Ian_Rob
Well-Known Member
When changing the coolant on the sealed side of a Volvo D1-30 is distilled water recommended or can I just use tap water?
Coolant (Quick Question)
- Thread starter Ian_Rob
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VicS
Well-Known Member
Distilled or de-ionized water is recommended. Alternatively buy a ready to use antifreeze.
You will find guidance in your owners manual
You will find guidance in your owners manual
Yannick S
New Member
No Tap water, only mix coolant with demineralised.
Aas VicS mentioned, read the manual, Volvo has extended user information about maintenance.
Aas VicS mentioned, read the manual, Volvo has extended user information about maintenance.
Refueler
Well-Known Member
I find this interesting as Anti-freeze or Coolant as some like to call it has 'cleaners' etc but of course really bad water can cause sludge.
But also I think it relevant that many engines use same waterways for raw water cooling as they do for closed systems ... the difference being that raw water cooling is recc'd to be lower temp to reduce salts / crud buildup in the waterways ..
Personally - why put in water when pre-mix is cheap enough ?
But also I think it relevant that many engines use same waterways for raw water cooling as they do for closed systems ... the difference being that raw water cooling is recc'd to be lower temp to reduce salts / crud buildup in the waterways ..
Personally - why put in water when pre-mix is cheap enough ?
penberth3
Well-Known Member
I'd be surprised if UK tap water has enough dissolved solids to cause a problem. This is a sealed system with periodic changes, not a boiler with a continuous supply where scale could build up.
Refueler
Well-Known Member
Like I say - imagine the seawater that goes through raw system ...
ducked
Well-Known Member
Unless things have greatly changed "UK ｔａｐ ｗａｔｅｒ＂ｉｓ ｖｅｒｙ ｖｅｒｙ ｆａｒ ｆｒｏｍ ｂｅｉｎｇ ａ homogenous and defined mix.
Long ago, I was briefly involved in running a hydroponics system for Leeds University on a farm which was supplied with wｅｌｌ aｒｄ artesian water off chalk, and used to concrete up lab stills very quickly (Eventually mitigated for hydroponics supply by periodic illegal tractor tanker runs to a different public water supply)．
Ｉｎ contrast, Edinburgh water is super soft, is routinely used to top up lead acid batteries, and just puts a long term trace of peat tar concentrate into a lab still boiler.
So it depends. I'd agree that using tap water usually wouldnt be much of a concern, but OTOH there isnt usually a very strong reason to do it.
thinwater
Well-Known Member
Yes, tap water is far too high in contaminants to use in sealed systems. It is not so much lime build up as interference with corrosion inhibitors. (This was my career for a while) Coolant water standards are just about as strict as battery water. This is the REASON coolant switched to pre-dilute--nearly all customers were using tap water instead of the specified water.
(The US and UK coolant standards committees merged 20 years ago. ASTM D3306 is also the basis for ISO coolant performance standards.)
Momac
Well-Known Member
I have no wish to dispute that deionised water is recommended. And as said deionised water is not expensive
However I spoke with a long term time served and now retired mechanic who serviced and repaired trucks for a living and he never heard of using anything other than tap water to dilute concentrated coolant.
My preference is to buy the concentrate and dilute it myself .
However I spoke with a long term time served and now retired mechanic who serviced and repaired trucks for a living and he never heard of using anything other than tap water to dilute concentrated coolant.
My preference is to buy the concentrate and dilute it myself .
Refueler
Well-Known Member
But US water is so dependent on local factors ..... and often sufficiently different to UK water even with UK differing standards.
I hope you were not conducting your research while MTBE was leaching in many water tables of USA ??
Not trying to start an argument - but USA water and UK are generally different.
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
Even in UK water composition varies a good deal. Hardness is measured in ppm of CaCO3 and can be higher than 180 in some parts of the country. Living in North Wales, when we first bought a dishwasher I checked with the local laboratory and was informed that ours was zero. I know of local people who top up batteries with tap water.
thinwater
Well-Known Member
Well ... that just means he does not know. His practice was probably bad for his customers, just not enought to cause immediate come-backs. I'm sure he did not do controlled side-by-side testing. I did. The standard changed about 35 years ago. I was on the committee. That was when pre-dilute started to take over the market. Concentrate is generally only used for freeze point adjustments in very severe climates and after water flushing.
Dilute it with DI water. Or don't follow the instructions at your risk. But I did the testing and I'm quite sure that tap water is harmful in mostcases. Only a little, but harmful. The only reason for concentrate is for freeze point adjustments.
Malish
Well-Known Member
There is plenty of range in UK waters, post #7 highlights it well, as dictated primarily by the underlying geology of an area. Drinking water standards mostly relate to taste, smell and visuals, and contaminants which are hopefully all at low level (and not much of an issue for coolant water anyway). Distilled or reverse osmosis grade (i.e. shop sold) deionised water is the best option but tap water will suffice. Don't be tempted by full 'laboratory' grade 18.2 Mohm deionised water (if you can get it), it is quite acidic and may corrode.
thinwater
Well-Known Member
If you wonder what your local tap water contains, you can probably Google the local supplier. They won't have a full breakdown, but they should have TDS and a few indicators.
Yes, there are areas where tap water is suitable. I ran a coolant manufacturing plant where the well was very near deionized standards and could be used without treatment. But another well sunk just 500 meters away across level ground (no hills in this area) (we needed more water) was 800 ppm harness and not useful for many things. You can't know without testing.
No, distilled water is not corrosive in this application. The required "salts" for corrosion protection are in the coolant formulation. Obvious.
Yes, there are areas where tap water is suitable. I ran a coolant manufacturing plant where the well was very near deionized standards and could be used without treatment. But another well sunk just 500 meters away across level ground (no hills in this area) (we needed more water) was 800 ppm harness and not useful for many things. You can't know without testing.
No, distilled water is not corrosive in this application. The required "salts" for corrosion protection are in the coolant formulation. Obvious.
billyfish
Well-Known Member
But is the ready made mix . Pink . Blue . Green for a volvo D1 30 ?
seeSimon
Well-Known Member
Q please.
Is the output from a domestic de humidifier a reasonable sub for distilled/demineralised waters?
...or likely "better" as a coolant than "tap water"?
Or local water is very very soft, and is slightly acidic I believe.
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Refueler
Well-Known Member
mmmm I'm not inviting a lengthy discussion on this - but I was a Senior Manager with an Inspection Co that had '*******' with US Environmental Agency during the water and air quality scandal .....
UK has not in my memory ever got close to that sh** !!
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Malish
Well-Known Member
Possibly better than tap water but not as good as distilled / demineralised (this question has come up before). Whilst the moisture from the air should be relatively clean in 'land derived' elements such as calcium and magnesium as found in river water, the condensing process will have trapped materials from the atmosphere and they will be included in the condensate (e.g. SO2, CO2) and you'll also have dust from the atmosphere and residue from the condensing plates themselves incorporated in the condensate (aluminium probably).
thinwater
Well-Known Member
dehumidifier, AC, and tap water.
VicS
Well-Known Member
A conventional low silicate type , (sometimes called "inorganic acid technology") is the specified type for a D1-30 The Volvo product is green. Other manufacturers' products may be other colours. Read the description , dont rely on the colour alone. Diluted Volvo green is still green though
Do not use an advanced/ OAT ( organic acid technology ) / long life antifreeze unless it is already in use in your engine, in which case continue to use the same type. DO NOT mix the two types or chop and change between the two types.