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Distilled water??
Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 10:41 am
by 51MAN
Arguments for and against using distilled water in the wbx when mixing up coolant....??
Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 2:11 pm
by AMBROSIA
I've been using it for some while now with no side effects.
I figure it's worth it compared to the cost of replacing the heads.
Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 9:33 am
by 51MAN
Yes I agree.. why not know what quality the water is rather than guessing.. seems some dont subscribe to that idea and think its all a bit to "anal"........

Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 2:57 pm
by tencentlife
Arguments for are well known, but arguments against? What arguments could be made, except for cost and having to go get it?
I have water catchment at my place, so I have rainwater out of the tap. No minerals. I use that.
Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 3:02 pm
by AMBROSIA
It's such a well documented problem with the wbx engine I did not want to risk it. Even the local vw specialist adviced me to use it.
I've seen first hand the damage weak coolant mixures do to the heads.
I guess the real question is how much has the genuine vw coolant improved and do the vw dealers have any recommendations when using it:roll:
Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 7:03 pm
by perrib
There can be no arguement for using anything other than Genuine VW
G 11 coolant and distilled water. Anyone using anything else gets what they deserve. I have seen water boxer heads go 3000,000 miles when G 11 and distilled water have been used and changed once a year. I also have seen hundreds fail at 30-60 k with no coolant change, tap water and /or incorrect coolant. I had one Vanogon start leaking a gallon of coolant a week from both head gaskets coolant after a shop used non VW coolant for the coolant change. Since it happened immediatly after thje wrong coolant was used I took a chance and flushed it with distilled water and filled it with distilled coolant and g 11. It stopped leaking and did not for another few years.
Ambrosia VW designed the aluminium in the case is designed to fail if G-11 is not used. Tap water exacerbates the problem due to PH and mineral content. I have seen an engine where the case and heads were totally rotted out due to the owner using only water because "it don't freeze here and VW charges to much for coolant" I know of one Mazda and Jetta IV owner who G 12 mixed with Mazda red coolant because "it was the same color". Every part of the Jetta cooling system that was plastic turned to mush. His logic netted him 3rd degree burns. Both G 11 and G 12 VW's have warnings to only use the specified coolant.