04 Honda Odyssey

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I will be doing a timing belt / water pump job soon and while its open, drain the radiator to change out most of the coolant. The current fill is OE Honda Type 2 blue (I've done a couple drain/fills). I know the "best course" is to use the Honda stuff but if another product is chemical identical... Current mileage: 203k. Service will be done by 210k.

Should I use (note: all are 50/50 premix):

-Honda Type 2 (appx $20/gal)
-Zerex G69 "Asian Formula" Blue ($15/gal)
-Pentofrost A3 ($14.50/gal)

Thanks!
 
Originally Posted By: SpecM
I will be doing a timing belt / water pump job soon and while its open, drain the radiator to change out most of the coolant. The current fill is OE Honda Type 2 blue (I've done a couple drain/fills). I know the "best course" is to use the Honda stuff but if another product is chemical identical... Current mileage: 203k. Service will be done by 210k.

Should I use (note: all are 50/50 premix):

-Honda Type 2 (appx $20/gal)
-Zerex G69 "Asian Formula" Blue ($15/gal)
-Pentofrost A3 ($14.50/gal)

Thanks!





Ideally, stick to Honda Type 2, because of obvious reasons.

If not, have a look here:

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/4287724/Buying_Honda_Coolant_locally_i
 
I also have a 2004 Odyssey. My thoughts:

I'd stick with OEM Honda antifreeze. This is a fluid that you'll likely only change once every 100k or so. If you look at the cost savings over time, it's hardly nothing. I like to look at it this way-- if my replacement water pump were to die in only 20k miles (even if it were just a fluke,) do I want the non-OEM (mixed) coolant variable hanging over my head? Nope, if I'd used OEM coolant, I'd be 100% sure my coolant choice wasn't a factor. Therefore, I'm more confident diagnosing future problem(s) if I had used the correct fluid and not mixed them. You'll never get all the old coolant out, so you are mixing them, even though they are compatible. Consistency is a good thing
smile.gif


That said, both the Zerex and Pentosin products are compatible and will work fine. Zerex can be had in blue dye (like the OEM coolant) but Pentosin and Valvoline are red in color, IIRC. Valvoline Asian / Zerex Asian are the same product other than perhaps the dye used. Again, unless I were saving some decent amount of coin, I would rather use OEM. If was putting in a new engine or something extreme (where I could be sure most of the coolant has been drained) I wouldn't hesitate using Zerex or some other aftermarket brand.

Lastly, I don't like to mix colors, because if I sell the vehicle one day, the potential buyer will likely see a negative in having an off color coolant. When you mix two different colors, you end up with a color that doesn't match any off-the-shelf coolant. If I were buying the car, the cooling system would be immediately suspect, and I'd want to look it over closely, more closely than I would if the system contained OEM coolant/color.
 
Of the three if all obtained with equal ease, go with least expensive, Pentofrost A3 or ZAF (blue tint) in this case. All are Asian PHOAT premixes, all Long Life (long service interval) AFs.

Didn't used to be many alternatives to the OEM PHOATS like Type2. Now there are equally good alternatives even in matching tint to Type2, if that is a consideration. No need to pay extra for Type2.

The current least expensive PHOAT premix is Valvoline Asian Formula sold at WM, same as ZAF. Only available in reddish tint though.
 
I love this place (BITOG).

I weigh the matching color of replacement coolant heavily for the reason given regarding a buyer seeing consistency.

I just sold a high mileage car and the list of repairs and maintenance included part numbers.

Your Honda coolant will look good on such a list. It (coolant compatibility) is one thing may rookies know about.
Any premium could be the best money you ever spend.

Of course I'm assuming you'd list maintenance parts truthfully. Kira
 
Because of how often it's changed (not often), I use the OEM stuff. There's no risk with using it, no question it's 100% compatible with everything in the cooling system. Actually change my coolant every 50k miles. I still use the Honda stuff. When I had Chryslers, I used the Mopar HOAT. When I had GMs, I used the GM Dexcool. I've never had any cooling system problems with anything I've owned.
 
Thanks, I think that makes my mind up. Honda Type 2 it is

FWIW, the Zerex G69 and Pentofrost A3 ARE blue dyed, and in all likelihood the exact same stuff

But piece of mind is worth $5/gal every few years
 
Quote:
..FWIW, the Zerex G69 and Pentofrost A3 ARE blue dyed, and in all likelihood the exact same stuff...


For my information where are you obtaining the "G69" code for ZAF blue tint? New one to me.

I 100% agree your likelihood thought. As it wouldn't be a POM consideration for me, Type2 wouldn't be worth the extra. Just me.
 
Originally Posted By: Sayjac

For my information where are you obtaining the "G69" code for ZAF blue tint? New one to me.



http://s7d9.scene7.com/is/content/GenuinePartsCompany/2447088pdf?$PDF$
 
Another one to consider is Pep Boys OEM brand coolant Blue. Regular price about $20/gal but often on sale. And this one is actually a concentrate, not a 50/50 premix. Made by Recochem.

But out of the three you listed, go with Pentofrost A3 since it's the best price and probably rebranded OEM stuff.
 
Well, $20 is list on the coolant. Im a service advisor at a local chain garage and my wholesale price is 20% off, so $16 plus tax. Definitely worth it.
 
When I was at the Honda dealer and told one of the advisors I was going to buy some coolant at the parts dept, he asked me, Why? We'll top it off for you. Since I had it in for service. The prior Honda dealer I went to and purchased the car from was always reluctant to top it off when in for an oil change.
 
Then again the Type2 discount cost not listed in OP for true comparison. So the as listed retail $5 extra would not be worth it 'for me'. 'IMO' it's like G-05, be it from Zerex, Motorcraft (Gold) or Chrysler it's all G-05. Feel the same about the Asian PHOAT AFs now.

Last month PepBoys had OEM brand Asian Concentrate PHOAT in choice of tint for ~$14/gal. That was a super deal as the standard premix PHOAT would have to be ~$7 gallon to equal the OEM brand concentrate.
 
Well, it was only yesterday that I relized the discount. So it was more of an update

Also, there are no Pepboys anywhete near where I live. Too bad it seems
 
Originally Posted By: SpecM
Thanks, I think that makes my mind up. Honda Type 2 it is

FWIW, the Zerex G69 and Pentofrost A3 ARE blue dyed, and in all likelihood the exact same stuff

But piece of mind is worth $5/gal every few years

Some Googling led me to Glysantin G70, which BASF makes and is Toyota approved for the ROW.

Since Zerex was formerly BASF and Valvoline does bottle service fill for Mercedes, BMW, VW/Audi, Ford, Mopar and maybe Tesla and they all specified Glysantin coolants(except for the new Mopar CCI coolant and Ford going to Dex-Cool), I'm led to believe Zerex is the North American muse for Glysantin.
 
Zerex is made by Ashland, Inc., makers of Valvoline. Not related to Gylsantin.

Basf sold the Zerex name/product line in the early 90's, IIRC, long before many of today's HOAT/OAT based coolants were introduced.
 
I'm pretty sure Valvoline(now on its own since the Ashland spinoff) buys coolant concentrates from BASF, and I remember as a kid that Zerex prominently had BASF's logo on their bottles. CCI and Prestone are the other main coolant suppliers in the US.
 
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