learning the professional way of maintaining and troubleshooting cooling systems.Many just don't even have the right tools to start with.

Edited August 11, 2010 by Yeobh

[Yeobh]

If you are comfortable then it's ok

[Jamesc]

As long as you change whatever you use in your radiator regularly,

 

you COE will expire long before your radiator.

[Yeobh]

Generally car radiators not properly taken care off will die prematurely within 3 to 5 years either due to corrosion, clogging or electrolysis actions

[Tigershark1976]

Talking about DIY flushing, I also want to highlight why there is no point buying expensive coolant or even distilled water.

 

After you finish flushing and drain out every drop of water in your radiator, there is still lots of water in the engine and its all tap water. Thus whats the point of pouring distilled water into your radiator and mix with the tap water in the engine? Unless you have access to a massive tank of distilled water just for flushing purpose (I don't think any workshop uses distilled water for flushing).

 

Thats why I just stick with tap water and use water wetter.

 

 

massive amount of distilled water? ?? yes ..but cost is manageble. after flushing with tap. drain off the radiator water and replace it with bottled distilled water. For my Vios, each refill requires less than 3 bottle of 1.5L of distilled water. I do it 4 rounds to minimise the amount of tap water in my radiator. cost me around 65 cents per bottle of distilled water from NTUC... so? total damage is less than $10

[Yeobh]

To further cut cost, collect rain water and use them for flushing purpose.

[Tigershark1976]

To further cut cost, collect rain water and use them for flushing purpose.

 

hahaha..

[Jcolfax]

I've heard about the Holts radiator coolant/flush (donno which one) that has some sorta fine solid particle inside that's meant to gently scrub away the mineral/rust buildup... anyone has any info on it? And price? Thanks, bro! And sis!

 

 

hi there.. i don't know if you finally had this query of yours resolved.. but in case it hasn't, please do let us know by posting updates.. or if you were able to find them perhaps you could post pictures? thanks.

[Mini-itx]

As long as you change whatever you use in your radiator regularly,

 

you COE will expire long before your radiator.

 

Yup, radiator will have to be replace once in a while. It doesn't last forever....

 

Avoid tap water? I don't see how its possible. How do you flush your cooling system? Fill up with a bottle of radiator flush, let the engine run (some remove thermostat as well), then drain. Top up with water and do the same thing again and again till the water becomes clear. Then fill with water and additive of your choice.

 

Some may decide to put a hose directly into the radiator to flush out the debris and into the engine to flush out junk in the engine.

 

So, what water do you use when you flush? Tap water or distilled water? You will need at least 1-2 1.5L cartons of distilled water in order to perform a flush.

 

IF you use tap water to flush, then no point using distilled water anymore. No matter how hard you drain, there is still lots of water in the engine. The water inlet is not at the lowest point of the engine, thus there is still lots of water inside and its tap water.

[Mini-itx]

Tap water contain choride which is corrosive very bad for alum tube radiator. Anti-freeze is either P or E glycol, it fucntions as anti-freeze, impove coolant boiling temp and also act as rust inhibitor.

 

Actually chorine doesn't matter much. Cause will be driven out of the cooling system over time due to high temp. Its the minerals thats in the water that really matters.