Honda Car Forum

Is there a commonly available antifreeze that's sufficiently
aluminum-engine-friendly for a 94 Civic, or is genuine Honda antifreeze
the only way to go?

Abeness wrote:
> Is there a commonly available antifreeze that's sufficiently
> aluminum-engine-friendly for a 94 Civic, or is genuine Honda antifreeze
> the only way to go?

I know of a Honda Dealer that uses Service Pro, its cheap and in a black
bottle (http://www.service-pro.com/images/50-50antifreeze.jpg). I know a
lot of people say to use only Honda coolant, but I've had good luck with
various brands, as long as they are 'low silicate' formulations.

If you go to this site--http://www.prestone.com/ and then to antfreeze,
Prestone says that its "New Prestone® All Makes All Models Extended Life
Antifreeze/Coolant" is suitable for all cars. Here's some other info
from the site--
Q: Does Prestone® Antifreeze/Coolant contain phosphates?
A: Some European automobile manufacturers request that a phosphate-free
antifreeze be used in their vehicles. This issue is related to the
extremely high mineral content of the water in Europe. If you were to
mix an antifreeze that contained phosphates with the type of water they
have in Europe, it may produce deposits that can settle in the cooling
system and promote corrosion. However, in North America we do not have
this type of water problem. Typical North American coolants have
contained phosphates (which is part of the corrosion inhibitor package)
for many years. Therefore, the question of phosphates is a non-issue
here in North America. Prestone® Antifreeze/Coolant is completely safe
for use in both foreign and domestic vehicles.
For those consumers who would feel more comfortable using a
phosphate-free antifreeze, our Prestone® Extended Life 5/150
Antifreeze/Coolant is phosphate, silicate, and borate free. This coolant
uses a special chemistry and technology that extends the life of the
corrosion inhibitor package so that it lasts for five years or 150,000
miles (whichever comes first), and is safe for all cars and light trucks
(old or new). Prestone® Extended Life 5/150 Antifreeze/Coolant has been
approved by General Motors under their DEX-COOL® specifications and is
compatible with other DEX-COOL® approved coolants.
Prestone® Extended Life 5/150 Antifreeze/Coolant meets or exceeds
the following industry standards and specifications:

GM 6277M
Ford WSS-M97B44-D

When tested in ASTM D 1384, D 4340, D 2570, and D 2809, Prestone®
Extended Life 5/150 Antifreeze/Coolant will meet the chemical, physical
property characteristics and performance requirements of the following
standards and specifications:

GM 1825M
GM 1899
Ford WSE-M97B44-A
Ford ESE-M97B44-B
DaimlerChrysler MS 7170 and MS 9769
General Services Administration A-A-52624
ASTM D 3306
SAE J 1034
ASTM D 4985


Abeness wrote:
> Is there a commonly available antifreeze that's sufficiently
> aluminum-engine-friendly for a 94 Civic, or is genuine Honda antifreeze
> the only way to go?

This is one of those controversial topics here.

If you have no time to fool with possible car breakdowns, pay the ten extra
bucks or so and use OEM anti-freeze always. It's only once every two years or
so.

For my part, two years ago I did a thorough flush of my 1991 Civic's (159k
miles) cooling system (containing green Prestone at the time) and then used the
orange Havoline Dex (properly diluted). It's supposed to be friendly to Hondas.
All's well after 25k miles and two years. This past summer I changed out the
thermostat and cleaned the EAC valve and so had a chance to look at some of the
coolant that had been in there all this time. What came out looked mighty clean.

The Havoline container says it's supposed to last five years/150k miles, but
I'll probably change it out at three years, to play it safe.

I have had a premature water pump failure (or two?). At the time I was using
ordinary green Prestone.

OTOH, at this point in my DIYer career, I can deal with a failed water pump on
my own.

"Abeness" <news@nada.x> wrote
> Is there a commonly available antifreeze that's sufficiently
> aluminum-engine-friendly for a 94 Civic, or is genuine Honda antifreeze
> the only way to go?

Thanks, guys. I'm not one to insist on OEM stuff unless there's an
essential reason to do so (as I understand there is with the power
steering fluid)--particularly if there's a major brand that makes
antifreeze safe for aluminum.

Abeness wrote:

> Is there a commonly available antifreeze that's sufficiently
> aluminum-engine-friendly for a 94 Civic, or is genuine Honda antifreeze
> the only way to go?

i go with the orange prestone dexcool in all my japanese engines. never
a problem with anything. mix 50/50 with distilled water, and youre good
to go. tends to drop the temp a notch or two, also. silicate and
phosphate free is whats needed.

you want to AVOID the regular green crap. bad, bad, stuff.

ive noticed a few other brands out there that now say theyre
"compatible" with all coolants, etc. never tried em, so i cant say.

