Hi all..

My ex has a '99 accord and my daughter a '94

what is the correct radiator coolant... the red "stuff" or traditional Green

thanks

 

Honda Type 2 coolant ONLY (it's blue-green in color)

do not use domestic green it is incompatible with the Honda coolant, and it will rapidly wear the water pump seal.

never use Dexcool or any other OAT coolant either

 

I think mine was blue the last time??? It was Honda brand.

 

correct! thats what the guy at kragen told me today, i just picked some up due to a leaking hose.

 

Normal "green" coolant is fully compatible with Honda "Blue," they are both ethelyne glycol based coolants.

Honda has a stick up their bum about coolant now, they finally realized it's the only non-Honda specific fluid in their cars aside from motor oil and washer fluid. They want to create their own like they did for ATF-Z1, Honda Power Steering Fluid, Dual Pump, CVT, and VTM-4. At least those oils have a point.

I'm not saying it isn't better, I have full confidence in Honda's ability to formulate a better coolant. However, for older cars, normal "green" coolant is just fine. That's what virtually all Hondas on the road today are running. If you want the "best of the best," go to Honda and pick up a bottle of the new stuff.

 

The blue stuff comes premixed from Honda, it's even priced just fine IMO. I like the stuff totally convenient IMO. I think I paid like $6-7bucks for the jug.

 

[QUOTE=Kai]Normal "green" coolant is fully compatible with Honda "Blue," they are both ethelyne glycol based coolants.

Regular store bought Green coolant is NOT compatible with Honda coolant
What you buy in the store is silicated coolant, which is incompatible with Honda aluminum blocks and attacks the water pump seals

Honda coolant has no silicates or phosphates.

ALL coolants are Ethelyne Glycol, except ones like Sierra which are Propoplyne glycol.

 

Typical green coolant didn't magically turn evil overnight, Honda blocks from the 70's to today are made of virtually the same grade aluminum. Seeing how unusual it is for water pumps to leak any significant amount as-is, it's not important.

It is perfectly fine to mix in store bought coolant. Properly mixed and changed at the recommended interval, you will see no problems. Honda passenger cars have lived with "evil" green coolant without ill effects since the 70's.

 

blue works with honda green and orange.

 

Honda did not start producing aluminum blocks until the F and D series came out.
All previous engines had cast iron blocks.

You are WRONG, if a manufacturer specifies that a NO silicate NO phosphate coolant is to be used in an engine, you must use that coolant. This doesn't only apply to Hondas many others are this way as well. When you mix two coolants of different chemical make ups, bad things can and will happen.

Nearly all store bought cheap junk coolant is made for domestic cars, which up until very recently used highly silicated and phosphated coolants.