what coolant/anti-freeze to use?

[darna]

just found out i'm low on coolant.

is it ok to use a different brand of coolant/anti-freeze and mix it w/ the one i have right now from honda?

thanks...

[GlxyGry06Si]

i used hondas stuff but i am going to use royal purple next time

[Kidekat]

I wuld use what ever Honda manual specifies. There are differences among coolants.

[BATANG CITY JAIL]

Originally Posted by darna

just found out i'm low on coolant.

is it ok to use a different brand of coolant/anti-freeze and mix it w/ the one i have right now from honda?

thanks...

i dont think you low in coolant... but if its... just get the anti-freeze from honda

[udumkid]

Originally Posted by darna

just found out i'm low on coolant.

is it ok to use a different brand of coolant/anti-freeze and mix it w/ the one i have right now from honda?

thanks...

How did you found out you are low on coolant?

[King Bob]

I needed coolant after installing my SRI, The instructions from injen had me do a bypass so I lost some fluid in the process. I just read the requirements on coolant in my manual and bought the oriley equivilant.

[udumkid]

Originally Posted by King Bob

I needed coolant after installing my SRI, The instructions from injen had me do a bypass so I lost some fluid in the process. I just read the requirements on coolant in my manual and bought the oriley equivilant.

Only a small amount of fluid is lost when you disconnect the throttle body coolant hose. I have replaced my intake 3 times already,and I have yet to top of my coolant.

[goofygamer]

How do you know if your low on coolant?

[habitat]

Originally Posted by goofygamer

How do you know if your low on coolant?

You can look at your coolant overflow, which is the reservoir next to battery.
Or when engine is cold, open the radiator cap and look inside with a flashlight.

Do our cars use normal green antifreeze or one of those other colored long life antifreeze?

[nolimit179]

Originally Posted by habitat

You can look at your coolant overflow, which is the reservoir next to battery.
Or when engine is cold, open the radiator cap and look inside with a flashlight.

Do our cars use normal green antifreeze or one of those other colored long life antifreeze?

our cars actually use BLUE antifreeze. i thought when i picked up the car new that someone put windshield washer fluid in there! the green prestone 50/50 mix will be fine if you can't pick up honda's stuff.

[AllShowNoGo]

Originally Posted by nolimit179

[/b]


our cars actually use BLUE antifreeze. i thought when i picked up the car new that someone put windshield washer fluid in there! the green prestone 50/50 mix will be fine if you can't pick up honda's stuff.

just make sure the bottle says "GM approved" on it, because this is the stuff that will not rust/corrode ur radiator out in the long run.

just to be on the safe side, just go to the honda dealer and spend the extra 3 or 4 bucks on honda genuine coolant.

[AllShowNoGo]

Originally Posted by darna

just found out i'm low on coolant.

is it ok to use a different brand of coolant/anti-freeze and mix it w/ the one i have right now from honda?

thanks...

are you sure ur low? for me, when the engine is cold it seems low, but then when I drive my car and check, it's back up to the MAX line.

also, lets say you do drive and check and it's still low, it could be that it's so cold that the thermostat hasn't "opened up" to release the coolant (but this is only in extremely cold weather).

[habitat]

Originally Posted by AllShowNoGo

just make sure the bottle says "GM approved" on it, because this is the stuff that will not rust/corrode ur radiator out in the long run.

If it is GM approved it should be the DEX-COOL antifreeze that actually does corrode and rust the radiator and piping.
Source

I hope the Honda brand isnt dexron based

[AllShowNoGo]

^i stand corrected. either way, to be on the safe side, i'd would always just buy the honda coolant.

and i dont think honda would sell products that would rust/corrode their own cars....

[magbarn]

I would only personally use Honda antifreeze as Honda's have very finicky cooling systems with TINY coolant passages. You paid at least $15K+ for your car, don't cheap out on $5 on your coolant. I do know if u use the standard Prestone the silicates will slowly destroy the water pump and seals. Also Dex-cool IS NOT the same as Honda's formulation. I believe they also use OATS as corrosion inhibitors similar to Dex-cool, but there's some several key differences. Dex-cool btw has been implicated in causing solids to form in the coolant if you let the reservoir run dry and introduce air into the system. I read all this in some ASE magazine for mechanics somewhere while I was having my 93 civic worked on at an independent honda mechanic.

[magbarn]

Here's a link on OAT coolants:
Universal Coolant: The Ultimate Antifreeze?

[jlav]

So if we are not using Honda coolant, what type should you buy at your local pep boys etc...?

[peter_x]

I think the 2 kinds of coolants are OAT and HOAT, you shouldn't use the wrong one. I don't know which kind Honda uses.

[CivicObligation]

Does anybody know how Amsoil's Propylene Glycol Antifreeze and Coolant would affect our cooling system? Any recommendations on using?

[darna]

haha, WTH, didnt know this thread is still alive!