How much is Honda brand antifreeze?

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by courseincivics@jfdsjlsjz, Jan 13, 2008.

  1. I've been reading around the web that only Honda brand coolant should be used
    for the Honda. Tonight, for the first time, I noticed my 1995 Civic EX's
    temperature gauge three quarters of the way to the hot setting, whereas it's
    usually one quarter past cool. I'm going to check the reservoir and the
    radiator today, but before I buy Prestone, I thought about heading over to
    the Honda dealer for the Honda brand. How much does it usually cost in
    comparison to Prestone? The car has less than 30k miles and never has had a
    coolant flush.

    In the event that it's nearly dry, is plain distilled water ok to add? If
    so, wouldn't that mean subsequently flushing the radiator so that the water
    would be replaced by the antifreeze/water 50/50 mix?
     
    courseincivics@jfdsjlsjz, Jan 13, 2008
    #1
  2. courseincivics@jfdsjlsjz

    Elle Guest

    Do not add Prestone. You risk an early water pump failure
    with it.

    OEM is something like twice as much.

    Your owner's manual will tell you the 95 Civic is due for a
    coolant flush every every 2 years or 45k miles, whichever
    comes first.

    Re adding distilled water in a pinch: The more you have to
    add, the greater the risk of improper cooling or breaking
    something. The lower temperatures are when you add distilled
    water, the greater the risk.

    I am doubtful adding coolant will remedy the problem. Is the
    thermostat original? Maybe time for a replacement if adding
    coolant does not remedy the problem.

    Every overheating incident brings your engine's head gasket
    closer to failure in the future. I would not drive until the
    correct amount of coolant is in place and/or other checks
    are done.
     
    Elle, Jan 13, 2008
    #2
  3. courseincivics@jfdsjlsjz

    Elle Guest

    Do not add Prestone. You risk an early water pump failure
    with it.

    OEM is something like twice as much.

    Your owner's manual will tell you the 95 Civic is due for a
    coolant flush every every 2 years or 45k miles, whichever
    comes first.

    Re adding distilled water in a pinch: The more you have to
    add, the greater the risk of improper cooling or breaking
    something. The lower temperatures are when you add distilled
    water, the greater the risk.

    I am doubtful adding coolant will remedy the problem. Is the
    thermostat original? Maybe time for a replacement if adding
    coolant does not remedy the problem.

    Every overheating incident brings your engine's head gasket
    closer to failure in the future. I would not drive until the
    correct amount of coolant is in place and/or other checks
    are done.
     
    Elle, Jan 13, 2008
    #3
  4. courseincivics@jfdsjlsjz

    bi241 Guest

    there are many causes of engine overheating.

    cooling system
    - low coolant level, check both radiator and the reservoir.
    - air in the cooling system. bubbles come out of the bleeding taps if
    air is trapped in the system.
    - fauty radiator fan: does it come on?
    - stuck closed thermostat: does the upper hose ever get hot?
    - faulty radiator cap: does the overflow tube get hot easily?
    - faulty water pump: leave the cap off, does the coolant flow when
    engine is running?
    - blocked passages: same as above

    drivetrain
    - chambers detonation: (incorrect timing, incorrect spark plugs heat
    range, mixture too lean) is there any audible pinging or rattling
    under load?
    - transmission overheating: (automatic trans) does the trans up/down
    shift properly? does the torque converter lockup work?

    if you live in the south, it's OK to fill it up with distilled water
    (works for aluminum blocks & heads). i would prefer anti-freeze
    because of its higher boiling point. In my Honda used PEAK LongLife
    premixed 50/50, silicate-free, amber color, and added a bottle of
    HyperLube super coolant as a surfactant, anti-foaming agent. They are
    cheap and available at most parts stores

    oh and dont overlook the radiator cap, one with a weakened spring will
    lower the coolant boiling point. It's bad, cause when the coolant is
    boiling, it's telling the egnine that "that's it, i can't take it no
    more!!!". replaced with OEM only!!!

    cheers
     
    bi241, Jan 13, 2008
    #4
  5. courseincivics@jfdsjlsjz

    bi241 Guest

    there are many causes of engine overheating.

