monkey3 Posted July 25, 2006 Share Posted July 25, 2006 Can somebody help out there help me? Is it ok to top up my radiator with de-ionised water? this post http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showpost.php?p=678883&postcount=1 says that you should use rad fluid only, where as the link in it to tell you how to change your fluid says you can use distilled water also... http://www.mkiv.com/techarticles/coolant_flush/index.html So, can I use de-inonised water? thanks for your swift responses, as I need to get to bed as I have to be up too early to drive to phoenix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkey3 Posted July 25, 2006 Author Share Posted July 25, 2006 nobody? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feakins Posted July 25, 2006 Share Posted July 25, 2006 De-ionised water has been processed by ion exchange to remove most of the contaminating ions. Distilled water has been boiled and condensed, so it only has water in it and perhaps some dissolved gases; the more times you distil it, the purer it becomes. So I can conclude that it is safe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terminator Posted July 25, 2006 Share Posted July 25, 2006 You need to ask your self why it needs topping up. A MKIV cooling system in tip top condition will not need topping up. Mine nned a top up after 4 years of not a change in fluid level, a week later the rad cap failed. Rad caps are getting old an some do not hold the pressure, so the coolant expands into the front bottle and over flows on the move. The system then recovers coolant from the bottle as it cools, eventually it will suck air. A quick check of the bottle when the engine is hot may show a full bottle but a cool check will show a lower level. Get you cap checked or just get a new one. Dont top up with water use Toyota For Life, they sell it in litre bottles. Change it every couple of years and you system will stay as good as new or as good as it is at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkey3 Posted July 26, 2006 Author Share Posted July 26, 2006 You need to ask your self why it needs topping up. A MKIV cooling system in tip top condition will not need topping up. Mine nned a top up after 4 years of not a change in fluid level, a week later the rad cap failed. Rad caps are getting old an some do not hold the pressure, so the coolant expands into the front bottle and over flows on the move. The system then recovers coolant from the bottle as it cools, eventually it will suck air. A quick check of the bottle when the engine is hot may show a full bottle but a cool check will show a lower level. Get you cap checked or just get a new one. Dont top up with water use Toyota For Life, they sell it in litre bottles. Change it every couple of years and you system will stay as good as new or as good as it is at the moment. Excellent, thanx. BTW, my rad cap broke and pissed all over the place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnA Posted July 26, 2006 Share Posted July 26, 2006 You need to ask your self why it needs topping up. . exactly;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkey3 Posted July 26, 2006 Author Share Posted July 26, 2006 exactly;) Because the rad cap broke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnA Posted July 26, 2006 Share Posted July 26, 2006 precisely:d Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkey3 Posted July 28, 2006 Author Share Posted July 28, 2006 precisely:d I think we need some context facial expressions, smilies just don't convey the intended meaning enough. I'm sorry for being a dumbass John, but are you suggesting there is something more amiss than at first meets the eye? I 've so spoilt the moment haven't I? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnA Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 I think we need some context facial expressions, smilies just don't convey the intended meaning enough. I'm with you brother:d I'm sorry for being a dumbass John, but are you suggesting there is something more amiss than at first meets the eye? I 've so spoilt the moment haven't I? As termi said, instead of focusing in topping up, best is to investigate why it needs topping up in the first place. The 'cool' level shouldn't change. Best flush the whole lot if you can, it won't hurt. Coolant expires. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkey3 Posted July 28, 2006 Author Share Posted July 28, 2006 I noticed some fluid on the bottom of front bumper and heard the fluid bubbling and once it had cooled down I checked the cap and it was fooked (a bit of it was still in the rad opening when I took the top off). So I got a new cap the following day and had to top it up with something (hence the thread) to get it up to pheonix for a service. They have subsequently changed the all fluid for Toyota For Life and the problem has gone away. No bubbling or loss of fluid. Surely the reason it was coming out was because the springy valve bit on the bottom of the rad cap had broken and so it was throwing all it's coolant in to the overflow which was filling up under pressure and losing a bit? Please tell me if you think this is not the case... you may well have me worried Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnA Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 The quickest way to know for sure is to change the radcap for a good one, replenish the coolant and see if it still leaks afterwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkey3 Posted July 28, 2006 Author Share Posted July 28, 2006 The quickest way to know for sure is to change the radcap for a good one, replenish the coolant and see if it still leaks afterwards. Done and done. All good no leaky leaky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnA Posted July 28, 2006 Share Posted July 28, 2006 You caught it early, well done. Left on it's own, it leads to hotspots that overheat and result in serious engine damage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkey3 Posted July 28, 2006 Author Share Posted July 28, 2006 phew, all good then. I thought it was blood at first... and I haven't run anything over for ages. (just kidding btw) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wightlad Posted August 6, 2006 Share Posted August 6, 2006 Hi all Is there anything special to note about airlocks? When at the main dealer the other day the very nice man (haha) was trying to tell me there is a particularly difficult routine to follow 'in a car of this type' and I shouldnt attempt to drain the coolant myself. Horsesh*t or some truth? I havent noted any problems when I have carried this out on other cars. :-) Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnA Posted August 7, 2006 Share Posted August 7, 2006 ...Horsesh*t or some truth? ... bovine excrement. There is a radiator drain tap underneath, just do a couple of flushes to get everything out (it doesn't drain the whole lot first time round). The rest is like every other car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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