Taken from http://www.s2ki.com - supposedly from an NSX board, originally distributed by Honda:
Quote:
[A/H, KS] Recently, several people have questioned whether the coolant (anti-freeze) sold by Honda and Acura dealers is different from the popular mass-market brands.
Honda has sent the information attached below to its dealers. While you might not expect the source to be exactly unbiased, it does provide technical information and justification for differences in their formula.
Genuine Honda Coolant is the Only Way to Go
Increasingly severe operating conditions and the advent of lower maintenance requirements have resulted in significant changes in the variety and the concentration of additives used in engine coolant. Also, the continual improvements in engine and vehicle design have challenged coolant suppliers to design products that perform well in a more demanding environment.
To meet these needs, Honda engineers have developed a superior, high-quality coolant that has several advantages over the competition.
Some antifreeze, although labeled as safe for aluminum parts, may not be compatible with Acura cooling system components. Extensive research and testing by both Honda R&D and CCI, the manufacturer of the Honda coolant, have proven that the abrasive silicates and/or borates found in most domestic coolants can cause these problems:
- - Silicates bond to the surface of the water pump seal and act as an abrasive, causing considerable seal erosion and coolant leakage. In actual tests, the silicated coolant caused early leakage. This leakage increased dramatically until a substantial portion of the coolant had been lost. In contrast, the Honda coolant had almost no leakage through the duration of the test.
Chart here, entitled "Coolant Leakage from Water Pump Seal", showing Leaked Coolant Volume in ml as follows for each test duration in Hours:
24 hrs: Honda Coolant 0, Typical Silicated Coolant 21
48 hrs: Honda Coolant 1, Typical Silicated Coolant 36
72 hrs: Honda Coolant 2, Typical Silicated Coolant 47
96 hrs: Honda Coolant 2, Typical Silicated Coolant 55
120 hrs: Honda Coolant 2.5, Typical Silicated Coolant 56
144 hrs: Honda Coolant 3.5, Typical Silicated Coolant 57
168 hrs: Honda Coolant 4, Typical Silicated Coolant 58.8
192 hrs: Honda Coolant 6, Typical Silicated Coolant 63
200 hrs: Honda Coolant 6, Typical Silicated Coolant 64
- - Silicates tend to gel and settle in the coolest parts of the cooling system, causing radiator plugging and overheating.
- - Borates cause pitting corrosion on the cylinder head.
- - Silicate inhibitors are difficult to stabilize and, therefore, limit coolant shelf life.
Most commercially available coolants were originally designed for cast iron engines. Silicate, an inexpensive additive, was added to coolants to prevent aluminum corrosion, but the long-term durability of the combination was not tested.
In contrast, Honda coolant was designed specifically for aluminum engines. It contains an organic corrosion inhibitor instead of silicate. This superior formula gives these advantages:
- - No silicate abrasion of water pump seals. For example, these graphs show the surface roughness of two aluminum water pump seal rings. Seal A, exposed to silicated coolant, shows considerable damage. Seal B, exposed to Honda coolant, displays only minute wear.
[graphs here, showing roughness across the surface, with A a very wiggly line, and B a very smooth line]
- - No plugging or overheating caused by silicate gelling.
- - Excellent corrosion protection for aluminum components.
- - Long-term corrosion protection for other cooling system materials (steel, cast iron, copper, solder, gaskets, seals, and O-rings).
You can find less expensive coolants on the market, but now you can see why genuine Honda coolant is the only coolant approved for Honda and Acura vehicles (it MUST be used for warranty repairs). Honda's non-silicate formula delivers added protection not offered by 95 percent of other brands. Since our customers expect lower maintenance, you're doing them an injustice if you use any other coolant.
[MBA - 99/9/7] The coolant sold at Honda Dealers is the same part number as Acura stores sell, so try your nearest Honda dealer if your Acura dealer is far away.
Take it as it is, I didn't write it, so don't expect me to answer.
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).
Not sure how it compares to the Honda stuff, but it's silicate and borate free. I've had it in since June. How does Honda get away with stating that you MUST use their products for warranty repairs?
I believe the burden of proof (legally) is on Honda, but that doesn't mean they can't say what they want (and make your life miserable).
I used the Prestone "pink" in my '99 for almost 30k miles w/no troubles, though that really means squat. My guess is that Honda's testing is for in excess of 100k miles.
Originally posted by AccordSleeper If the Honda stuff is a pre-mix with water in it then that's the way to go. Remember using regular water from your hose contains all kinds of crap.
I've always heard to use distilled water to avoid that.
Originally posted by Kool-Lude Here's a quote from Prestone's site...
Not sure how it compares to the Honda stuff, but it's silicate and borate free. I've had it in since June. How does Honda get away with stating that you MUST use their products for warranty repairs?
if im not mistaken by law theyed have to offer u the coolent for free to say that u must use it or your warrenty will be voided
if im not mistaken by law theyed have to offer u the coolent for free to say that u must use it or your warrenty will be voided
apocalypse is correct. it's the magnesson(sp?)-moss warranty act. it's the federal law that says that a manufacturer must prove an aftermarket part was directly responsible for failure to void warranty, that requirements to use oem filters or fluids to keep warranty must result in free filters/fluids, and that the manufacturer can't void warranty if work is performed (properly) at a non-dealer shop, or by yourself, and that they can't require you to provide proof of regular oil changes if you do self maintinance.
as for pre-mix being better than distilled water properly mixed with the correct type of coolant, that doesn't make any sense. that perstone max life is probably just as good as honda stuff. who knows when the pre-mix part of the pre mix happens anyways? it'd be much cheaper for honda to ship half-full bottles of coolant to dealers than to already have them filled. in that case, who knows if the dealer will spring for distilled water?
AutoForums.com is the premier network of enthusiast-owned
enthusiast-operated automotive communities.
We operate more than 100 automotive forums where our users consult peers for shopping information and advice, and share
experiences and opinions as a community.
Linear Mode
