Anco wiper blades called a CR best buy

indeed. but i return to the original point - i can tell you from
experience that two "generic" products used on hondas are not generic at
all - atf and p/s fluid. just because others practice what you say,
doesn't mean they all do.

 

it's not so long ago that you couldn't get non-silicate antifreeze at
the auto parts store - just like it took some time after honda engine
oil spec changed to 5w-20 before you could buy generics of that weight.

bottom line - in a lot of cases, you can buy a perfectly decent generic
qualified for its job. but the manufacturer brand is a /guarantee/ it
will work - generic is not.

 

I have had Honda vehicles for 30+ years, and never used any Honda branded

What year is your Honda? Maybe older models are not subject to this kind of
requirements.

On my 2005 service manual, it clearly say that non-Honda antifreeze could
lead to corrossion. I am not sure if Prestone will do that but why take the
chance. Antifreeze is much cheaper than a water pump or a radiator.

 

Manufacturing is manufacturing. Unless someone can point to a
specification for Honda fluids that actually make them unique from
other good and commonly used SAE equivalent components, I will
continue to use those generics that are readily available.

While you have historically given very good advice in this newsgroup
and I respect your opinion on just about everything you post, I have
to disagree with the assessment of "Honda only fluids". It is a
common practice for just about every manufacturer to recommend in
their manuals to use only their fluids as a way of increasing sales of
these items. As I have stated before, my own experiences are quite
the opposite of yours, even with the small sample size of 5 Honda
vehicles over 30 years.

 

we can agree on that - in principle.

search the honda newsgroups - there's a tom of people disagree with you
on the atf/psf thing.

what atf do you use? and how often do you change it?

 

'79 Accord, '82 Accord, '01 Accord, '02 Civic, '04 Accord (the '01 and
'04 Accords are current). Non silicate DAT type antifreeze is all
that is required for newer Honda vehicles, a type that every major
manufacturer makes.

Why would Honda require a coolant different than Audi, Nissan, Toyota,
Subaru, Jaguar, Porsche or (place your brand of vehicle here)? Would
all of these auto manufacturers as well as all of the others specify
something different?

 

I have already given up, these folks in the newsgroups don't
understand the economics of manufacturing. Off the shelf is always
cheaper than custom and, if care is used in selecting a supplier, just
as good. The older style iron block / aluminum head engines as well
as the aluminum block / iron head did require a special coolant
because the stuff for all-iron engines would promote electrolysis. But
new all aluminum engines need something that won't attack aluminum and
that includes almost every coolant manufactured today.

Read the label on the jug of coolant. Do you really think any of the
coolant manufactures are going to claim to be compatible with all
types of antifreezes if they aren't? Just imagine all the lawsuits
that would set up and the billions of dollars in judgments.

Jack

 

The only issue is the standard manufacturers disclaimer that if one does not
use the branded products, the warranty may be voided (no matter how
unreasonable that is).

While I'm sure that one could prove equivalency in a court of law, no one
probably wants to be the test case.

This could be a mitigating factor for most.

 

In addition, corrosion is a slow process. Who is going to notice the
difference? It affects the water pump or radiator more than the engine.

 

I understand. The manufacturer has no control over what fluids you
buy. So protect his pocket, he has to ensure that you use quality
products hence the threat of no warranty coverage if you don't use his
stuff. No one has said, and I'm not implying, that the manufacturer's
branded product is inferior to OTC products. But the burden of proof
is on you. You would have to prove that the product you use meets the
manufacturer's specs. Once you do that, I think most dealers would
honor the warranty. There have been numerous lawsuits over just this
kind of thing.

Jack

 

When did you replace antifreeze on 04 Accord? The original should last for
120k/10 years.

 

green stuff isnt good with aluminum.

 

ive never had a prob with using the red dexcool (silicate free, aluminum
safe) on any of my japanese vehicles. and unless the brake system uses
silicone fluid, regular DOT 3/4 works great, changed every 2-3yrs as
required.

i do agree totally with you on the tranny fluid, though. thats a common
issue, and not just on hondas. Mopar has their own spec, as well.

 

IIRC, VAG (volkwagen/audi) spec a different type of coolant.

 

FWIW, toyotas ATF is "lifetime" and the coolant is good for 120k.

 

Whose to say another manufacturer doesn't make a product that is superior
performance?

 

That is a pretty accurate summary.

 

Has anyone tried above recommendations?

 

well, /someone/ doesn't understand economics of manufacturing. if you
have a modern plant, use a batch process, and have different specs for
different bulk customers, you'd be a damned fool to supply material
over-spec just because you couldn't be bothered to push a few buttons on
your metering flow controls.

go to woolmort - you can still get non-aluminum anti-freeze.

like this?
http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/settlements/11334/general-motors-dexcool-antifreeze.html

 

not always true - look at clutch thrust bearings. bearings are a
commodity "material" with stock bearings available for every conceivable
application. but auto manufacturers spec clutch thrust bearings that
are almost always different and exclusive from any of the off-the-shelf
solutions. because they can.

then you're not looking and you're not paying attention to the facts.
honda auto transmissions are not standard planetary honda gear trains,
they use a "stick" transmission configuration with clutch packs instead
of synchros. and they use one-way clutches too. on that basis, i
personally have absolutely no trouble believing they'd need a different
spec fluid. there's nothing "forcing" them to do it that way, but honda
are different. oh, and there's nothing "forcing" honda to make a car
that will routinely last, 300k, 500k, or more miles. but honda are
different.