Oppopinions Wanted: Tap Water vs Distilled for use with Thermocure?

"way2blu does a rev update" (way2blu) 07/16/2019 at 13:25 • Filed to: Cooling, Rust, Mr2, Toyota MR2

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My MR2 still has some rust in the coolant after last week’s flush, so I’m looking at using Thermocure for a more comprehensive flush.

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Should I invest in distilled water to go with this for the cleaning process, or will tap water be okay? Engine is an iron block, so I’m looking to make sure I don’t make the rust worse using the wrong water with this setup.

Also, any recommendations on coolant once the system’s clean? 

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > way2blu does a rev update 07/16/2019 at 13:30

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Tap water could potentially have a little funky pH, or elements in it able to precipitate or form deposits if staying in the cooling system for a while. Likely not to matter for a flush . Distilled might actually work slightly better, in that it has the ability to dissolve more than hard tap water might - particularly iron salts.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > way2blu does a rev update 07/16/2019 at 13:33

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I’d go with distilled. It’s like 88c a gallon at walmart.

Chuckles > way2blu does a rev update 07/16/2019 at 13:34

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If by "invest" you mean "spend 89 cents at the grocery store for a gallon of distilled water," then yes, invest in some distilled water. Your tap water has ions in it that might have a negative influence on how well you can extract the rust out of your system.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > way2blu does a rev update 07/16/2019 at 13:35

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Cant recommend thermocure

Ive never drank it yet

Discerning > way2blu does a rev update 07/16/2019 at 13:36

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Distilled water should always be used in a cooling system if you can’t get a hold of de ionozed water. You do not want the minerals that are in tap water hanging around in your cooling system after you flush the water out.

facw > way2blu does a rev update 07/16/2019 at 13:38

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Get distilled/ deionized. It costs next to nothing, and you know you won’t leave anything behind or degrade the cleaner.

Discerning > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 07/16/2019 at 13:39

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His product includes a step to run the car normally for three days or so with a mix of the product and plenty of water.

And I would contend that even during a flush, tap water will leave behind some minerals. Not worth the risk to save a couple bucks.

Nibby > way2blu does a rev update 07/16/2019 at 13:43

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for drinking, substitute water with coolant... great for your skin and internal organs

way2blu does a rev update > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 07/16/2019 at 13:54

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That’s good to know, I’m not 100% sure where the rust is coming from in the system so I’m running the thermocure treatment in hopes of getting all of it at once. Maybe the distilled water can help even more.

way2blu does a rev update > farscythe - makin da cawfee! 07/16/2019 at 13:56

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Unless you have rust in your digestive system, I’d recommend against it

But that’s just me

His Stigness > way2blu does a rev update 07/16/2019 at 13:59

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Yes, get distilled. Never run tap water, especially California tap water in a car. The ONLY time I would ever put tap water in mine or a customer’s car would be if I was stranded on the side of the road and tap water was the only thing available.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > way2blu does a rev update 07/16/2019 at 13:59

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Pretty sure all that alcohol has killed any and all rust in farscythe’s system.

way2blu does a rev update > Nibby 07/16/2019 at 14:01

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Lol. Next up, Check out SAE 5W-30, the best Essential Oil for your health!

way2blu does a rev update > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 07/16/2019 at 14:03

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Ah so he runs like E85 or something, right? Wait no that’s the fuel

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > way2blu does a rev update 07/16/2019 at 14:05

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Dont think he cares if its E85 or Whisky :P

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 07/16/2019 at 15:04

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Im stainless baby!

Michael > way2blu does a rev update 07/16/2019 at 16:10

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For 14 quarts I’d use water out of the garden hose. That’s what mine has been running 50:50 with Toyota red for 13 years, no problems yet. The tap water here isn't too hard though

Shift24 > way2blu does a rev update 07/16/2019 at 16:38

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Coolant, once its clean, doesn’t matter, Prestone is good enough.  I f you can run leaner, toward more water, if you don’t have to worry about freezing temps. Water 100% has better heat transfer than any coolant (that I know of)

Also if it’s cheap enough get De-ionized water. Even purer than distilled.

Urambo Tauro > way2blu does a rev update 07/16/2019 at 20:54

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Assuming that t he instructions likely call for a good rinsing after treatment, I would probably just use tap water for t he treatment, then rinse (at least 2 or 3 rinse cycles) with distilled.

GLiddy > way2blu does a rev update 07/16/2019 at 21:22

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I’d just use tap water. What kind of contaminants could possibly affect the process when Thermocure contains up to 16% of diammonium phosphate and 1% Sodium salts? I’d worry much more about the salt left behind by the Thermocure than the small amount of dissolved solids and salts from the water. Flush according to instructions, but I wouldn’t waste my money on distilled or deionized water for the flush. Flush, drain and then fill with your expensive distilled water and coolant.