here is more info about my situation from another thread
Why can you not use preston universal????? In fact why even have this descussion? If they say any car, any engine, any color isent it ok with ANY car???? Why even worry if someone elses fluid is compatible that dosent claim to be, that you have to go to a dealership to buy when you can buy prestone at ANY gas station, grocery store, or auto parts store? I guess I just dont get it. Maybe I just dont know what I'm talking about but if someone claimes that and its widely availible and has been for a long time and you dont see hundreds of cars on the side of the road with coolant issues why not just use it? Even if you dont trust it and are crazy you could just change it once a year or every 2 years.
I'll just make my own thread and ask this question. I should add that last year I had problems with my 05 honda element. It sounded like a coffee percolator when I would turn. Come to find out thats a common problem in 05 elements. The coolant
they used clogs passageways and creates air pockets that flow between the radiator and the heater core that make it make coffee pot noises. When I looked at my reservoir there was nothing in there, just like the person who posted before me. I dont know if it was never filled at the factory or it was using antifreeze? All I know is I wasent going to use honda antifreeze when it had already let me down so I put prestone universal in and a year later It hasent used any and when you start the car and let it idle till the water pump clicks on it dosent bogg the engine down when it does it.