[DR-JEKL]

Originally Posted by Rub3n

Wow jekl, you killed it man. Absolutely nailed it. Thanks for the info! Definitely will know where to go for my bmw info!
Or just anything info.
Soooo... How badly is this "calcified" coolant affecting my engine? Is it a thing I should get fixed ASAP, soon, later, when pigs fly?

How old is your coolant? If you dont know and it may have been say 4+ years get it changed, and have the cooling system flushed.

All fluids degrade over time and eventually the additives in the coolant will degrade thus losing it's anti corrosion properties and then the damage starts to occur with blockage of the water jackets due to buildup (in the block, etc) possible radiator core corrosion and this buildup/corrosion will put extra strain on the waterpump (If you apply the same logic as your cooling system like a 150kg coke swilling, pizza eating fatty who's blood vessels have excess builtup fat deposits and eventually has a heart attack)

[_ink]

Originally Posted by DR-JEKL

It's certainly not an old wives tale Ian. Pop the lid on your kettle and check the element you will see a chalky white substance which is know as calcification.

This calcification also occurs in irons and coffee machines (coffee machines require descaling every 6 months using vinegar or citric acid)

The amount of calcification depends on the water quality also, as some areas have 'hard' water. Now whilst I haven't ever experienced or witnessed an engine failure due to using tap water, in a high performance engine such as the N54 which is known to run hot I wouldn't be using tap water especially when distilled water is so cheap. Having said that if you filled/topped up the cooling system with tap water you wouldn't experience a major failure of the cooling system components ASAP....

Distilled water is $2 for 2L and is found in the laundry section of most retail supermarkets (or at any SCA autobarn bunnings etc)

http://shop.coles.com.au/online/mobi...d-water-91899p

Thanks mate! Knew you'd annihilate the response.

The kettle example is precisely what I needed to understand this.

Price of distilled water isn't an issue at all, I have bottles of these in the garage to mix with my meth.

[Boganian Rubes]

Originally Posted by _ink

have bottles of these in the garage to mix with my meth.

Um is this something we should be worried about

[vtl]

Originally Posted by DR-JEKL

It's certainly not an old wives tale Ian. Pop the lid on your kettle and check the element you will see a chalky white substance which is know as calcification.

This calcification also occurs in irons and coffee machines (coffee machines require descaling every 6 months using vinegar or citric acid)

The amount of calcification depends on the water quality also, as some areas have 'hard' water. Now whilst I haven't ever experienced or witnessed an engine failure due to using tap water, in a high performance engine such as the N54 which is known to run hot I wouldn't be using tap water especially when distilled water is so cheap. Having said that if you filled/topped up the cooling system with tap water you wouldn't experience a major failure of the cooling system components ASAP....

Distilled water is $2 for 2L and is found in the laundry section of most retail supermarkets (or at any SCA autobarn bunnings etc)

http://shop.coles.com.au/online/mobi...d-water-91899p

Good info, although I am sure that most mechanics even bother using distilled water. I am not sure they'd have barrels of distilled water sitting in the back to cover all the cars that they go though haha. I never bothered to put distilled water in my previous car but ended up using it for my 135i for the last coolant flush.

To be honest I think tap water would be fine here in Melbourne. I think the water quality is pretty good here, tastes pretty pure and I don't think its got a high mineral content. When I went to Orlando Florida, the water there tasted terrible and I would never put that crap in my car haha.