    cooling system
    - low coolant level, check both radiator and the reservoir.
    - air in the cooling system. bubbles come out of the bleeding taps if
    air is trapped in the system.
    - fauty radiator fan: does it come on?
    - stuck closed thermostat: does the upper hose ever get hot?
    - faulty radiator cap: does the overflow tube get hot easily?
    - faulty water pump: leave the cap off, does the coolant flow when
    engine is running?
    - blocked passages: same as above

    drivetrain
    - chambers detonation: (incorrect timing, incorrect spark plugs heat
    range, mixture too lean) is there any audible pinging or rattling
    under load?
    - transmission overheating: (automatic trans) does the trans up/down
    shift properly? does the torque converter lockup work?

    if you live in the south, it's OK to fill it up with distilled water
    (works for aluminum blocks & heads). i would prefer anti-freeze
    because of its higher boiling point. In my Honda used PEAK LongLife
    premixed 50/50, silicate-free, amber color, and added a bottle of
    HyperLube super coolant as a surfactant, anti-foaming agent. They are
    cheap and available at most parts stores

    oh and dont overlook the radiator cap, one with a weakened spring will
    lower the coolant boiling point. It's bad, cause when the coolant is
    boiling, it's telling the egnine that "that's it, i can't take it no
    more!!!". replaced with OEM only!!!

    cheers
     
    bi241, Jan 13, 2008
    #5

  6. How much of the antifreeze/water mixture will fill up the radiator and the
    reservoir after a complete coolant flush?

    I'm thinking of buying the Honda coolant from the dealer (unless there are
    online places that sell it) and giving it to my mechanic for a radiator
    flush. Is it sold in gallon jugs, and what is the general price?
     
    courseincivics, Jan 13, 2008
    #6

  7. How much of the antifreeze/water mixture will fill up the radiator and the
    reservoir after a complete coolant flush?

    I'm thinking of buying the Honda coolant from the dealer (unless there are
    online places that sell it) and giving it to my mechanic for a radiator
    flush. Is it sold in gallon jugs, and what is the general price?
     
    courseincivics, Jan 13, 2008
    #7
  8. wrote in

    Great advice (although, except for the radiator cap, each possibility
    sounds like I might be waving bye bye to a few hundred dollars!)



    Is amber also the color of the factory installed coolant, which I'm
    assuming is still the same as the current Honda brand?

    Do you add the bottle of Hyperlube to the reservoir or the radiator?

    Are there any online sites that sell actual Honda brand parts (like a
    radiator cap)?
     
    courseincivics, Jan 13, 2008
    #8
  9. wrote in

    Great advice (although, except for the radiator cap, each possibility
    sounds like I might be waving bye bye to a few hundred dollars!)



    Is amber also the color of the factory installed coolant, which I'm
    assuming is still the same as the current Honda brand?

    Do you add the bottle of Hyperlube to the reservoir or the radiator?

    Are there any online sites that sell actual Honda brand parts (like a
    radiator cap)?
     
    courseincivics, Jan 13, 2008
    #9
  10. courseincivics@jfdsjlsjz

    Dave Garrett Guest

    Honda coolant is sold in gallon jugs, but it's premixed already (no need
    to add water). At my dealer it's about $13 a gallon.

    Dave
     
    Dave Garrett, Jan 13, 2008
    #10
  11. courseincivics@jfdsjlsjz

    Dave Garrett Guest

    Honda coolant is sold in gallon jugs, but it's premixed already (no need
    to add water). At my dealer it's about $13 a gallon.

    Dave
     
    Dave Garrett, Jan 13, 2008
    #11
  12. courseincivics@jfdsjlsjz

    bi241 Guest

    when all else is good, but the gauge tends to climb towards the H
    mark, then the radiator cap is the top suspect.
    in this case, i would also check the temp gauge sender (next to the
    temp sensor) to make sure it's working right and doesn't send garbage
    to the gauge!
    i have no idea. some folks say it's green in color, some say blue. i'm
    only sure it contains organic rust inhibitor instead of silicate,
    which tends to form gel and has adverse effects the on water pump
    seal, as mentioned by other folks here

