Topping off G12 - where to get deionized water?

I got a gallon of G12 today, just to top off the reservoir. (No leak, it was just delivered with the coolant at the "Min" line). I had assumed I could use distilled water, but the bottle says to mix with de-ionized water. Now wally world has everything, but not that /images/graemlins/smile.gif Where do I find deionized water?

Also... the coolant I bought was part #G 012 A8FA4. It appears to be the "new" red variety? Any problem mixing this with my existing pink/orange G12??

Thanks.
- sean

The coolant you got is backward compatible with previous versions of G12 and G11.

Distilled water will work just as well. Grocery stores often have distlled and de-ionized water by the gallon bottle.

I did the *exact* same thing yesterday. My coolant has been right below the Min. line in the overflow reservoir for forever.:-/
I had to guy a gallon of G12, I used about 5 ounces of it. As for the distilled Water, as Mogolf says, I just bought mine at the grocery store in a gallon jug.

Thanks Glen & Joe.

How often should you flush and fill the coolant? I've gone about 40K since I bought mine with 55K on it, so I figure it's about time.
I'm thinking I'll just buy the coolant and bring it down to Valvoline Instant Oil Change. They've got that "sucker-outer" thing. I figure they'd charge me $10 or something and I'll be in and out in 20 minutes.

VW's coolant is a good product and doesn't need to be flushed. Leave it be, top up as necessary, or refill whenever the system is opened up for component replacement (e.g. water pump replacement).

I remember attempting to flush a coolant system a bunch of years ago. I was never sure about the mix = had to use one of those specific gravity ball thingys. Not to mention that I wasn't using distilled water. Both factors I think would argue for not flushing.

Ok, so I topped up the coolant with G12 and distilled water. Peeking down into the coolant tank, I noticed some fine "dirt" particles that seemed to be sitting near the bottom of the tank. I have never opened the coolant tank before this.

Anything to be concerned about? Just normal radiator crud??
- sean

It's normal. Don't worry about.

Casting sand, as said before normal