Re: 74 Spider -- Tap or Distilled ? ? ?

[Charles Slayman <Charles.Slayman@domain.elided>]

Tim,
	I know you're going to get recommendations (from people who I consider 
to be quantum leaps ahead of me on Alfas) to use distilled water instead of tap 
water.  My input is that it doesn't matter.  Distilled water (or any relatively 
pure water) is highly reactive and will dissolve the container it is in up to 
the saturation or solid solubility point.  (Hell, let's face it, WATER IS THE 
BEST SOLVENT ON THE PLANET!)  So upon hitting the radiator and block, tap water 
and distilled water will dissolve as much brass and aluminum as they can hold.  
So the distinction becomes mute.  It is the job of the antifreeze to inhibit 
further electrolysis.  But I doubt there is much difference in the initial 
electrolysis that occurs with a fresh mix, be it distilled or tap.
	On the other hand, distilled water is very important for batteries.  In 
that case, the salts present in tap water can inhibit electrical action or plate 
out onto the lead electrodes, degrading battery performance.  A little bit is 
probably not too bad.  But accumulated over the years for an older battery that 
always sems to require topping up, distilled water will make a difference.
	
Cheers,
Charlie
'89 Spider
San Jose

	
>X-Originating-IP: [208.133.28.119]
>From: "Tim Sheridan" <tds6599@domain.elided>
>To: alfa-digest@domain.elided
>Subject: 74 Spider -- Tap or Distilled ? ? ?
>Date: Fri, 09 Nov 2001 16:47:58 -0500
>Mime-Version: 1.0
>X-OriginalArrivalTime: 09 Nov 2001 21:47:59.0353 (UTC) 
FILETIME=[32D6AE90:01C16968]
>
>4:45 pm EDT -- Wilmington NC  11/9/01
>
>Hey cats....
>
>     I know this topic's been covered a million times prior but need some 
>simple advice.
>
>     I'm gonna change the anti-freeze this weekend in my stock 74 Spider.  
>Gonna use good ol' Prestone ....   but for the water -- tap or distilled?  
>Without getting into an essay on chemical reactions and lengthy disertations 
>thereof could somebody who owns a '74 Spider please tell me which to use?
>
>     I plan on following the procedure as described in the '74 Owner's 
>Manual.  Any tips or "heads up" stuff I need to know?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Tim Sheridan
>74 Spider
>Wilmington NC
>
>------------------
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