Coolant Redux

["R. Cummings" <cumm@flash.net>]

Wow, I got eight returns on my coolant e-mail. I guess I am the victim of
old technology and brain f**t. I'm a heat transfer and A/C guy and not a
chemist so I should keep my mouth shut or my finger off the send key when it
comes to coolant chemistry.

After being told that Mercedes Benz does recommend distilled water I will
try to dig myself out of this hole. So here goes. At one time, GM did not
recommend distilled water but that was in the era of copper brass radiators.
My recollection is that is was because it is was chemically active and would
leach into solution some component of the solder.

In the original post I said demineralized water was preferred but I believe
the term was de ionized water. The chemists can tell me if this makes any sense.

Despite the fact that I worked for them at the time, I, like most everybody,
used water from the garden hose to mix with my favorite brand of ethylene
glycol and do so today.

Sorry for relying on an all too flawed memory.

Bob Cummings
87 Coupe GT