What coolant do you use and recommend?

[OzSir2]

Apparently there's some coolant that will wreck your engine etc. So what BRAND AND TYPE do you use and recommend? I'm after something you can get from Supercheap or Big W such as Valvoline / Nulon / Tectaloy. Also I remember reading somewhere that we can't put the red long life stuff in because it's not suitable...is that true?

[solitz]

OEM coolant

[m0nty ITR]

OEM coolant

Honda "Blue" coolant. Pre mixed from factory.

Only downside is I used about 7 litres in my radiator only to drain it all after just one days usage. Ah well.

[aaronng]

Honda "Blue" coolant. Pre mixed from factory.

Only downside is I used about 7 litres in my radiator only to drain it all after just one days usage. Ah well.

Why did you have to drain it? Did you have corrosion in your radiator from your previous coolant?

[OzSir2]

What is so special about OEM coolant? Isn't the thing that is important the ethylene glycol content? Does OEM coolant have some special properties not found in non-OEM coolant?

[simonnowis]

oem isnt necessarily superior over all, ppl prefer because of the fact its "oem" plus its specifically made for honda.
any good coolant they have at the hardware shop should do.

[dsp26]

I recommend the below at least once or for a couple of months before going back to oem. It dissolves gunk build up and prevents corrosion.. used it before and it works!!!

http://www.gccorp.com.au/automotive/images/NEO%20KeepCool.jpg



NEO Keep Cool 500ml

~ Lowers Operating Temperatures Up To 10 Degrees C.
~ Prevents electrolysis
~ Prevents cavitation, rust and corrosion
~ Harmless to paint and metals
~ Prevents deposit formation
~ Mixes with water or antifreeze
~ Improves heat transfer
~ Contains no chromate, phosphate, borate, soluble oil or heavy metals
~ Keeps thermostats free from build-up corrosion, rust and gumming
~ Does not increase viscosity of water
~ Compatible with all types of radiators

Initial Dosage - Add 110ml of Keep Cool per 20 litres
Racing Maintenance Dosage - Use colour strength-indicator which, fades out as Keep Cool additive is used up. Add 55ml per 20 litres
General Maintenance Dosage - Add 55ml of Keep Cool per 20 litres for preventative maintenance every 4 months or 9,000km, after the cleaning action from the initial dose

NEO Keep Cool goes into a system, softens the deposits and then breaks them down by the molecule -- as small as that -- and deforms their natural crystal shape so that they can not recombine and form solids, and holds them in a soft harmless suspension in the water. NEO Keep Cool has an initial cleaning action which is done slowly (90% in 10 days) and safely so as not to disturb the deposits in chunks which could block small passages.

Advantages

Eventually this cleaning action arrives at the metals, and here it stops because the product is harmless to all metals (including aluminum) and materials in cooling systems. NEO Keep Cool puts an organic barrier on the surfaces that prevents combining with oxygen. It also contains a surfactant: this is a surface-tension breaker which produces improved heat transfer, and is also a preservative.

NEO Keep Cool is compatible with all antifreezes and is superior to water filters and all other water treatments because it provides a complete protection against all the maladies of water systems. NEO Keep Cool is all-organic and bio-degradable, and has passed the government safety tests for human handling so if it gets on skin or in the eyes or mouth, it is non-toxic and non-injurious.

NEO Keep Cool is harmless to paint and metals in the atmosphere. Hard and damaging deposits do not form at water pump glands or other leak points, should they occur.

NEO Keep Cool also has a built-in color strength-indicator and when mixed with water, it becomes milky pink. The pink fades out as the inhibitor is used up. When the pink is nearly gone, add half a dose to maintain safe conditions. When NEO Keep Cool is mixed with antifreeze solution it becomes a milky-whatever-color the antifreeze is, and the milkiness gets weaker as the inhibitor strength becomes depleted. When the milkiness is at half-density, add half a dose to regain safe conditions.

NEO Keep Cool can be used with any water filter, though a chemically charged filter is unnecessary. The old filter may be left in circuit if the system had one before using Keep Cool: it will help to filter out the removed deposits. A system with Keep Cool need not be drained because the suspended contaminants are rendered harmless. However, if the contamination is so heavy (due to the state of the system before the Keep Cool cleaning action) that the color strength indicator cannot be observed, then the system should be drained and flushed and retreated with Keep Cool. A system with expensive antifreeze can be allowed to remain unflushed until spring, provided that more Keep Cool is added to ensure safe conditions from corrosion, electrolysis and deposits.

*** Approved and Recognized by Cosworth Racing Engines ***

NEO Lubricants are recommended by The UK Minister of Motor Sport, Reynard Engineering Ltd, March Engineering, LOLA, Hewland Engineering, XTrac, Prodrive and many other motor sport engineering companies worldwide. Many major racing teams in F1, A1GP, CART, F3000, F3, World Sports Cars, NASCAR, Touring Cars, World Rally, GP Bikes NHRA down to 1/8 scale petrol engine models benefit from NEO products.

[IEVAQ8]

standard oem honda stuff, they have just changed there's too, it used to be green as per normal, but they got this new blue shit.................

[beeza]

Trust dsp26,he knows his stuff!
Thanks mate,I will be giving that a go next chance I get.

[gerard]

OEM means it meets the requirements of your motor. Aftermarket may or may not be better.

I use OEM saves hassle of worrying if it works or not. I also add a 'pinch' of redline water wetter.

[EG30]

For my Jap cars I use Caltex longlife ( 5 years ) coolant, the orange-red type for $48.50/4L.

For my Euro cars I use the blue european oem type from Agip ( I buy from my mechanic ) or from BMW or Mercedes Benz spare parts in 1.5L bottles; $25-28per bottle from memory.

