Changing coolent

[shortleg]

   I have 4 1/2 QTS to do a change.
 Will this be enough to do it.
       Shortleg[Dave]

[Chrisj CMA]

Ya, I think I had left overs from a gallon last time........

[X Ring]

I think I used about 3 1/2 qts.

Marty

[slider]

is prestone 50/50 good to use?

[9Ball]

   I have 4 1/2 QTS to do a change.
 Will this be enough to do it.
       Shortleg[Dave]

I've never gotten more than about 3-1/2 quarts in from the drain and fill....at least 5 times now.

[hubcapsc]

is prestone 50/50 good to use?

I think that is what I used. Whatever I used, I used it because it said "silicate free" on the
label... you should check...

-Mike

[shortleg]

  I went to Honda car dealer and got a
gallon alot cheaper than Bike dealer.
  Looked at the lable on a quart that I
had left from last change and read the same.
         Shortleg[Dave]

[Jess from VA]

Remember if you get pure antifreeze to mix distilled water, not tap water.... this is why the 50/50 is good, it has distilled water in the mix.

[vanagon40]

Remember if you get pure antifreeze to mix distilled water, not tap water.... this is why the 50/50 is good, it has distilled water in the mix.

You really reckon this matters?  I did spend the extra buck and use distilled water on the Valkyrie (just because it was only a buck), but I cannot believe that tap water (through my softener) would be a problem.  Or rainwater.  Maybe really hard well water or creek water would be a problem, but I even doubt that.  I use tap water for all my other vehicles.

On the other hand, I refuse to use stop leak (or similar) in any vehicle.

[X Ring]

Remember if you get pure antifreeze to mix distilled water, not tap water.... this is why the 50/50 is good, it has distilled water in the mix.

You really reckon this matters?  I did spend the extra buck and use distilled water on the Valkyrie (just because it was only a buck), but I cannot believe that tap water (through my softener) would be a problem.  Or rainwater.  Maybe really hard well water or creek water would be a problem, but I even doubt that.  I use tap water for all my other vehicles.

On the other hand, I refuse to use stop leak (or similar) in any vehicle.

You use salt water in your cooling systems?      With the exception of one or two systems, all water softeners replace the minerals in the water with salt so you're essentially using a weak saltwater solution in your cooling system.  I won't.  I'll pay the extra buck or two for premix.

Marty

[9Ball]

Remember if you get pure antifreeze to mix distilled water, not tap water.... this is why the 50/50 is good, it has distilled water in the mix.

You really reckon this matters?  I did spend the extra buck and use distilled water on the Valkyrie (just because it was only a buck), but I cannot believe that tap water (through my softener) would be a problem.  Or rainwater.  Maybe really hard well water or creek water would be a problem, but I even doubt that.  I use tap water for all my other vehicles.

On the other hand, I refuse to use stop leak (or similar) in any vehicle.

You use salt water in your cooling systems?      With the exception of one or two systems, all water softeners replace the minerals in the water with salt so you're essentially using a weak saltwater solution in your cooling system.  I won't.  I'll pay the extra buck or two for premix.

Marty

+1....bad thinking to use water out of a water softening system.  If it is a reverse osmosis system, then it would be OK, but since a gallon bottle of distilled water from the local Rite Aid is so cheap, why take the shortcut?

[hubcapsc]

I used tap water in my CR500  ...

It developed arterial sclerosis, was a mess...

-Mike

[98valk]

salt water actually cools better than non-salt water, however salt corrrodes esp aluminum.

I use www.evanscooling.com  a little higher initial cost but it is basically lifetime after that with better cooling in the heads than a 50/50 mix

[Chrisj CMA]

Remember if you get pure antifreeze to mix distilled water, not tap water.... this is why the 50/50 is good, it has distilled water in the mix.

You really reckon this matters?  I did spend the extra buck and use distilled water on the Valkyrie (just because it was only a buck), but I cannot believe that tap water (through my softener) would be a problem.  Or rainwater.  Maybe really hard well water or creek water would be a problem, but I even doubt that.  I use tap water for all my other vehicles.

On the other hand, I refuse to use stop leak (or similar) in any vehicle.

You use salt water in your cooling systems?      With the exception of one or two systems, all water softeners replace the minerals in the water with salt so you're essentially using a weak saltwater solution in your cooling system.  I won't.  I'll pay the extra buck or two for premix.

Marty

You been watching too many commercials.  Most Water sofenters now a days has salt in them yes.  But the water you use doesnt touch that salt directly.  The water flows through a tank filled with beads that attract and hold the minerals and calcium that makes the water hard.  Every so often the system creates a mild brine using the salt and refreshes the beads in the tank, the salt water (brine) is pumped out and then back to plain water going through.  Even right after its purged you cannot taste any salt, but after a couple minutes running water the remnants of any brine (salt) is washed away

[X Ring]

Remember if you get pure antifreeze to mix distilled water, not tap water.... this is why the 50/50 is good, it has distilled water in the mix.

You really reckon this matters?  I did spend the extra buck and use distilled water on the Valkyrie (just because it was only a buck), but I cannot believe that tap water (through my softener) would be a problem.  Or rainwater.  Maybe really hard well water or creek water would be a problem, but I even doubt that.  I use tap water for all my other vehicles.

On the other hand, I refuse to use stop leak (or similar) in any vehicle.

You use salt water in your cooling systems?      With the exception of one or two systems, all water softeners replace the minerals in the water with salt so you're essentially using a weak saltwater solution in your cooling system.  I won't.  I'll pay the extra buck or two for premix.

Marty

You been watching too many commercials.  Most Water sofenters now a days has salt in them yes.  But the water you use doesnt touch that salt directly.  The water flows through a tank filled with beads that attract and hold the minerals and calcium that makes the water hard.  Every so often the system creates a mild brine using the salt and refreshes the beads in the tank, the salt water (brine) is pumped out and then back to plain water going through.  Even right after its purged you cannot taste any salt, but after a couple minutes running water the remnants of any brine (salt) is washed away

What you failed to mention is actually how they work.  The plastic beads hold sodium ions that change place with the calcium and magnesium ions from the water as it flows through the beads.  So you're replacing the mineral ion in the water with sodium ions.  You can't taste it because the concentration is too low.  When the water softener flushes it does introduce a brine solution to replace the calcium and magnesium ions in the beads with sodium ion and start the process all over again.  The brine is then pumped out where it can kill your grass or into your sewer system to affect the local waters.

I am still not putting sodium charged water in any cooling system.

Marty

[Jim Ross]

You nailed it! 
The salt in the water softener tank has to be replenished from time to time.  I don't want to think about where all that disappeared salt ends up.

[Chrisj CMA]

You nailed it!  
The salt in the water softener tank has to be replenished from time to time.  I don't want to think about where all that disappeared salt ends up.

Well it pumps the brine out after it backflushes the tank and it goes down the same drain as the washing machine.  We have a septic and everything goes in there, 5 years now, and the septic guy says whatever we are doing the tank was in perfect order and the grass is fine.  So theres no terrible consequenses we can see.  We were worried about the same things, but all is good.   We go through a 40# bag in 3-4 months

BTW I use bottled distilled water or premixed 50/50 when I do the bike.  I have always just used water from the hose if I needed some for my truck

[X Ring]

All my gray water bypasses the septic tank.  Soaps and and other cleaners kill the enzymes that break down solid waste.

Marty

[Farther]

So, where does your gray water go?

[X Ring]

It and the output line from the septic tank meet and enter the field line which is a couple hundred feet long extending into the woods.

Marty