Kenneth J. Harris wrote:

> If you go to this site--http://www.prestone.com/ and then to antfreeze,
> Prestone says that its "New Prestone® All Makes All Models Extended Life
> Antifreeze/Coolant" is suitable for all cars. Here's some other info
> from the site--
> Q: Does Prestone® Antifreeze/Coolant contain phosphates?
> A: Some European automobile manufacturers request that a phosphate-free
> antifreeze be used in their vehicles. This issue is related to the
> extremely high mineral content of the water in Europe.

they dont use distilled water in europe?

>If you were to
> mix an antifreeze that contained phosphates with the type of water they
> have in Europe, it may produce deposits that can settle in the cooling
> system and promote corrosion. However, in North America we do not have
> this type of water problem. Typical North American coolants have
> contained phosphates (which is part of the corrosion inhibitor package)
> for many years. Therefore, the question of phosphates is a non-issue
> here in North America. Prestone® Antifreeze/Coolant is completely safe
> for use in both foreign and domestic vehicles.

no mention of silicates...

> For those consumers who would feel more comfortable using a
> phosphate-free antifreeze, our Prestone® Extended Life 5/150
> Antifreeze/Coolant is phosphate, silicate, and borate free.

yess.... this is the shit i use!

This coolant
> uses a special chemistry and technology that extends the life of the
> corrosion inhibitor package so that it lasts for five years or 150,000
> miles (whichever comes first), and is safe for all cars and light trucks
> (old or new). Prestone® Extended Life 5/150 Antifreeze/Coolant has been
> approved by General Motors under their DEX-COOL® specifications and is
> compatible with other DEX-COOL® approved coolants.
> Prestone® Extended Life 5/150 Antifreeze/Coolant meets or exceeds
> the following industry standards and specifications:
>
> GM 6277M
> Ford WSS-M97B44-D
>
> When tested in ASTM D 1384, D 4340, D 2570, and D 2809, Prestone®
> Extended Life 5/150 Antifreeze/Coolant will meet the chemical, physical
> property characteristics and performance requirements of the following
> standards and specifications:
>
> GM 1825M
> GM 1899
> Ford WSE-M97B44-A
> Ford ESE-M97B44-B
> DaimlerChrysler MS 7170 and MS 9769
> General Services Administration A-A-52624
> ASTM D 3306
> SAE J 1034
> ASTM D 4985

Caroline wrote:

> This is one of those controversial topics here.
>
> If you have no time to fool with possible car breakdowns, pay the ten extra
> bucks or so and use OEM anti-freeze always. It's only once every two years or
> so.
>
> For my part, two years ago I did a thorough flush of my 1991 Civic's (159k
> miles) cooling system (containing green Prestone at the time) and then used the
> orange Havoline Dex (properly diluted). It's supposed to be friendly to Hondas.
> All's well after 25k miles and two years. This past summer I changed out the
> thermostat and cleaned the EAC valve and so had a chance to look at some of the
> coolant that had been in there all this time. What came out looked mighty clean.

same here. i was pretty impressed how new the radiator core looked.
course, i used the orange prestone, but i think its pretty much the same.
>
> The Havoline container says it's supposed to last five years/150k miles, but
> I'll probably change it out at three years, to play it safe.

thats whats called for- 3 years. just did mine again earlier this year.
the old stuff was completely clean, so i felt no need to "flush", or
anything. just drain, refill, run the engine with the heater on, and top
off. the temp gauge went down a fraction from the halfway mark, too.
>
> I have had a premature water pump failure (or two?). At the time I was using
> ordinary green Prestone.

bad, bad stuff!
>
> OTOH, at this point in my DIYer career, I can deal with a failed water pump on
> my own.

yeah, but when it leads to a timing belt/head/valve job...? LOL.

Abeness wrote:

> Thanks, guys. I'm not one to insist on OEM stuff unless there's an
> essential reason to do so (as I understand there is with the power
> steering fluid)--particularly if there's a major brand that makes
> antifreeze safe for aluminum.


the prestone 5/150 comes in a silver jug, and runs about $10. its not
the cheapest stuff out there, but it works.

SoCalMike wrote:
> mix 50/50 with distilled water

Ahh, makes perfect sense to use distilled, thanks. Hadn't occurred to me.

Now if I could only figure out this clutch slave cylinder grease thing...