use tap or distilled water with coolant? what's required?

[66 Galaxie]

I usually use distilled and dealer just used tap water to dilute coolant when doing coolant change.
Anyone know what the service manual calls for?

 

[ZSHO]

The Manual only suggests using prediluted engine coolant meeting Fords spec's,and the coolant concentration should be between 48-50 %,any change in temp fluctation since performed? Motorcraft orange antifreeze/coolant prediluted should be used.  Z

 

[Vortech347]

Tap water is a pretty big no-no.  I'd be demanding that gets cleaned out.

 

[66 Galaxie]

The Manual only suggests using prediluted engine coolant meeting Fords spec's,and the coolant concentration should be between 48-50 %,any change in temp fluctation since performed? Motorcraft orange antifreeze/coolant prediluted should be used.  Z

That's what I saw in the OM too and am hoping someone has a service manual to see what it says.

 

[66 Galaxie]

Tap water is a pretty big no-no.  I'd be demanding that gets cleaned out.

That's what I'm thinking and am hoping actual service manual is specific enough I can quote them what Ford says to do.

 

[pmezo33]

I always buy distilled and mix it myself.  Never use tap.

 

[SHOdded]

Always distilled, never tap.  Tap water has an unknown chemistry and hence unknown influence on the coolant chemistry.  May be fine for an emergency, not for ongoing service.

For example, https://www.fordparts.com/Products/Chemicals-EngineProducts-Coolants.aspx :
Motorcraft® Specialty Green Engine Coolant (Concentrated)
•Recommended by Ford Motor Company; meets warranty requirements
•Dark green-colored, longer-life, ethylene glycol-based antifreeze/coolant for use in gasoline engines
•Provides year-round antifreeze, anti-boil and corrosion protection
•A 50/50 mixture of coolant and distilled water provides freeze protection down to -34°F (-37°C) and boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C)
•Use only when specified ◦Use when Ford Specification WSS-M97B55-A is specified
◦Do not mix different colors or types of coolant in your vehicle. Make sure the correct coolant is used. Mixing of engine coolants may harm your engine’s cooling system. The use of an improper coolant may harm engine and cooling system components and may void the warranty
◦Do not use this product in systems originally equipped with the fluorescent green-colored Motorcraft® Premium Antifreeze/Coolant, meeting Ford Specification ESE-M97B44-A, or with the yellow-colored Motorcraft® Gold Antifreeze/Coolant, meeting Ford Specification WSS-M97B51-A1, or with the orange-colored Motorcraft® Orange Antifreeze/Coolant, meeting Ford Specification WSS-M97B44-D or -D2

•Meets or exceeds the requirements of WSS-M97B55-A and ASTM D 3306
•Contains a bittering agent
•Available in one-gallon bottles

http://paulmachenry.com/documents/CoolantFAQs.pdf

 

[66 Galaxie]

Checked a gallon jug and it says to mix with distilled water...

Since the service writer thinks water is water I'm going over his head and will work with the service manager on a resolution.

 

[BiGMaC]

Agree... Always distilled (not spring, but distilled) to avoid minerals that can scale up in the cooling components lowering both capacity and efficiency over time.... I mean look what happens to water heaters!

 

[ZSHO]

They do perform a pre system flush which consists of using TAP WATER mixed with the flush additive before adding the coolant,would just make certain what exactly was performed before raising some Hell IMO.  Z      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWIXa50R9bo

 

[66 Galaxie]

Service writer, who used to be a tech, said they always use tap water to dilute the concentrated coolant when filling the system because that's all they have and it's never been a problem. 

I'm just going to have a calm conversation with the service manager either on the phone or a quick visit.
Not planning to make an enemies as they have done good work in the past. My normal service writer was out sick so I got stuck with another writer there... In the future I will only use my regular service writer who cares about the little details


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[66 Galaxie]

Nice conversation with service manager and they will change the coolant out and do it the right way with distilled water.


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[ajpturbo]

Service writer, who used to be a tech, said they always use tap water to dilute the concentrated coolant when filling the system because that's all they have and it's never been a problem. 




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Its never been a problem because dealerships typically only work on cars under warranty and cars that are just out ...older than 6-7 years people ending up taking their cars to joes garage.....its just not good practice to use tap water full of minerals and the problems wont rear their heads until years later.....dealerships are charging 85-110 bucks an hour...they want to charge top rate, then they should perform top service, no shortcuts...i can get short cuts from joes garage for 60 an hour or less 

 

[SHOdded]

Nice conversation with service manager and they will change the coolant out and do it the right way with distilled water.

Glad to hear it, def want to keep that good relationship long-term :thumb:

 

[66 Galaxie]

Also found out that a lot of dealers are using Coastal synthetic blend not Motorcraft but since Coastal makes Kendal which has been said to be rebranded as Motorcraft it is supposed to be the same basic oil.

 

[SHOdded]

Dealers will cut costs wherever they can.  Makes me nervous though, because I don't know for sure that I am getting what I am paying for.  And since the oil comes out of a bulk bin, you have no way to verify the source.  So if you have a good relationship with the dealer, and your vehicle is running well, that may be the best measure of performance you get.

 

[66 Galaxie]

I always do a quick check of the basics after service including checking paint marks i have put on a few bolts and hose clamps that need to be loosened for things like accessing the transmission dipstick. In my experience most techs do not check the trans fluid levels on my ecoboost because the air box needs to be moved for access.  One time I heard a service writer say they only check the trans fluid level of the customer complains of spots under the car...


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[griggs95]

Dealers will cut costs wherever they can.  Makes me nervous though, because I don't know for sure that I am getting what I am paying for.  And since the oil comes out of a bulk bin, you have no way to verify the source.  So if you have a good relationship with the dealer, and your vehicle is running well, that may be the best measure of performance you get.

You bring up a very good point.

I paid for a BG service on the transmission 4 years ago on the sho and gave them all the Amsoil to do the job. I got the car back from the dealer (since most places won't do that service back then) and I had like 4 quarts left over. I asked wtf, this should all be gone!!??
Turns out they mixed what was already in the BG machine with my Amsoil and I hit the fan with anger!!
Point is, unless I didn't see them do the service or there wasn't any left over fluid in my trunk I would've never known what happened. Thank god the mechanic didn't take the remainder of the Amsoil.

I paid for a service that I didn't get. They had to buy all new Amsoil (there cost) and do the job again under my watchful eye.

There is no motivation for any shop to use distilled water because that would mean your cooling system would last longer and that is not good for business. You could insist and pay for it but whoever does the work will just say to themselves F it...they'll never know and I'm lazy anyways. Maybe they'll find out in 150k miles when they need a new heater core and radiator that I didn't do the job lol

Logically speaking, these days people don't make enough money to care like they used to...just the way it is. I've talked to a lot of people in my line of work over the years and this is a major problem. Also, people don't really listen anymore which really exacerbates the problem; a double whammy if you will.

Watch it get done yourself, or do it yourself is my only advice. Or, don't care and lease a car forever but that is expensive over the long term.

 

[SHOdded]

Too true.  I do wish they had made auto shop a mandatory class for graduation from high school.  Would've made me more independent for sure.