I am going to be starting my new rebuild soon and was wondering this.

Why not just fill up the coolant system with just distilled water and then drain it after say the first 100 miles. So , this way you can flush out all the holymar, rtv, and crap that is floating around the system.

Then , refill it with the 50/50 mix. Seems like it would be a good way to clean it out and save a few bucks on coolant.

I remeber on my past engine how it had RTV floating around in it.

This would seem to be ok only if you didn't live in a freezing climate.

James

 

You'll be saving what, about 15 bucks by doing this? Shoot, why don't you use **** oil in your car too for the first 100 miles......

 

WTF lol homebrewer..

i have water in my cooling system, it will be find for awhile but will wanna change it at some time so it dont make anything rust.. but for a short time it will be fine

 

Use two gallons of distilled water, James. It's cheap and it won't matter if it leaks as you'll find the leak prior to running anti-freeze.

B

 

only downside to using water is that u cant notice the tell tale signs of burning coolant...otherwise i see no problem using it......

 

The only thing that is going to mess you up is when you want to add coolant. You're going to have a ton of "just water" in the block that you can't drain out. The 50/50 mix ratio is goin gto be messed up. But I did the same thing until I got all the coolant leaks repaired.

 

I think you would get most of the water out when you undo the block drain though.

Hell dude, as much money as I have spent so far...if I could recover 15 bucks.....rock out

Thanks BDC .... distilled water all the way

Yeah, coolant does make a leaky mess to say the least.


James

 

Just to get the cliff notes on this...I am guessing you don't like the idea

 

water is fine, as long as its not freezing outside. And also you don't have to get the mix exactly 50/50.

 

i don't see a problem with it.

 

This is actually what my friends father suggested as well in case there is a leak or a disconnnected hose or something, but I didn't care. I started off with a 70 water 30 coolant mix and never had any leaks or anything luckily *knock on wood*

But yah if you want to start it up with just distilled water and make sure everything is good before adding the coolant, go for it. But just don't leave it in too long, water can rust the **** out of stuff if it's left in for too long

 

Hmm.. are you guys forgetting that coolant is also a lubracant for your water pump? I don't see to much of a problem for 100 miles.. but why risk it? If you don't want to waste money.. just put a 20/80 mixture so that it will help lubrate and help prevent rust.

 

the lubricant is not needed for the water pump to survive really, it is more of a selling point for coolant companies to sell their product..

 

I wouldn't worry about the lubricant thing either. 100 miles is nothing and you're just trying to check for leaks. My car still has a small leak somewhere under the radiator. I have been plugging coolant leaks for weeks now. I have been through 4 jugs of coolant. Saving the Sierra for when I find that damn last little teeny leak!! The Checkout lady at Ralphs think that I am drinking the Deionized water.

Remeber dDub the deionized water has had all the particulate removed so the electrolysis is not present=no rusting.

 

Really? There wont be any rust running pure distilled water? Learn something new every day

 

The particulate in the water is the conductor of the electrical charge. All electronic boards are washed in Deionized water and IPA mix. No static in Deionized water.

 

How is deionized different that distilled?

James

 

I think it is the same