Re 2010 Acura MDX, OM says FF is good for 10 years. Car is now 5 years old with 42k miles. I am hard-wired to drain/fill coolant every two years which has given me decades on multiple vehicles without a single coolant related failure. I always use OEM coolant as specified. I know I can never wait the full ten years but right now I am trying to make 6. Not sure I can do it. Can anyone out there convince me I do NOT have to drain/fill the coolant now? Thanks for your help.
Can't Wait for First Coolant Change
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I generally do coolant every 60k, or about 5 years.
Go ahead and change it, but be sure to bleed the system properly - that's the most challenging part.
Go ahead and change it, but be sure to bleed the system properly - that's the most challenging part.
A complete waste of dollars, time and resources. Find another hobby. Ed
May I jump in with something closely related?
I'm readying a 2001 Camaro 3.8L for sale and see the coolant is a bad DEX-MIX (deadly combo).
There's non-oily goo inside the radiator cap and slime on the rad's core.
The oil on the dipstick looks good and there's no oil smell in the coolant reservoir.
Seems the careless garage reused coolants after a hose and thermostat change.
I've begun the service with dishwashing machine detergent.
What other cleaners work on this slime? Kira
I'm readying a 2001 Camaro 3.8L for sale and see the coolant is a bad DEX-MIX (deadly combo).
There's non-oily goo inside the radiator cap and slime on the rad's core.
The oil on the dipstick looks good and there's no oil smell in the coolant reservoir.
Seems the careless garage reused coolants after a hose and thermostat change.
I've begun the service with dishwashing machine detergent.
What other cleaners work on this slime? Kira
My car says the FF is also good for 10 years, and I'm currently at about 6.5 years and 69k miles. I've had no issues, but about a week ago I realized how long it's been on the coolant and now I'm itching to do a drain and fill on the radiator. I don't think I'm going to make it make it much longer without doing a drain and fill, not because the car can't take it, but because the thought of a drain and fill has been eating away at me for the past week.
You should be fine going out to 6 years. Think of all the people with the same vehicle who follow the owners manual without issue. Or for that matter, think of all the people with the same vehicle who don't follow the owner's manual, or only loosely follow the owners manual, without issue.
Acuras are very reliable cars, they wouldn't have that reputation if they kept overheating and blowing head gaskets halfway through their coolant lifecycle.
You should be fine going out to 6 years. Think of all the people with the same vehicle who follow the owners manual without issue. Or for that matter, think of all the people with the same vehicle who don't follow the owner's manual, or only loosely follow the owners manual, without issue.
Acuras are very reliable cars, they wouldn't have that reputation if they kept overheating and blowing head gaskets halfway through their coolant lifecycle.
Why not test the coolant and see if it needs changing? It might just save you a bunch of time, and some money.
Go ahead and change it. It will cost you around $40 for 2 jugs of the Honda/Acura coolant (which is the only coolant I would use). You will have peace of mind knowing its fresh. Coolant is not only there to cool, it also lubricates what water pump.
Originally Posted By: gregk24
Go ahead and change it. It will cost you around $40 for 2 jugs of the Honda/Acura coolant (which is the only coolant I would use). You will have peace of mind knowing its fresh. Coolant is not only there to cool, it also lubricates what water pump.
+1 This.
Another nice thing about doing this, is you get under your car and get to inspect things like axle boots, exhaust system, suspension, undercarriage for scrapes and damage, check for leaks, etc.
That's one reason I do my own oil changes.
Peace of Mind is also a wonderful thing.
Go ahead and change it. It will cost you around $40 for 2 jugs of the Honda/Acura coolant (which is the only coolant I would use). You will have peace of mind knowing its fresh. Coolant is not only there to cool, it also lubricates what water pump.
+1 This.
Another nice thing about doing this, is you get under your car and get to inspect things like axle boots, exhaust system, suspension, undercarriage for scrapes and damage, check for leaks, etc.
That's one reason I do my own oil changes.
Peace of Mind is also a wonderful thing.
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Honda coolant system and its fluid is very good. I changed out the coolant fluid in my 2004 S2000 I bought in Nov 2013 couple months ago last Jan-Feb.
The old fluid was in excellent condition without any debris in it I can see. I was thinking about pour it back in the radiator and keep it there for another 5-6 years. But I already bought Peak Global Lifetime concentrate and I used it after a distilled water flush.
From the S2000 coolant fluid change experience, I say keep the factory fill coolant for 10 years or the mileage(I believe 120k miles) which ever is first.
The old fluid was in excellent condition without any debris in it I can see. I was thinking about pour it back in the radiator and keep it there for another 5-6 years. But I already bought Peak Global Lifetime concentrate and I used it after a distilled water flush.
From the S2000 coolant fluid change experience, I say keep the factory fill coolant for 10 years or the mileage(I believe 120k miles) which ever is first.
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Why not test the coolant and see if it needs changing? It might just save you a bunch of time, and some money.
Wow! Now there is a crazy, thinking outside the box idea. Yea. Test it. See if it is still good. Then, based upon the test results, decide if the coolant needs to be replaced.
So Demarpaint, how did you ever come up with such a novel idea? Where can you find a coolant tester?
Why not test the coolant and see if it needs changing? It might just save you a bunch of time, and some money.
Wow! Now there is a crazy, thinking outside the box idea. Yea. Test it. See if it is still good. Then, based upon the test results, decide if the coolant needs to be replaced.
So Demarpaint, how did you ever come up with such a novel idea? Where can you find a coolant tester?
I would think if there is any fluid on a vehicle that is "lifetime", it would be the coolant.
Originally Posted By: turtlevette
I would think if there is any fluid on a vehicle that is "lifetime", it would be the coolant.
Some years ago many owners in California (mostly In Southern part) never changed their coolant, because they think that there wasn't any chance for freezing temperature in So Cal, therefore no need to change antifreeze.
Notice the name "antifreeze" not coolant. The coolant system was rusted with very dark brown color after 15-20 years. Back then changing coolant was recommended 3-5 years, now the OE long life is recommended 10-12 years.
Also, many drivers in So Cal don't change these fluids: Brake fluid, PSF, clutch fluid. These fluids are black as ink in cars over 10-15 years old.
I would think if there is any fluid on a vehicle that is "lifetime", it would be the coolant.
Some years ago many owners in California (mostly In Southern part) never changed their coolant, because they think that there wasn't any chance for freezing temperature in So Cal, therefore no need to change antifreeze.
Notice the name "antifreeze" not coolant. The coolant system was rusted with very dark brown color after 15-20 years. Back then changing coolant was recommended 3-5 years, now the OE long life is recommended 10-12 years.
Also, many drivers in So Cal don't change these fluids: Brake fluid, PSF, clutch fluid. These fluids are black as ink in cars over 10-15 years old.
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