Water treatment for water cooled compressors

[inverted]

I know this subject has been beaten to death few times already but I'll ask anyway...

I just bought distilled water for compressor water cooling system. No problem with that, of course.
But, after some time, I'm sure, all kind of stuff will start growing in that water.

As I understand, using car motor antifreeze is not a good option because of chemical reactions with aluminium compressor head.

I've read on this forum that there are many additives available for water treatment but I live in Europe so a lot of that stuff is not available here and can't be shipped here and/or shipping would be a murder.

So, for members here in Europe, what do you use as a water treatment and where do you get it?

Thanks!

 

[Firewalker]

Why would car antifreeze cause issues with aluminum? All radiators on vehicles are aluminum and nearly all passenger vehicles have cast aluminum blocks!

 

[inverted]

I'm aware of that and there are also brands of antifreeze that take special care of aluminium blocks.
I've read on this forum that car antifreeze is bad for compressors because of some additives that can/could harm compressor head.
Thus the question.

 

[rc4fun]

I use 1 cup of water wetter and 1/2 cup baking soda in 5 gallons of soft water. No algae for 2.5 + years.

 

[DesertSilver]

Why would car antifreeze cause issues with aluminum? All radiators on vehicles are aluminum and nearly all passenger vehicles have cast aluminum blocks!

From what I remember they put silicate in the coolant and it's bad for aluminum.

 

[Firewalker]

From what I remember they put silicate in the coolant and it's bad for aluminum.

Why would car antifreeze cause issues with aluminum? All radiators on vehicles are aluminum and nearly all passenger vehicles have cast aluminum blocks!

 

[DesertSilver]

Not the older ones.

 

[Firewalker]

It's an old wives tail.

 

[Ta-Ta Toothie]

You can get low or no silicate antifreeze. You only want silicate for diesels.

 

[F6Hawk]

I know this subject has been beaten to death few times already but I'll ask anyway...

I just bought distilled water for compressor water cooling system. No problem with that, of course.
But, after some time, I'm sure, all kind of stuff will start growing in that water.

As I understand, using car motor antifreeze is not a good option because of chemical reactions with aluminium compressor head.

I've read on this forum that there are many additives available for water treatment but I live in Europe so a lot of that stuff is not available here and can't be shipped here and/or shipping would be a murder.

So, for members here in Europe, what do you use as a water treatment and where do you get it?

Thanks!

I use Water Wetter. Nothing better for a low-temp compressor IMO. Water Wetter doesn't lower the cooling properties of DW as much as auto anti-freeze does, but it acts as an anti-corrosive and anti-fungal, both good properties to have in a closed loop cooling system. Plus it's a lot cheaper than AF and comes in smaller quantities that we need.

All of that being said, as long as you are using something to prevent corrosion as opposed to pure DW, you'll be fine. In order, here are my personal preferences:

1) Water Wetter
2) Boiler AF (10/90% or 20/80% max ratio) (propylene glycol)
3) Auto AF (10/90% or 20/80% max ratio) (ethylene glycol)

Either way, don't fall for the "you need a 50/50 mix" falsehood unless you're in danger of freezing. The more AF you use, the lower the cooling properties become. That's why I say 10/90% or 20/80% max.

 

[inverted]

Thank you all for the answers!
I really appreciate it!

 

[shambozzie]

I was just discussing this with the compressor guru Todd about my Omega super charger.

 

[rcs9250]

Someone should take two identical pieces of aluminum and put one in an antifreeze mix and one just left in a baggie so not exposed to ambient air and leave it there for extended time or forever and just see what hapens.
I would guess the small compressors use 6061-T6 but that’s just a guess. I highly doubt they use 7075.

 

[ThomasT]

Hello everyone,

I am using NAPA Kool “Cooling System Treatment” product for my compressor and the 5-gallon aluminum water tank. Here is a link to my review:

NAPA Kool “Cooling System Treatment”

Hello everyone, This is a follow up on the NAPA Kool “Cooling System Treatment” product. A little over one year ago I added 1/2-Pint of this product to the cooling water in the 5-gallon water tank on my Yong Heng Air Compressor roll around filling station. About 6 months later I added an...

www.airgunnation.com

ThomasT