Antifreeze, distilled water or tap water?

husabutt · Jul 31, 2004

For the summer months it is understood that pure water cools better than an antifreeze/water mix. But should distilled water or tap water be used. I have read that distilled water is more corrosive to aluminum than tap water but tap water tends to leave deposits. Is anybody running pure water without antifreeze?

44014 · Aug 1, 2004

i would never run my berger or any engine with tap water or with out coolant for that matter i would just leave as is im from brisbane gets pretty warm here only time i have over heating prblems are when i am am stuck at traffic lights :? are you exsperiancing overheating problems...?

cheers doug

LINEAWEAVER · Aug 1, 2004

Hi Husabutt,
In addition to adding protection from freezing anti freeze increases the boiling point albeit with a reduction in actual heat transfer ability.

For maximum engine cooling (ie competition) I suggest using distilled water mixed in proper proportion with a wetting agent (Redline, etc.) then increasing the radiator pressure to 1.8 bar.

Outside of going to the extremes as mentioned above simply use a distilled water and anti freeze solution.

Hope this helps.
Kind Regards,
Dale

justin_yz426 · Aug 1, 2004

I use 4 capfulls of water wetter. 85% distilled water and 15% high performance anti freeze.

Carl · Aug 1, 2004

Long ago I had a car with an aluminum head that had the cooling passages totally eaten away. I was told that the chlorine in the tap water reacts with the aluminum. Although I now believe this to be a myth, I have always mixed my antifreeze with distilled or RO water.

BundyBear · Aug 1, 2004

You might want to check the inhibitor you run in the water is compatible with alloy engine parts. I know of one, sold as a diesel engine coolant, that was corrosive to alloy heads. Sorry I can't remember its name. You should be safe with almost anything sold these days for passenger cars.

t-jet-tim · Aug 1, 2004

When I was young I ran tap water one summer
in my 1970 Roadrunner.I rusted a freeze plug
right through.Tapwater has a PH of under 7.8
and a lot of oxygen that can ruin water pump
impellers.

sacberg · Aug 1, 2004

Mr. Lineweaver - Any insight on where to get a 1.8 bar radiator cap? I read the the 1.6 for a KX500 would fit - I tried it - no luck. Any opinions on the Evan waterless coolants? I put some in my bike this weekend, no problems so far...

Yote · Aug 2, 2004

Another item to consider is Engine Ice. This is a premixed (distilled water and coolant) formula. Supposed to be real good stuff. Many roadracers use this as well as Redline water wetter because they are allowed through tech whereas regular coolant is not.
Engine Ice claims better cooling than plain water or coolant/water mix.
It is a bit pricey. Comes in 1/2 gallon jugs, and is blue in color.

spiney · Aug 4, 2004

Carl said:
Long ago I had a car with an aluminum head that had the cooling passages totally eaten away. I was told that the chlorine in the tap water reacts with the aluminum. Although I now believe this to be a myth, I have always mixed my antifreeze with distilled or RO water.

that is a myth. antifreeze has a corrosion inhibitor which degrades over time so cast iron blocks rust and the iron oxide partcles erode the aluminium head cooling passages. happened to an old volvo i had and was the reason the head gasket blew.

LINEAWEAVER · Aug 4, 2004

sacberg said:
Mr. Lineweaver - Any insight on where to get a 1.8 bar radiator cap? I read the the 1.6 for a KX500 would fit - I tried it - no luck. Any opinions on the Evan waterless coolants? I put some in my bike this weekend, no problems so far...

Hi Sacberg,
Unfortunately the Husaberg radiator cap is a bit odd and I have yet to find a suitable replacement with a higher rating. For the interim I install a custom spigot to the OEM radiator or in the case of special construction race bikes a custom radiator built to spec is fitted. Either of which accept a high pressure radiator cap.

Hope this helps.

Best Regards,
Dale

Ps
I am looking into the prospect of having a line of custom caps manufactured. Please let me know if this is something current Husaberg
owners are interested in.

Antifreeze, distilled water or tap water?

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