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.

"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.

i use a 50/50 mix of dexcool in my 98 civic. not sure about mixing them tho.
if its not that low and you plan on getting it replaced anyway, id add
distilled water.

"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.

Use Honda coolant, you can do a search in google and find that you shouldn't
use other stuff than honda. Is not that much more money and you will save
your waterpump from future failure.

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.

>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.

Rgds, George Macdonald

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

"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.

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

On Sun, 11 Apr 2004 01:48:02 GMT, "mike" <mikein562athotmail@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>
>"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?

Whatever is recommended though I'm a bit leary of Honda's current
recommendations of 120K miles to first change. Honda Type 2 coolant is
marked as good for 60K miles after that first change.

>> >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.

One bad experience, admittedly with Prestone regular, makes me wary. Honda
is unique with their all aluminum engined fleet and I'm not inclined to
experiment.

Rgds, George Macdonald

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

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.

"Grahame" <grahame.joyce@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:gQjec.1597$2Z6.123592@news20.bellglobal.com.. .
> 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.

thats odd, since most japanese manufacturers recommend silicate-free
coolant, which would be the orange stuff.

Preston caused me 3 (three) immediate, low-mileage pump failures in 2
1990 Integras until I realized what was doing it.

No question that this will ruin the pump. Anywhere from 6 weeks to 6
months.

JM

"JM" <jmattis@attglobal.net> wrote in message
news:de3b9c1b.0404111841.28cc24d4@posting.google.c om...
> Preston caused me 3 (three) immediate, low-mileage pump failures in 2
> 1990 Integras until I realized what was doing it.

the cheap green stuff? or orange dexron equivalent? were they honda pumps,
or rebuilt?
>
> No question that this will ruin the pump. Anywhere from 6 weeks to 6
> months.

ive been using the orange dexcool/silver(?) bottle 50/50 with distilled
water for the past 3 years (time to change soon) and the inside of the
radiator still looks like new. nothing floating, either. and still the
original pump.