Change AF at 2 years or wait?

[Flashlightboy]

'03 Civic with 14k on the odometer. Been running 60% water since new along with RL WW.

The manual says go longer (100K) but I've diluted it with distilled water. I usually change out AF every 2 years but this car only has 14k on it.

Change, leave or something else?

 

[TR3-2001SE]

My 2001 Miata says three years to the first change then every two years. My Honda says 3 years changes with Honda fluid which is suppose to be one of the best. I would go one more year as you have some of the best AF available in it.

 

[Big Jim]

Today's coolants can go longer than even a few years ago, but for the cost of a gallon of coolant I still change mine more frequently than called for.

 

[ChrisW]

quote:

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Originally posted by y_p_w:
How about change it more often but don't worry about draining the block? I don't know about WW and its effect on extended-life coolants. I remember seeing a MSDS for an older powdered form of WW, and it contained silicates. Perhaps the liquid WW doesn't have any.

What do you mean by 60%? Honda Type 2 coolant is already diluted to about 50% deionized water. I believe they don't want people using high mineral content water and prefer that people don't water it down such that corrosion protection might be compromised.

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Actually, they like people to pay $14 for half a gallon of coolant/AF, and $1 for half a gallon of distilled water

A gallon of distilled is $0.58 at walmart, and a gallon of coolant (I'd reccomend G 05 for a Honda, I feel it to be one of the best formulated coolants out there) is about $10. Thats enough for two changes.

 

[y_p_w]

How about change it more often but don't worry about draining the block? I don't know about WW and its effect on extended-life coolants. I remember seeing a MSDS for an older powdered form of WW, and it contained silicates. Perhaps the liquid WW doesn't have any.

What do you mean by 60%? Honda Type 2 coolant is already diluted to about 50% deionized water. I believe they don't want people using high mineral content water and prefer that people don't water it down such that corrosion protection might be compromised.

 

[Flashlightboy]

ypw,

After doing the math I drained 28 oz of fluid and replaced it with distilled water. The ratio is now 60% water and 40 % AF for freeze protection down to 0 degrees. Never will see that in SoCal but on the other hand, Palm Springs is routinely over 100, and more, summer.

With WW and the above mix the temp gauge doesn't move.

 

[Crashbox]

quote:

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Originally posted by y_p_w:
-snip- What do you mean by 60%? Honda Type 2 coolant is already diluted to about 50% deionized water. -snip-

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This is one of my very biggest gripes about Honda Type 2 AF!!! Since it's impossible to drain the cooling system completely, you can't really do a water flush at home and get the AF mixture to 50% without concentrate!

We have pretty good tap water here in the Pacific Northwest. It's generally quite soft and pliable. Elsewhere, other sources can be so hard that you have to chew the water before you can swallow it.

SOMEONE needs to aftermarket a Japanese-style, glycol/phosphate AF concentrate!

 

[Ray H]

Actually, Honda does market a glycol/phosphate AF concentrate (in 1-gallon jugs, no less!), but it's more generally available through their motorcycle dealer network.

I agree with you that Peak, Prestone, Zerex, etc would provide a valuable service if any or all would develop and market an "Asian Formula" antifreeze/coolant concentrate just as you describe. Golly - now if only Japanese designed vehicles were just more commonly seen on North American highways to support such a marketing move.

(Pardon me, briefly, while I forcefully pry my tongue from my cheek . . .) In truth, Zerex G-05 is probably a reasonable compromise, though not actually supported by Honda for in-warranty service fill (and presumably Nissan or Toyota, either). Though G-05 contains no phophates for quick protection upon installation or from in-use "damage" to the OAT layer, the reduced silicate level achieves much the same purpose without the deterioration effects of the previously copious silicate levels in "conventional-green" antifreeze. I've yet to read of anyone complaining about problems with G-05 on BITOG. (and BITOGers do not, as a rule, hold back when they feel they've something negative to share!)