Mazda, which camp are they in???

[mike1qaz]

I just bought a used '99 Protege w/48K miles for my daughter, so I'll be changing the coolant soon. I'm wondering if the Mazda factory fill coolant is low silicate, no silicates w/phosphates, no 2EH, oat, hoat or what???

I don't plan to flush, just drain and refill, so I'd like to match the factory fluid if possible without using a Mazda brand fluid (if indeed they have their own like Honda and Toyota).

One specialty fluid car in the family is enough. The Honda fluid is $14/gallon for premix at the dealer's parts counter. Oh for the good ole days of Prestone concentrate mixed with your own cheap distilled water.

While I'm on that topic, does anyone offer a coolant concentrate any longer?

 

[JayhawkRoy]

Check your owner's manual for sure, but my MPV uses plain, old ethylene glycol antifreeze and Dexron III ATF. I couldn't be happier, for the reasons you detail about the expensive Honda products.

 

[Winston]

quote:

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Check your owner's manual for sure, but my MPV uses plain, old ethylene glycol antifreeze and Dexron III ATF.

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This is the problem. There is no such thing as plain old ethylene glycol.

 

[wavinwayne]

quote:

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Originally posted by Winston:
This is the problem. There is no such thing as plain old ethylene glycol.

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Winston,
What do you mean by that?

 

[wavinwayne]

quote:

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Originally posted by mike1qaz:
While I'm on that topic, does anyone offer a coolant concentrate any longer?

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I can still get it at my local Ford dealer, for about $13/gallon.

 

[Ray H]

If by "plain old ethylene glycol" you're referring to conventional "Prestone"-type products, they're still available as store brands. Both Pep Boys and Autozone's branded antifreeze concentrates are silicated, non-OAT formulae. Not sure how much longer these products will remain available, but they haven't been buried yet. For all I know Peak and Zerex may still be marketing conventional antifreeze concentrates, too - might wanna do a check of their respective websites.

 

[mike1qaz]

So if I understand correctly, Mazda doesn't require a no silicate/w phosphates fluid like the other Nippon manufacturers.

When I looked in the reservoir, it was a very dark green fluid, similar to the deep green of the Honda longlife stuff. I'm only guessing this is the factory fluid as I don't have the whole service history.

I believe this Protege has an aluminum block and head. This is my first Mazda product so I'm still coming up to speed.

In the users manual it does, indeed, just say ethylene glycol for the coolant and Mazda MIII ATF or Dexron II for the autotrans.

I put Valvoline Maxlife Dex3 in the transmission and am
about to tackle the coolant.

 

[Drew99GT]

Most manufactureres still sell concentrated antifreeze; it's hard to find sometimes. You effectivly spend around 7-8 bucks for distilled water and half the antifreeze with the pre-mixed stuff!

 

[Winston]

Wayne asked me what I meant by saying "there is no such thing as plain old ethylene glycol."

What I meant was that most antifreezes have ethylene glycol, but there are many different corrosion protection chemistrys.(sodium silicate, OAT, HOAT, G-05, Dexcool, low silicate, no silicate, Toyota Red, Prestone all makes, blah blah) Some of these forumlations are similar some are very different. They are all "compatible", but when mixed they do not protect your engine from corrosion as well as when they are pure. That is what irritates me with some mfg's like Mazda and Mitsubishi. The manual just says to use high quality ethylene glycol antifreeze. That statement means nothing.

 

[ex_MGB]

'99 Protege has an iron block. There is no Mazda coolant, so I used Nissan coolant in my two Mazda's, but if I had had Honda on hand instead, I'd have used that.

Hey, both Nissan & Honda coolant are "Nippon Spec" and the colors match to the Nippon manufactured Mazda's OEM coolant (P5 & Miata), any concerns beyond that takes us into AFDB (Aluminum Foil Deflector Beanie) territory.

 

[y_p_w]

quote:

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Originally posted by Drew99GT:
Most manufactureres still sell concentrated antifreeze; it's hard to find sometimes. You effectivly spend around 7-8 bucks for distilled water and half the antifreeze with the pre-mixed stuff!

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I've got an unopened bottle of Toyota Red Long-Life coolant. Comes with a table of freeze/boilover points depending on concentration. Definitely needs to be mixed with high-quality water before using.