[devi0us]

I called my dealer and asked the parts guy how much their Honda Coolant/Antifreeze was and he asked me back:

"What color is yours?"

I replied that mine was green and he said:

"You can use any high quality non-Honda coolant if your coolant is green, but if its blue, you must use Honda."

I asked him what cars use blue coolant and I believe he said Honda Pilots?

He didn't sound like he was being smart or a jerk, and I even commented how the manual tells us to use Honda coolant, but he assured me I didn't have to.

Is he pulling my leg or is this true? Also, the reason I inquired about this is, I purchased by car certified used at 38k miles and noticed that even now the coolant isn't the neon green I'm used to. Its a bit darker and has me concerned, yet in the manual it says I don't need to change it until after 100k. What do you guys think?

Thanks in advanced!

 

[mhadden]

Change it out, but continue to use the "green" coolant that was in it.

All new Honda's come with blue coolant. It appears to be a "special mix" and shouldn't be mixed with other colors. I would go the Prestone route with your flush...otherwise be prepared to spend about $12 a gallon on this blue stuff...

 

[AznX TL]

green coolant you can mix safely with prestone.

 

[devi0us]

Cool, I purchased some Prestone coolant awhile back but never used it. I checked it out and it said no silicates and whatnot and safe for all aluminum engines.

Thanks guys.

 

[03LXV6]

My parts guy told me the same thing. He said no need to put the blue if I have green. Prestone is just fine.

 

[Trip]

I recently had similar questions.

A 2004 service bulletin introduced the new blue coolant which is used in ALL Hondas now. The bulletin also says that they ARE compatible so if you need to top off your Honda green, blue is OK to use.

If you have green coolant and you're going to drain and refill, IMO I would replace it with the Honda blue.

I remember reading articles (BITOG or C&D) that analyzed a number of different coolants used in cars and the Honda coolant was rated tops - low silicone, safe for aluminum engines, good detergent levels, and long life.

 

[nehonda]

I was told by my Honda dealer that you could mix blue and green coolants with no porblems, so I put in a gallon of the blue stuff in the 2000 SE about a year ago. No problems since.

 

[Fredsvt]

green coolant you can mix safely with prestone.

No, you can't mix regular prestone or any regular green with Honda's green coolant. It was NEVER the same as US conventional green. The chemical packages within the coolant are not compatible and regular green is unsuitable and damaging to the die cast block and water pump seals.

When they went to early type2 extended life it also was green. A very dark green.
All Hondas from about '02 on used Type2, some were green then they changed it to blue.

Older non-extended life Honda coolant could be mixed with Type2, and Type2 can be mixed with old Honda green, BUT if you add any regular Honda (non extended) coolant to either blue or green Type 2 the coolant's change interval is now 30,000 miles.

 

[Accord2004]

I called my dealer and asked the parts guy how much their Honda Coolant/Antifreeze was and he asked me back:

"What color is yours?"

I replied that mine was green and he said:

"You can use any high quality non-Honda coolant if your coolant is green, but if its blue, you must use Honda."

I asked him what cars use blue coolant and I believe he said Honda Pilots?

He didn't sound like he was being smart or a jerk, and I even commented how the manual tells us to use Honda coolant, but he assured me I didn't have to.

Is he pulling my leg or is this true? Also, the reason I inquired about this is, I purchased by car certified used at 38k miles and noticed that even now the coolant isn't the neon green I'm used to. Its a bit darker and has me concerned, yet in the manual it says I don't need to change it until after 100k. What do you guys think?

Thanks in advanced!

I would stick with what the manual says. Its your bible for any warrenty issues down the road. Plus honda cars are made so that you don't have to go over board with mainteance items.

As far as coolant goes, I would go with what ever your owners manual says in the back. :thmsup:

 

[according2me]

My '01 came with the dark green type 2 from the factory. The owners manual listed 105k, the same interval as the timing belt/water pump. I didn't wait that long though, at 80K I drained/refilled with the blue type 2.

The green was still clear when drained, it probably was good for the interval listed. No problems with the Blue/Green type 2 mix.

 

[andresapadilla]

i just did a head gasket on a 05 civic (i own a shop here in the IE in upland) and when i went to honda he asked me the same thing! "what color is your coolant?" i told him it was green and he said to not use hondas coolant because if i do, the green and blue have some chemical reaction and it turns into a gel type form, and overtime it cloges up the radiator and messes up the seals. i thought it was a neat fact. ended up flushing the whole motor in that civic and used the type 2 blue coolant. has been running fine ever since!

 

[rszappa1]

I would find another dealer....