Anco wiper blades called a CR best buy

I have never had an issue with the Hondas I have owned over the past 30
years or so using off the shelf items such as ATF, antifreeze, brake fluid,
oil, etc.

I seriously doubt that there is anything "special" about them other than the
label.

 

i use c.o.t.s antifreeze, brake fluid etc., but not atf. in my
experience, the only atf that makes a honda shift well is honda z1. if
you've added non-honda fluid and it's been "ok", it sounds like you
haven't achieved full dilution.

rather than just "doubt", why don't you do some homework? do you
"doubt" that the component quality used by honda under the hood is any
better than frod? have you ever dissected a honda vs. non-honda spec
igniter unit for instance? honda may not manufacture half their stuff
directly, but they /do/ write the spec and /do/ undertake q.c.

 

Go ahead, then, use non-Honda ATF and tell us what you think.

Same with coolant.

Shoot, same with power steering fluid nowadays.

They're all part of a complex system that's highly engineered. Long
gone are the days of everybody using the same stuff that's off the shelf
at Goober's gas station.

 

What is so 'highly engineered' about a power steering system? Exactly
what is there about Honda, Toyota, GM, Ford or Chrysler power steering
fluid that makes it special? ATF fluid needs to supply the proper
friction modifiers so there is a difference between Ford and GM ATF
but if the after-market ATF has the proper modifiers, it will perform
the same as the OEM stuff.

I've been using Preston Anti-freeze (the green stuff) in my cars for
the last 45 years and I have never had a engine or cooling system
problem that could have been caused by the coolant. Why pay $15.00 a
gallon for anti-freeze that carries a GM or Ford brand when I can get
something just as good for half the price?

Jack

 

How do you know if a particular brand of ATF has the same additives. Some
after-market stuff may not cause problems but whether they provide optimal
performance for your vehicle is another question.

According to the service manual, non-OEM anti-freeze on a Honda could lead
to corrosion. Why take that chance. The OEM anti-freeze can last for a long
long time. $15 is a cheap insurance.

 

antifreeze with silicates [cheap corrosion inhibitors] cause much sorter
seal lives. there's increased abrasion of the seal interface.

 

What is so 'highly engineered' about a power steering system?[/QUOTE]

I dunno, but go ahead--use the same power steering fluid in your new
Honda as you use in your 67 Chevy. See what happens.

 

While specific components that are manufactured for specific applications
will be built for those applications, genric items that are manufactured to
a general specification and relabled as OEM are not. This is something I am
quite familiar with, as I have been in the OEM industry for many years (non
automotive, but OEM non the less).

 

There is nothing specific about Honda fluids. They are generic products
that are made by other manufacturers that label them for Honda.

They may audit their suppliers, and will have specific requirements for
quality systems and/or ensure that they are ISO registered, but of course,
the systems also apply to anything they manufacture.

 

The correct type of antifreeze can be purchased for any vehicle.

 

But not all antifreeze of the same type are created equal for a particular
vehicle.

 

i've proven that not true for at least two of the major car fluids.

* use of non-honda power steering fluid in a honda system wrecks seals.
i know that from personal experience.

* use of non-honda transmission fluid, even one that allegedly exceeds
the nominal dexron II spec, makes a honda transmission shift like you've
been rear-ended. i know that from personal experience.

i don't know any different facts on honda coolant or brake fluids, but
based on the above, i can easily believe them to be of a high spec that
exceeds relabeled generics.

iso has /nothing/ to do with a manufacturer's tech specs.

 

I dunno, but go ahead--use the same power steering fluid in your new
Honda as you use in your 67 Chevy. See what happens.[/QUOTE]

i second that...

 

that statement is technically true...

but here's the problem, you're /presuming/ that to be always the case.
it's not! just because some manufacturers do that, doesn't mean they
all do.

 

We make the same component for 4 different companies. Although each
customer has a slightly different specification, the process is
designed to meet them all.

For anyone to mass manufacture a single component under multiple
processes and conditions would have great cost implications. It is an
economic reality.

 

Systems are engineered using available standard materials. I have seen
no indications that Honda has used systems that has forced or required
a technological breakthrough in auto fluids.

 

The probability that Honda branded antifreeze is made on the same
equipment with the same ingredients and with the same process as
Prestone (or some other high volume manufacturer) is very high. There
are many non-silcate brands available.

 

While I respect your opinions (from what I've read in this group), I
would have to say that personal experiences are a small sample size.

I have had Honda vehicles for 30+ years, and never used any Honda
branded fluids, and never had an issue, though my personal experiences
are a small sample size as well, even if they differ from yours.

It has to do with quality systems and documentation.

 

This is unfortunately true, and it's precisely the sort of thing I was
talking about. And it's an example of the technology outpacing the
standards.

You can go down to the local auto parts store today, and buy a generic
jug of coolant for your 1980 car, no problem.

In a few years, you should be able to go out to the local auto parts
store and buy a generic jug of coolant for your 2009 car, but not quite
yet for all cars.
--scott

 

i don't use honda branded brake fluid or coolant. but i do use honda
branded atf and power steering because of past problems. when i was
young and dumb, you couldn't tell me that it was worth paying for honda
atf - afterall the book said it was just dexron II spec. however, when
my car started to shift badly after i changed out the fluid, you'd think
i'd learn, right? no. long story short - several cars [not just mine],
and some time later, the penny finally drops. honda atf /is/ different.
and a honda starts to shift better again immediately you revert back
to their stuff.

same for power steering fluid and watching people get leaks a couple of
months after using generic. multiple times over the years [though
fortunately, not on my cars]. i understand honda p/s fluid has silicone
in it and hardware different seal materials. don't ask me why.

right - it paper-trails the production - iso9001 [etc] has nothing to do
with whether the spec was written correctly or is appropriate. it's
incredibly common for someone to spec the wrong material for a job - but
it's still perfectly iso compliant!