Coolant

Resist · 05-26-2004, 08:22 PM

I was looking in my service manual for my 2001 CVT and noticed in the fluids sections it didn't list the type of coolant the car uses. I assume it is a silicate free type. Anyone know the number?

I do all my own service on my cars so if I can buy a coolant brand other than Honda's, I will as long as it's approved for use in my car. I like to keep my operating costs down, plus I learn more about my cars this way.

Resist · 05-26-2004, 08:28 PM

I just found this on InsightCentral's site. Please tell this isn't correct.

"Replace coolant After first 120,000 mi / 192,000 km / 10 years
Then every 60,000 mi / 96,000 km / 5 years thereafter"

They are kidding right? 10 years for coolant use before changing it!

b1shmu63 · 05-27-2004, 04:02 AM

For "severe service" or "normal service" replace the coolant at 45,000 miles or 60 months, whichever comes first. (Honda ECM)

Always use Genuine Honda Antifreeze/Coolant. Using a non-Honda coolant can result in corrosion, causing the cooling system to malfunction or fail. For best corrosion protection, the coolant concentration must be maintained year-round at 50% minimum. Coolant concentrations less than 50% may not provide sufficient protection against corrosion or freezing. Coolant concentrations greater than 60% will impair cooling efficiency and are not recommended. Do not use additional rust inhibitors or anti-rust products; they may not be compatible with the coolant. (Honda ECM)

Resist · 05-27-2004, 06:56 PM

The only reason Honda says to use their coolant is to get your money. My understanding is Honda coolant is just silicate free. Almost all new cars use this now. So what is another brand of Honda spec coolant? I don't need a quote from a service manual.

dan · 05-27-2004, 07:03 PM

For "severe service" or "normal service" replace the coolant at 45,000 miles or 60 months, whichever comes first. (Honda ECM)

Doesn't that quote help?

Resist · 05-27-2004, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dan

Doesn't that quote help?

Yes but, now I need to know about where I can get coolant besides from Honda.

Jim · 05-27-2004, 10:46 PM

"I was looking in my service manual for my 2001 CVT and noticed in the fluids sections it didn't list the type of coolant the car uses. I assume it is a silicate free type. Anyone know the number?"

Resist,

Do you mean the part number? The only number I can find on the container (right below the bar code at the bottom of the label) is OL999-9001. The other place that numer shows up is at the top right hand corner of the back label right above "Made in the USA".

This is Honda Genuine (HG) antifreeze/coolant Type 2. (maybe that's the number you're looking for?)

"CONTAINS: Ethylene glycol 107-21-1, Water 7732-18-5, Diethylene glycol 111-46-4, Hydrated inorganic acid, Organic acid salts 532-32-1." Are those the numbers you wanted?

Hope so. The only other numbers are: "Boiling point* 268F Freezing point -34F." This is "Ready to use, Non-silicate/non-borate engine coolant. Formulated with de-mineralized water."

"PERFORMANCE: Honda TYPE 2 coolant is an ethyene glycol base product for extra long lasting aluminum component protection. Honda coolant has been developed to provide corrosion and rust protection of all cooling system components. Requires no additional corrosion inhibitors. When used as directed in Honda vehicles, this coolant will give complete protection for 5 years or 60,000 miles. No additional water is required." Information about Honda Genuine antifreeze/coolant taken from front and back labels of Honda Genuine antifreeze/coolant gallon container.

"The only reason Honda says to use their coolant is to get your money. My understanding is Honda coolant is just silicate free. Almost all new cars use this now. So what is another brand of Honda spec coolant? I don't need a quote from a service manual."

The other posters were trying to help you, Resist - no need to be snippy. Here's the info off the label, I think it's up to you to figure out which, if any, brands of coolant will suit your needs.

"They are kidding right? 10 years for coolant use before changing it!"

I didn't change coolant in my '71 LeMans for years at a time - just adjusted the ph. The anti-freeze/coolant properties don't change, the ph does.

YMMV

Resist · 05-28-2004, 01:19 AM

Jim,

I'm looking for an equal for Honda coolant. Other coolant makers state on the containers their's is GM spec or Ford spec type coolants. That is what I want for the Honda coolant. I assume the Honda coolant is not Dex-Cool because that is orange in color.

Yes I want help in finding this but I don't want quotes from the manuals as I have already read them. I wasn't being snippy before as I just want answered what I ask...nothing more.

figgy · 05-05-2005, 05:29 PM

This is kind of a sleepy thread, but I recently came across this on-line supposedly from a Honda communication to dealers:

Honda says this about silicate and borate based coolants and how bad they are for aluminum engines:

Note in their tests they had leakage in a short time with silicate based coolants, not to mention other potential problems they warn against.

=====

- Silicates bond to the surface of the water pump seal and act as an abrasive, causing considerable seal erosion and coolant leakage. In actual tests, the silicated coolant caused early leakage. This leakage increased dramatically until a substantial portion of the coolant had been lost. In contrast, the Honda coolant had almost no leakage through the duration of the test.

Chart here, entitled "Coolant Leakage from Water Pump Seal", showing Leaked Coolant Volume in ml as follows for each test duration in Hours:

24 hrs: Honda Coolant 0, Typical Silicated Coolant 21 48 hrs: Honda Coolant 1, Typical Silicated Coolant 36 72 hrs: Honda Coolant 2, Typical Silicated Coolant 47 96 hrs: Honda Coolant 2, Typical Silicated Coolant 55 120 hrs: Honda Coolant 2.5, Typical Silicated Coolant 56 144 hrs: Honda Coolant 3.5, Typical Silicated Coolant 57 168 hrs: Honda Coolant 4, Typical Silicated Coolant 58.8 192 hrs: Honda Coolant 6, Typical Silicated Coolant 63 200 hrs: Honda Coolant 6, Typical Silicated Coolant 64

- Silicates tend to gel and settle in the coolest parts of the cooling system, causing radiator plugging and overheating.

- Borates cause pitting corrosion on the cylinder head.

- Silicate inhibitors are difficult to stabilize and, therefore, limit coolant shelf life.

Most commercially available coolants were originally designed for cast iron engines. Silicate, an inexpensive additive, was added to coolants to prevent aluminum corrosion, but the long-term durability of the combination was not tested.

In contrast, Honda coolant was designed specifically for aluminum engines. It contains an organic corrosion inhibitor instead of silicate. This superior formula gives these advantages:

- No silicate abrasion of water pump seals. For example, these graphs show the surface roughness of two aluminum water pump seal rings. Seal A, exposed to silicated coolant, shows considerable damage. Seal B, exposed to Honda coolant, displays only minute wear.

(graphs here, showing roughness across the surface, with A a very wiggly line, and B a very smooth line)

- No plugging or overheating caused by silicate gelling.

- Excellent corrosion protection for aluminum components.

- Long-term corrosion protection for other cooling system materials (steel, cast iron, copper, solder, gaskets, seals, and O-rings).

Insightful Trekker · 05-05-2005, 07:40 PM

Only Honda brand is Honda spec, its proprietary.

The benefits of any other non silicate "brand" will be realized over the "old" silicate formula. The differences like the cost will also probably be slight.

The premixed formulas are also preferable over the concentrates. Unless you also want to go to the expense and trouble of mixing with steam distilled water to eliminate any minerals.