CR Spotfree DI 300 Review

I'm wondering if it'd be better if I just buy distilled water instead of having to buy all these mechanisms.



It costs about US$2.20 for 5 gallons. I'm pretty sure I'll only use up 3 gallons per wash. So I figure US$1.32 per wash. :D
 
Bill D said:
If I were to get it, I would not plan on using my pressure washer with it.How does it make out via plain hose?
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I think it has alot to do with the nozzle type and water pressure you have from your home supply. Maybe a good low volume, high pressure nozzle on your garden hose will help you achieve the same goal?



I found Mr. Clean's system and the 50 cent car wash (for names sake) spot free rinse option not nearly as effective. I personally attribute this to the low pressure rinse (same as Mark's Waldonâ€â„¢s findings). However they do help lower the risk of spots.



I also agree with Mark Waldron that a Pressure washer is a huge factor using DI water effectively. My Costco bought electric Karcher is the hot setup for me. It's small, light, low gpm, and requires only electricity. But if I need portability, I would purchase a small gas powered pressure washer to go along with my DI system.



In my case, I am fortunate to have a rental service that delivers and swaps out my DI tank at home whenever I call for service. This service is approx. half the cost per gallon the DI100 system offers. HOWEVER, if I did not have this service and price available to me, I would be ordering my DI100 before my next wash. In fact, I love DI water so much I would pay to have it "Fed-Ex Overnight". Just kidding...



The only problem with DI waterâ€Â¦.IT SPOILS YOU AND YOU CANâ€â„¢T SETTLE FOR ANYTHING LESS. KIND OF LIKE SOUVERAN. :bow





My setup:



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Out of curisoty, will DI water *remove* water spots that have already formed? Like if everything starts to dry before the final rinse (not talking about old water spots).
 
Do we have to be carefull with the de-ionized water? I have been told that in hospitals they run the DI water through plastic pipes becuase it would "eat" the metal pipes. Or am I mis-informed?
 
Mark...thanks for the review. I am waiting for my system to arrive. And, you're right, Chuck is very helpful and knows his product.



Since ordering, I have been trying to figure out a way to use regular water for the wash part too....maybe a two way tap as you have mentioned.



I can't wait to try this...it really seems like a dream come true.



One more thing...there was a question about hostipals and using plastic pipes for this type of water. I may be wrong...but as I understand it, deionized water can be slightly corrosive to softer metals. "Regular" waters, can actually be protective due to the scale they leave on the steel surface. I would guess brass fittings and the like could be damaged over time with constant contact.
 
Yes, DI water is very agressive and can attack metals other than stainless steel or pvc if left in constant contact over a period of time. Just running DI water through soft metal fittings other than carbon steel and allowing it to drain or evaporate would take years and years to degrade.
 
I just took delivery of my DI300 from CR Spotless. I can mirror most of what Mark has written.



I have installed quick-connects on everything to make it easy. (Plus, you can hook it up to itself to avoid water running all over the place when moving it around) A couple shut-off valves for good measure too.



Anyhow, I used it to wash my Excursion this morning and did the vehicle in sections...first the roof, etc. In the end, I had a few water spots, mostly where I touched with my fingers or did not completely rinse.



On the sunny side of the truck, you could see the water steaming off...but not leaving behind spots. My wheels dried perfectly.



The only strange thing I noticed was that a week old coat of Z2 was not beading as I expected, but it is still very shiney and slick. I can only figure that this is an anomoly since the water is so filtered.



I know that once I perfect my technique with this, that it will be spotfree. I'll keep you guys posted.
 
Matt M said:


The only strange thing I noticed was that a week old coat of Z2 was not beading as I expected, but it is still very shiney and slick. I can only figure that this is an anomoly since the water is so filtered.
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Deionized water will behave differently in this respect due to its...um...lack of ions.
 
Congradulations Matt! Once you get your system tweeked, you'll never know how you got along without it. I can't imagine drying my vehicles by hand anymore, unless I'm in a big hurry to do a quick detail spray after washing.



Mark
 
Mark, do you have any pictures of your bypass setup? I just ordered my system today, and depending on how it performs with just a hose and nozzle, I may pick up a pressure washer to go along with it. I'd really appreciate the pictures as well as where I could get the parts(and part #s if you have them) but if you cant, that's fine too.



Thanks a lot.
 
Gbackus,



I'm a moron when it comes to using computers and obviously that means I don't know how to post pictures. All you'd need to do is install a 2-way splitter in your inlet of your pressure washer and another 2-way splitter at your main water hose. Take one hose and connect it directly into the splitter on your pressure washer and another hose to the CR Spotless system. Your CR system supplies you with an outlet hose in which you connect to the splitter on your pressure washer. When you want to use just regular water, turn off the shutoff valve at the main splitter (from main water hose) to the CR system and turn on valve to pressure washer. Do this in reverse to use the CR system. Turn off shutoff valve to pressure washer and turn on valve to CR system. The splitters can be purchased at any hardware store in the garden section. People use splitters for watering lawns, shrub beds, etc.
 
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