Robert Keezer wrote:
>
> The engine in the '87 I bought blew from overheating I have discovered. The Vanagon was from Arizona,a state that has hard water, and this water ate the insides of the water pump out.
>
> The impeller had a 1/8" gap between it and the housing, and the walls of the pump was severely pitted. It looked like it was eaten away by acid.Or is there a different explanation?
> My guess is that the coolant wasn't being pumped at required pressure. The engine overheated on a mountain pass and destroyed the piston, head and case.
>
> We have rain here in Washington-would this be safe to use in the cooling system?
>
> Robert

Sounds reasonable, assuming you aren't down wind from a power plant
burning high sulfur coal and the water doesn't get a lot of dirt in it
during the collection process.  Many of our ancestors used rain water
for laundry because it was softer than their well water.

Larry A.