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  #1  
Old 22 Jun 2007
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using mostly distilled water as coolant (with just a little antifreeze)

I have let my coolant level run down and want to refill it with pure distilled water. The end result will be a 50/50 coolant mix mixed with an equal amount of pure distilled water. So I guess this is 75% distilled water with 25% coolant (?)
Is that enough corrosion inhibitors, etc. in the coolant/antifreeze to protect my engine? Should I run a 50/50 mix always? I read that water is a better coolant and I use my bike in the desert. As long as I put in more antifreeze before winter, isn't it a good idea to run mostly water with just a little coolant for its anti-corrosion ingredients?
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Old 1 Jul 2007
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Hi
To run with this mix of distilled water and antifreze would not be a problem, but a good idear if you can is to flush the system every 6 months and then come winter top up with 25% more antifreeze. This has worked for me.
I have met a lot of travellers on the BMW GS650 who have had water pump seals go, and i have met quite a few who have had no problems at all and they recomend to flush the system to clear it of any corrosion and then refill with new coolant. Well i hope this is of some help Skip
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Old 3 Sep 2007
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antifreeze

hiya
antifreeze is also a lubricant as well as a coolant.....the better quality ( ie, the more exspensive) the better it is, as well as a lubricant it contains corrosion inhibitors. i always run 50/50 distilled water antifreeze mix on all my engines be they cars, bikes, generators or whatever. summer or winter and have never had any problems. just one word of caution. try to use the same brand and dont mix brands , and change the antifreeze avery 18 months at the most some say 2 years or yearsly but i top up with a pre-mix and flush and change every 18 months.

hope this helps
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