Honda Car Forum

> Have a 96 Accord that is low on coolant---probably needs flush and
replace.
>
> I am wondering if, for the time being, I can put Prestone DexCool (the
> orange stuff). I had some leftover from a Saturn that required it, and
> want to know if the Accord is less fussy about coolants.

What is in there now? I would not mix Dexcool with other fluids.

I suspect that your car either has Honda's factory mixture or has at some
point been switched to standard Green stuff. Use whatever is in there
already for top off.

Maybe it is time for a flush and fill????

John

On Sun, 11 Apr 2004 18:41:17 -0400, "Grahame" <grahame.joyce@sympatico.ca>
wrote:

>Why don't you call Honda yourself, I did and they recommended the regular
>Prestone or Honda's brand only. I change mine every year and have never had
>any problems using the cheaper Prestone.

What "Honda" did you call, corporate Customer Service or a dealer? I
seriously doubt that anyone representing Honda would recommend the regular
Prestone. IME it *will* destroy the water pump bearing.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

On 4/11/04 5:41 PM, in article gQjec.1597$2Z6.123592@news20.bellglobal.com,
"Grahame" <grahame.joyce@sympatico.ca> wrote:

> Why don't you call Honda yourself, I did and they recommended the regular
> Prestone or Honda's brand only. I change mine every year and have never had
> any problems using the cheaper Prestone.
>
> "MG Midget" <TripleA@DoubleD.com> wrote in message
> news:Xns94C773397E060MGAP2004@64.164.98.50...
>>
>>
>> Have a 96 Accord that is low on coolant---probably needs flush and
> replace.
>>
>> I am wondering if, for the time being, I can put Prestone DexCool (the
>> orange stuff). I had some leftover from a Saturn that required it, and
>> want to know if the Accord is less fussy about coolants.
>
>

That's interesting. I called Honda and they specifically said not to use
the regular Prestone.

Warnings against Prestone and Jap pumps are all over the Internet.

Here was my deal (this was 1991 or 1992):

1990 Integra RS with 30,000 miles. Changed to Prestone and the
original pump died 6 weeks later. Was replaced under warranty.

Along with a new pump, the Acura dealer put in the Prestone that I
brought (I didn't want to mix coolants). Result: pump died again a
few thousand miles later.

Meanwhile, I had already changed my wife's 1990 Integra LS to
Prestone. This one's pump died 6 months later at around 35,000 miles.

Techline people (the California Acura/honda gurus) finally told the
dealer not to use the Prestone. Since nobody at the dealer had been
particularly aware of this, they agreed to honor the warranty all
three times. Otherwise this would have been an expensive learning
curve. They had to flush the bejesus out of the coolant system and
used real Honda coolant. My wife's car was traded at 89,000+, with no
further pump problems. Mine was traded at 119,000, with no further
problems.

I will admit that I have heard of a handful of people who've had no
problem whatsoever. Luck of the draw, I guess. On the other hand,
some years ago on the Internet, there were photomicrographs of the
actual seals from Honda pumps, showing seal abrasion.

JM

> I will admit that I have heard of a handful of people who've had no
> problem whatsoever. Luck of the draw, I guess. On the other hand,
> some years ago on the Internet, there were photomicrographs of the
> actual seals from Honda pumps, showing seal abrasion.

which is why i always use the dexcool compatible stuff- orange coolant in
the silver jug. no silicates, no phosphates, no problems on any of the 3
japanese vehicles ive used it on.

if youre squeamish, tho- stick with the honda stuff.

"mike" <mikein562athotmail@hotmail.com> wrote
> which is why i always use the dexcool compatible stuff- orange coolant in
> the silver jug. no silicates, no phosphates, no problems on any of the 3
> japanese vehicles ive used it on.

Mike,

Could you give the approx. number of miles on each car with the orange dex stuff
in the engine cooling system?

Also, how often you drained and refilled?

Lastly, is the brand name of the orange dexcool you used "Havoline"? (Can't
remember if anyone else makes this orange, "silicate free" "recommended for
aluminum engines" anti-freeze.)

I put Havoline orange Dex in my 91 Civic 1.5 years and about 18k miles ago. I
changed the thermostat a few weeks ago, draining the system about halfway in the
process. The anti-freeze that came out looked very clean.