    My local Honda dealer now offers a coolant system service for $49 that
    includes drain & refill (not flush) with Honda coolant, radiator cap
    inspection, temp gauge operation inspection and water pump noise and
    leaks checking. That sounds reasonable, yes? But the problem is that
    they will probably try to talk you into replacing all of those parts
    and while you're at it, why not the timing belt too.. haha. If you can
    find similar deals, just make sure that what's got to be done is
    neccessary..
    last June, i read an article about a roundup of various brands of
    additives. Hyper-Lube Super Coolant is among the top, tested on a
    Civic
    you can google for "cooling system additives" , it appears on
    turbomagazine.com

    i drained the coolant by the amount of the bottle and added it to the
    radiator.
    Honda dealers should have them, but often not in stock, they have to
    order. You can order them yourself from a few sites that sell OEM
    honda parts

    http://www.hondapartscheap.com is one of those
     
    bi241, Jan 13, 2008
    #12
  13. courseincivics@jfdsjlsjz

    bi241 Guest

    when all else is good, but the gauge tends to climb towards the H
    mark, then the radiator cap is the top suspect.
    in this case, i would also check the temp gauge sender (next to the
    temp sensor) to make sure it's working right and doesn't send garbage
    to the gauge!
    i have no idea. some folks say it's green in color, some say blue. i'm
    only sure it contains organic rust inhibitor instead of silicate,
    which tends to form gel and has adverse effects the on water pump
    seal, as mentioned by other folks here

    My local Honda dealer now offers a coolant system service for $49 that
    includes drain & refill (not flush) with Honda coolant, radiator cap
    inspection, temp gauge operation inspection and water pump noise and
    leaks checking. That sounds reasonable, yes? But the problem is that
    they will probably try to talk you into replacing all of those parts
    and while you're at it, why not the timing belt too.. haha. If you can
    find similar deals, just make sure that what's got to be done is
    neccessary..
    last June, i read an article about a roundup of various brands of
    additives. Hyper-Lube Super Coolant is among the top, tested on a
    Civic
    you can google for "cooling system additives" , it appears on
    turbomagazine.com

    i drained the coolant by the amount of the bottle and added it to the
    radiator.
    Honda dealers should have them, but often not in stock, they have to
    order. You can order them yourself from a few sites that sell OEM
    honda parts

    http://www.hondapartscheap.com is one of those
     
    bi241, Jan 13, 2008
    #13
  14. courseincivics@jfdsjlsjz

    Dick Guest

    I can only speak to Accords which take around 5 quarts of coolant
    total for service. That means 2-1/2 quarts of antifreeze. I just had
    the 60,000 mile service on our Accord at the dealer, and draining and
    filling the radiator cost $17.44 for the Honda antifreeze plus labor.
    Figure somewhere around there.

    Dick
     
    Dick, Jan 13, 2008
    #14
  15. wrote in @f10g2000hsf.googlegroups.com:

    I was about to add (before I read your last two sentences above)that the
    checkup price sounds reasonable, but once they start checking, they love to
    start talking about replacing parts.


    Do you slide under the car to do it, or do you have a lift in a home garage?


    You can order them yourself from a few sites that sell OEM

    Thanks!
     
    courseincivics, Jan 14, 2008
    #15
  16. wrote in @f10g2000hsf.googlegroups.com:

    I was about to add (before I read your last two sentences above)that the
    checkup price sounds reasonable, but once they start checking, they love to
    start talking about replacing parts.


    Do you slide under the car to do it, or do you have a lift in a home garage?


    You can order them yourself from a few sites that sell OEM

    Thanks!
     
    courseincivics, Jan 14, 2008
    #16
  17. $17.44 with labor! How long did it take - 5 minutes? At that price, there
    should be a lineup of cars for miles!
     
    courseincivics, Jan 14, 2008
    #17
  18. courseincivics@jfdsjlsjz

    Jeff Guest

    If you need coolant, you have a worse problem: There is a leak
    someplace, like the water pump. While you're replacing the water pump,
    you might as well replace the timing belt if it is due.

    If there isn't a coolant leak, you need to diagnose the problem causing
    the overheating, like a bad water pump or thermostat.

    Jeff
     
    Jeff, Jan 14, 2008
    #18
  19. courseincivics@jfdsjlsjz

    Jeff Guest

    If you need coolant, you have a worse problem: There is a leak
    someplace, like the water pump. While you're replacing the water pump,
    you might as well replace the timing belt if it is due.

    If there isn't a coolant leak, you need to diagnose the problem causing
    the overheating, like a bad water pump or thermostat.

    Jeff
     
    Jeff, Jan 14, 2008
    #19
  20. honda premix is $4 more per gallon than STP or Prestone premix, and as
    mentioned earlier, you'll want to stick with Honda.

    t
     
    loewent via CarKB.com, Jan 14, 2008
    #20
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