Engine Coolant

[Moya]

Hi, I hope this isnt too n00b.

I have a vtir dc2, and every 5k's I change Oil Filter and Oil. Every 10k's or 15k's I do Sparks and Fuel Filter.

With Engine Coolant ... do I just check on it every 5k's? Do I just top it up with water or do I have to buy special stuff? How much do I fill it to?

My Resoivor is really low at the moment, as in, you can only just see slight liquids at the bottom.

Thanks

[destrukshn]

use honda coolant only.
flush your system. and use honda coolant.

[teaseR]

just top it up with Honda Coolant (Genuine stuff) if the coolant in the resoivor tank is OEM
if not flush it out and use OEM stuff
its about $40 for 5litres to my memory

[Moya]

Is Honda Coolant Blue? If so thats I got OEM at the moment.

Is it fine to top it up with Water? (out of curiousity)

[teaseR]

yeah its blue
dont top it up with water its like shit

[Spunkymonkey]

You can top it up with water but its best to have the right ratio mix of coolant and water. That is add some coolant as well

[Moya]

So when I buy the Honda Coolant, I'll need to add water aswell?

[aaronng]

Honda coolant is premixed. You pour it in straight. Don't add water at all.

[EG5[KRT]]

fark u service quite regularly..

ur car must b in tip top condition..

but yeah i usually dont change my coolant tille very year.if its low i just top up with more coolant.

[Moya]

I use Mobil1 10w30 $80 for 5L. She gets expensive :)

Thanks all, I think i'll use the DIY and flush my coolant.

[Rice_4_life]

wow ur car mus b loved very muc, jus out of curiosity u sed u do sparkies every 10-15k's do u replace them or jus re-gap them?

[Moya]

Replace them...there only like $5 each.

[CUL8R]

ur using copper plugs then?
which u using?
i wanna try some NGK V power plugs

[roar]

how about non-oem honda coolant...

like tectaloy

[aaronng]

how about non-oem honda coolant...

like tectaloy

Honda coolants are compatible with the aluminium alloy blocks that Honda uses so that corossion is slowed down. Make sure the coolant you use is compatible.

[roar]

Honda coolants are compatible with the aluminium alloy blocks that Honda uses so that corossion is slowed down. Make sure the coolant you use is compatible.

i'm pretty sure that all antifreeze is a corrosion resistant so i'd say that any *decent* aftermarket coolant would be as good as honda's

[corn_flakes]

what's the difference with honda coolant and normal aftermarket coolant??

and oh, what engine oil do you all use and why?? and what are the differences?

:)

[muhhan]

Has Honda coolant always been blue? I'm just trying to figure out if the previous owner had the coolant changed and if it was changed with OEM coolant.

[aaronng]

Yup, it's a dark blue-green colour.

[muhhan]

OK, thanks. That means it wasn't changed with OEM coolant, which means I wasn't the one to start using non-OEM coolant ;)

[Moya]

Is the coolant reservoir meant to be low when the car is cold?

I always thought when its cold it should be high. When car is hot, it'll be low...

I just got my mechanic to do a flush and OEM fill of the coolant, but I checked today on Cold and she's low, althought ALOT greener.

[twing]

Becareful when choosing aftermarket coolant. Make sure it contains organic corrosion inhibitor instead of silicate. If unsure, stick with OEM.

Read this:
http://www.mr2.com/TEXT/HondaCoolant.html
Don't do my mistake. I bought castrol radicool before reading that. Anyone want to buy it off me????

[aaronng]

Is the coolant reservoir meant to be low when the car is cold?

I always thought when its cold it should be high. When car is hot, it'll be low...

I just got my mechanic to do a flush and OEM fill of the coolant, but I checked today on Cold and she's low, althought ALOT greener.

Should be high when hot. Just get a bottle of Honda coolant from the dealer and top up the overflow tank.

Edit: Oops, it's high when hot.

[pepper]

I thought when engine was cold the coolant level should be at minimum
at that coolant level would increase as engine temp increased?

[aaronng]

I thought when engine was cold the coolant level should be at minimum
at that coolant level would increase as engine temp increased?
Oops, yes, you're right.

[040501912]

every 15 K change spark plug? what is the recommended K's ? wasn't it about 50k after lots of re gap and all other stuff..

he really passion about the car .. lol good to hear that, i wish i was like u :D

[muhhan]

Depending on the type of plugs you have. I think factory recommended is 20 000kms, which works out to be about once a year when you do your major service. Of course it doesn't hurt to do it more often. Gap should probably be checked every oil change along with the other inspections. Unless you have platinum or iridium plugs which should not be gapped, as this can damage the fine electrode and contaminate it, and are good for 100 000kms.

[aaronng]

^^ that's right. Copper plugs every 20,000km/12 months, and they can be gapped. Platinum plugs, every 60-80,000km and iridium, 100-120,000km, and both can't be gapped.

[beeza]

^^ Ouch,I gapped my NGK Iridiums (I'm sure they were gapped but had to make sure).Anyways what should I look for in a damaged electrode? Obviously fine chips but is there something else??

[aaronng]

^^ Ouch,I gapped my NGK Iridiums (I'm sure they were gapped but had to make sure).Anyways what should I look for in a damaged electrode? Obviously fine chips but is there something else??
Check that the electrode is not bent/chipped and cracked. You're not supposed to gap iridiums because the electrode is very thin.

[beeza]

Got it! I did chip one real bad when I was doing it-had to replace it-but what's this about contamination??

[aaronng]

Contamination?

[beeza]

Sorry a bit slow man.But about what Muhhan said below.


Depending on the type of plugs you have. I think factory recommended is 20 000kms, which works out to be about once a year when you do your major service. Of course it doesn't hurt to do it more often. Gap should probably be checked every oil change along with the other inspections. Unless you have platinum or iridium plugs which should not be gapped, as this can damage the fine electrode and contaminate it, and are good for 100 000kms.

[aaronng]

I'm guessing that bits of metal might stick to the electrode.... :confused:

[muhhan]

Yeah, that's what I was referring to beeza and aaronng. As you scrape the feeler gauge over the electrode its possible to leave behind some metal or other crap that may be on the feeler gauge.

[beeza]

Sweet as .I couldn't imagine you could corrode it by just touching metal on metal but I could be wrong,its been known to happen.

[beeza]

You beat my post by 1 minute muhhan.Thanks.Check for metal,cool.Thanks.

[muhhan]

But don't fret too much beeza. I mean, if the car's still running properly then I probably wouldn't be too worried.

[beeza]

Thanks.Nothing but the best for my Civic.I like ya Aviator too.

[akusuma]

Just want to confirm, the engine coolant from Honda dealer is a premixed right? I don't need to add more water to my radiator?

[EK4R]

^ yes pre-mixed. just pour right in.

hmm i want to change my sparks. any recommendations? should i better of buying some copper ones and change them regularly or those expensive ones and leave it in for 100000 kms...

[akusuma]

for me, I will go with standard plugs and change them regularly. But again, my car is stock

[muhhan]

There's not much difference in price if you change the copper ones on a regular basis like you're supposed to. After 100 000kms the amount you spend on all the copper ones will be about the same as the platinum plugs.