so recently I've bought a e46 325ci that is in awesome condition so all I've had to do is service it I've changed the oil and all the filters and I changed the coolant with my dad the other day I had bought de ionised water but I went in to make my self a drink and come back out to my dad filling it with tap water and he had already used all my coolant. what do I do? should I drain and go buy all new coolant and use the de ionised water or will tap water be fine???
You are probably fine with tap water. I usually just buy premixed myself.
De-ionized water is overkill. Distilled is fine.
If you don't have really hard water where you live (high mineral content), you'll be fine. Especially if he only topped up a little bit.
the corrosion inhibitors in the antifreeze will sequester most minerals
The water supply to your property contains low levels of hard water minerals. Soft water is below 60ppm and means that currently, your washing should be softer, your energy bills more efficient and your appliances should last longer due to a lack of limescale build-up, compared to hard water areas.
this is what comes up when I search my water area? you think I'll be fine?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_water
Some cities use ground water for municipal supply. The water dissolves and picks up minerals from the rock.
If your tea kettle and dishwasher get white scale on them, you have hard water. If soap lathers poorly, you have hard water. The UK uses a lot of ground water.
Some cities take municipal water from lakes and reservoirs, and it's mostly rain/snow water. This water has very little mineral content dissolved in it. This is soft water, and it lathers soap well.
Do you know how much your dad put in?
60ppm is considered 'soft'. Your city must use some mitigation. Your car is absolutely fine.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_water#Hard/soft_classification
4 litres off coolant and 4 litres of tap water
thanks. so you think I'm good to keep it in? tbh I've never seen this white residue in my water what people are talking about the only think ill ever see in my water if it is left for several hours/days is air bubbles
Yup you can leave it in. No worries at all.
With a BMW, I’d probably drain it. And do it from a scratch to be on the safe side.
In the short term, you should be okay. But the longer it sits, if your tap water is hard, it could potentially cause damage to the system.
but if your tap is soft, you should be fine without even changing it.
hi thanks. I live in the UK I'm not sure what the difference is between hard and soft water?
The water supply to your property contains low levels of hard water minerals. Soft water is below 60ppm and means that currently, your washing should be softer, your energy bills more efficient and your appliances should last longer due to a lack of limescale build-up, compared to hard water areas.
this is what comes up when I search my water area
Hard water has a bunch of minerals in it. Ever let a glass sit and evaporate? Eventually you might see white residue from all the minerals.
Distilled or soft water won’t usually leave a residue, because it doesnt have any minerals.
Those minerals are usually good for humans, but terrible for cooling systems in cars.
Btw, your dad probably grew up when it was fine to use tap in the engine cooling system. But as technology progressed, so did the need to have specific coolant and distilled water ratios.
Distilled only.....
What percentage tap did he use relative to coolant?
50/50. Change it.
Less than 5% tap? Maybe keep it.
4 litres off coolant and 4 litres of tap water but the tap water is considered soft in my area