I used the green Prestone once and had an early water pump failure. Not sure if
the green Prestone caused this, but the database here certainly suggests so.

I'm trying to build up the orange Dexcool database here. :-)

> if youre squeamish, tho- stick with the honda stuff.

I'm game enough (and have time enough) to experiment a little.

"mike" <mikein562athotmail@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<mt1ec.109180$gA5.1439656@attbi_s03>...
> "George Macdonald" <fammacd=!SPAM^nothanks@tellurian.com> wrote in message
> news:16sg7054n693rtjq4lj5d29on4mpo65bma@4ax.com...
> > On Sat, 10 Apr 2004 18:20:31 GMT, MG Midget <TripleA@DoubleD.com> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > >Have a 96 Accord that is low on coolant---probably needs flush and
> replace.
> >
> > I've never seen any need to flush with modern engines/coolants, unless the
> > system is contaminated, has had a gasket leak or the likes.
>
> would you still recommend every 30k doing a drain/refill?
> >
> > >I am wondering if, for the time being, I can put Prestone DexCool (the
> > >orange stuff). I had some leftover from a Saturn that required it, and
> > >want to know if the Accord is less fussy about coolants.
> >
> > Given all the controversy on Dex-Cool, see links here
> > http://www.imcool.com/index.html, I wouldn't touch that stuff. It could
> be
> > just lawyers cashing in but then again.......
> >
> > I will not put anything but Honda brand coolant in a Honda system, based
> on
> > experience which has already been much discussed here.
>
> AFAIK, as long as its silicate and phosphate free, its ok.

Silicate-free yes. Phosphate-free - not really. Honda coolants are
clearly labelled as silicate-free and borate-free. Silicates
precipitate/gel out and are mildly abrasive. Borates are abrasive.
Honda coolants supposedly contain phosphate-based corrosion inhibitors.

It's the European carmakers who specify phosphate-free coolant. It
supposedly causes stuff to precipitate out with the typically hard
water used in Europe. High quality tap water or distilled should
cause no problems.

I believe the reason why Dex-Cool formulations are phosphate-free
is to appeal to a wide range European carmakers recommendations.
Then it's silicate-free to meet the GM Dex-Cool standard as well
as Japanese automakers' recommendations.

I would never use anything but Honda antifreeze in a Honda auto. My 87
Accord's water pump failed shortly after I did a change to a brand other
than Honda. However I have used the Havoline Dex-Cool in my 99 Miata for 4
years without a flush. The fluid looks like the day I put it in.

Do you think that the remaining half-gallon in the antifreeze bottle is
still good after 4 years?

"Caroline" <caroline10027remove@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:ZOBec.6408$k05.2519@newsread2.news.pas.earthl ink.net...
> "mike" <mikein562athotmail@hotmail.com> wrote
> > which is why i always use the dexcool compatible stuff- orange coolant
in
> > the silver jug. no silicates, no phosphates, no problems on any of the 3
> > japanese vehicles ive used it on.
>
> Mike,
>
> Could you give the approx. number of miles on each car with the orange dex
stuff
> in the engine cooling system?

one motorcycle, kawasaki, about 10 years or so. 98 civic, 3 years/20k miles,
various watercooled honda scooters.
>
> Also, how often you drained and refilled?

bike/scooters? yearly. car? 3 years so far and its about due.
>
> Lastly, is the brand name of the orange dexcool you used "Havoline"?
(Can't
> remember if anyone else makes this orange, "silicate free" "recommended
for
> aluminum engines" anti-freeze.)

not havoline. pretty sure it was prestone. dunno if zerex makes a version,
but i know ive used orange prestone in the civic as of 3 years ago.
>
> I put Havoline orange Dex in my 91 Civic 1.5 years and about 18k miles
ago. I
> changed the thermostat a few weeks ago, draining the system about halfway
in the
> process. The anti-freeze that came out looked very clean.
>
> I used the green Prestone once and had an early water pump failure. Not
sure if
> the green Prestone caused this, but the database here certainly suggests
so.
>
> I'm trying to build up the orange Dexcool database here. :-)
>
> > if youre squeamish, tho- stick with the honda stuff.
>
> I'm game enough (and have time enough) to experiment a little.
>
>

>
> Do you think that the remaining half-gallon in the antifreeze bottle is
> still good after 4 years?

sure. its not like brake fluid.