Date: Sat, 16 Oct 2010 13:46:47 -0400
Reply-To: Derek Drew <derekdrew@DEREKMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Derek Drew <derekdrew@DEREKMAIL.COM>
Subject: Stainless Pipes Determination and Deionized Water Query
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
With all the talk of conductive water in the cooling system and
stainless pipes, I ran across a bunch of articles saying that you can
get zero conductivity water by ordering de-ionized water, and then
mix this with the coolant.
He is a 55 gallon drum that comes with free
shipping
http://www.boilerandcoolingwater.com/Deionized_Water_ACS_Grade_p/dw4000-55g.htm
I noticed that some coolant manufacturers are now using de-ionized
water as part of their premix coolant, and I noticed other coolant
manufacturer sites recommending deionized water (or distilled water)
be used with coolant.
This is all a mystery to me as I had though that we are supposed to
NOT use distilled water as coolant mix.
I have decided to use stainless pipes in my vans, make sure that
these are NOT grounded to the chassis (Scott!!) or touching it or any
other metal in any way, and use litmus strips to test the coolant for
acidity, use Schaeffer's Clean and Cool
http://www.schaefferoil.com/specialty/258_coolant_additive.html
additive, and probably, pending what is said on this list about this
topic, use the deionized water to further minimize conductivity of the water.
If somebody could revive the argument against distilled water for
coolant, I'd like to hear it. Presumably, that argument would apply
to deionized water as well.
The difference between distilled water and deionized water is subtle,
but it seems that the deionized water has no conductive minerals or
substances in it at all, whereas distilled water is not designed to
be necessarily so after it gets into the container and into your house.
The required subaru content of this email is present in that many
vendors of subaru conversion parts offer stainless elements to their
conversions. In my view, this shows an admirable concern about
keeping the vans alive for those of us who drive in winter or wet or
damp or oceanic conditions and salt, and I would not call such a
material selection a mistake, but rather a gift that should be
appropriately managed.
So, in summary, I do not believe that the use of stainless materials
in the vehicles is necessarily a mistake or serious error, except in
those cases that the stainless interfaces directly with dissimilar
metals on the car. I'd be skeptical that any vendor would offer a
stainless part that bolts or attaches directly to a non-stainless
part without insulation, and if so, then I think they should be more
concerned about doing 101-no-nos.
_______________________________________________
Derek Drew
Founder, ConsumerSearch.com
Washington DC / New York
derekdrew@derekmail.com
202-966-7907 (Call the number at left normally)
(alt/cell for diligent calling only): 703-408-1532
