Tap Water in Radiator

[Ethan]

Hi guys!

I stupidly used tap water to top up my radiator. Now there is this white residue inside. My mechanic took one look at it and declared that my block head is now thoroughly fucked.

After some Googling, I learnt that the minerals in tap water will corrode the inside of the engine.

But considering that I only put like 400ml of tap water and I only rode it for one day subsequently, is the damage severe? I have since drained the water and changed to regular coolant.

Is the damage from the tap water something I need to worry about? Please tell me my mechanic is just fucking with me.

[dx400r]

I think he massively exadurating. Dont get me by the sound of it you live in a soft water area and so your bike is getting scaled up like your kettle. He might be right if you made a habit of it.

But having watched people in a race paddock fill up their bikes with tap water and bomb round in races they'll just drain it at the end of the day.

If youre back on regular coolant I wouldnt worry about it.

[niteblade]

white residue? i've never encountered that. only blue/green residue from the coolant

anyone can clarify on that?

[alexwitham]

Ethan - If you only used tap water for 1 day, then just drain the system, give it a flush (which probably isn't necessary anyway), then re-fill with a proper coolant mixture.

I've used tap water in bikes to get me home when my coolant has been low before. Take a chill pill, it's likely there's nothing wrong with it at all.

[thunderace]

by the sound of it you live in a soft water area and so your bike is getting scaled up like your kettle.

That'll be a hard water area then if he's getting scaled up

[Ethan]

Thanks everybody. I just heaved a huge sigh of relief.