[DML] Re: Cooling System Care

["therealdmcvegas" <dmcvegas@xxxxxxx>]

Engines can vary greatly between manufacturer, or even casting, and 
assembly batches. Some motors like GM's can be sensetive to non-
Dexcool compatable coolants. However, the DeLorean will run just fine 
with a good premium coolant, and no additives.

Now, a word about tap water. Some people find that tap water works ok 
in their cars. And in some cases, that is true. It just depends upon 
the mineral content in your water supply. Now, the big question 
is, "How hard is the water in my area?" The easiest way to fine out, 
is to head to your local hardware store. Go down the plumbing isle, 
and ask them about the life span of water heaters in your area. If 
there is a problem with heavy minerals in your area, home water 
heaters are the first to go.

In any case, tap water is the absolute best way to go. If you have 
relativly soft water in your area, then using the garden hose to 
flush out the system is just fine. Although,I myself would then take 
the extra step of draining the block, and trying to blow out the 
lines.

In any case, do NOT use tap water to fill the system! Distilled water 
is damn cheap, at about 60¢ or so a gallon. So if you think $4 was 
cheap insurance for your one engine, think again about this price as 
well. Using tap water will affect your radiator, engine block, water 
pump, heater core, and all seals and pipes by allowing mineral scale, 
accellerating corrosion, and scum to build up throught the system.

Aside from the normal warnings of clean up any spilled coolant, and 
dispose of in a sanitary sewer, etc... I'll give you some advice that 
I had to discover on my own, the hard way. Don't use the Orange 
Prestone Extended life coolant in any of your vehicles, if you can 
help it. Why? It's colored orange. And when trying to examine your 
cooling system for rust, that orange color masks evidence of 
corrosion all too well (maybe that's why car mfgs love this stuff 
now). Instead, either use the traditional green, or Prestone now 
makes a coolant that is yellow colored, and is compatable with both 
green, and orange Dexcool coolants, and has the same 5 year/150K mile 
protection. Most importantly, no matter what the procedure or system, 
follow your maintenance schedule on ALL cars that you own.

-Robert
vin 6585 "X"


--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Rod Dillman <rhdillman@xxxx> wrote:
> When flushing a cooling system should the new coolant be mixed with 
tap water or distilled water or does it really matter? Several years 
ago I had a head gasket failure on an aluminium block Cadillac engine 
and the service manager told me  that if I had added GM Cooling 
System Seal Tabs(Part No. 3634621-a $4 part) with an engine flush 
every 3 or 4 years it would likely have eliminated a $1500 head 
gasket repair. Since the DeLorean engine block is aluminium should a 
similiar additive be used in it?  Your thoughts will be appreciated.




To address comments privately to the moderating team, please address:
moderators@xxxxxxxxxxx

For more info on the list, tech articles, cars for sale see www.dmcnews.com

To search the archives or view files, log in at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews 
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    dmcnews-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/