[aaronng]

What is so special about OEM coolant? Isn't the thing that is important the ethylene glycol content? Does OEM coolant have some special properties not found in non-OEM coolant?

Some aftermarket coolants use silicates in the mixture. Hondas use alloy blocks and silicate-containing coolant should not be used in them as it corrodes the water pump. OEM coolant is the only suggestion. Another one that might work is water wetter.

[liman]

Where do you get OEM honda coolant from? Honda dealer?

[solitz]

^^ yep just ur regular honda dealer

[hayashi_1986]

Been using Castrol Anti-Boil/Freeze for the past 3 years. Does the job well and waterpump hasn't given way yet. Engine's still running strong after 300,000kms+. Only began using OEM stuff recently but I don't notice any sort of different in coolant temps.

[FAT VTI]

I use nulon , the performance one, pretty standard stuff.
My mechanic (hannys) use it, probably because its cheap but I trust their opinion.
Will probably get some oem stuff though.

[Limbo]

i use toyota coolant in my hondas ;)

[DC2108]

lolz i use nulon as well because of the same reson
i think it same shit around but

[string]

$10 tectaloy from supercheap. I seem to change it so often that spending any more would be pouring money into the garden.

Besides, it's cheaper for me to replace a waterpump than spend $10+ per LITRE for coolant.

[OzSir2]

I have emailed Nulon to see if their coolant has silicates. The slackers haven't replied yet but I'll let you know what I find out.

[destrukshn]

$10 tectaloy from supercheap. I seem to change it so often that spending any more would be pouring money into the garden.

Besides, it's cheaper for me to replace a waterpump than spend $10+ per LITRE for coolant.
honda coolant is $50 for 5 litres, and your supposed to change it every 120,000kms.
which is what, average6 years? lol, $50 of 6 years isn't much
lol

[string]

honda coolant is $50 for 5 litres, and your supposed to change it every 120,000kms.
which is what, average6 years? lol, $50 of 6 years isn't much
lol
It's been replaced around once every 6 months for the past 3 years, be it a full engine change, radiator change or a head change. That's over $300 saved (I need over 6L to fully fill) which is enough for two water pumps. Bonus that I can spill it, boil it, or just plain lose it and not feel guilty :D

[destrukshn]

It's been replaced around once every 6 months for the past 3 years, be it a full engine change, radiator change or a head change. That's over $300 saved (I need over 6L to fully fill) which is enough for two water pumps. Bonus that I can spill it, boil it, or just plain lose it and not feel guilty :D
lol, well that's just in circumstances that you can't forsee, so i reckon, it's still good
lol.

[hayashi_1986]

So what's the opinion on what type of coolant to use? Premix? Or Concentrate? I've been using premix without a problem, but just thought about whether you could save money mixing your own coolant with concentrate...How much will a typical bottle/jug of concentrate cost, and how much coolant will it make?

Cheers

[aaronng]

As long as you premix it with distilled water. :thumbsup:

[hayashi_1986]

Yeh that's a must I know, but are there any benefits to using concentrate over premix and visa-versa? I use Castrol Anti-Freeze/Boil...would it be beneficial both function and cost wise to switch to concentrate? It's like 40bux for a 3 litre bottle of concentrate and 21bux for a 5 litre bottle of premix.

I just want to know whether the amount of concentrate can make up more diluted mix than you'd get in a bottle of premix. Example: premix = 5l, concentrate = 3l but can make up to say...10l(?) considering the typical mix ratio is 33% concentrate and 67% distilled water. I'm crap at maths so just wanting to see if anyone here has any experience with a concentrate.

Cheers

[aaronng]

Do the instructions for the concentrate say 33% concentrate and 67% water ratios? If it does, then I'd just buy the premix since they are almost the same final price!

[hayashi_1986]

Do the instructions for the concentrate say 33% concentrate and 67% water ratios? If it does, then I'd just buy the premix since they are almost the same final price!

Whoa, cool. I'll get concentrate now...it'll save a heap I would think with the same sort of function.

[aaronng]

Whoa, cool. I'll get concentrate now...it'll save a heap I would think with the same sort of function.

If the ratios are correct, then both are the same price.... Maybe the concentrate might cost more depending on where you buy your distilled water from.

[FAT VTI]

premix is normally worth more.

Concentrated if u mix yourself can make up alot of litres.
Depending on what ratio you use, with mine, its 33% for basic, and 55% for performance.

[OzSir2]

I spoke to the tech department at Nulon who said all their coolants have "nil silicates....they are silicate free" and are safe to use in Hondas. I'll probably use this diluted to 33%. Instructions say you can mix to 50% and you'll get life before needing to change it and higher boiling point but I think it's over the top.

Can anyone tell me what the OEM coolant glycol concentration is in g/L?

[FAT VTI]

mate use 33%.
And a touch more ;)

[Bludger]

where/what is the cheapest source of distilled water?

[hayashi_1986]

Kmart, 3bux a bottle :) Not sure it's it the cheapest but it's cheap enough! :D

[Elwood]

Been using Castrol Anti-Boil/Freeze for the past 3 ye

Same :D

[bennjamin]

i dont bother with anything apart from Honda premixed type 2 coolant. Made for Our engines. Works fine daily and track and you replace it every 2 years. Dont be a tight ass.

[nd55]

Anybody using Propylene Glycol based coolant?

Nick.

[Bludger]

most coolants use that

but varies a lot with mixture (g/liter)

[string]

most coolants use that

but varies a lot with mixture (g/liter)

Most coolants use ethylene glycol.

[Bludger]

Most coolants use ethylene glycol.awww, shiet

didn't read his words properly

sorry