When changing your coolant - Honda Prelude Forum

axio · 05-18-2003, 05:17 PM

The air bleed valve on top of the thermostat housing, that has to be opened when you're filling in the coolant into the radiator, correct?

And coolant will leak out of the air bleed valve in a steady stream when the air is out, and you're supposed to close the air bleed valve after that. When the coolant spills out, are't you basically getting all this coolant slipping all over the thermostate housing and leaking everywhere, creating a big mess? Isn't this a bad idea cuz coolant is corrosive, right?

Bluluded · 05-18-2003, 05:32 PM

just wash it off with some water. It's not instantly gonna start corroding(sp) parts. Oh, don't forget to drain the block.
Danny

ziggity · 05-18-2003, 08:09 PM

or get a little bit of small clear hose and hook it to the bleed nipple like you would do when bleeding anything else

this also makes it easier to see bubbles

sharkcohen · 05-18-2003, 08:15 PM

I don't use the bleeder. I fill the radiator, fill the overflow bottle, let it idle for 5 minutes, let it cool, and then check the coolant level. I also double check the level the next day after I've done some driving. Haven't had trouble getting it filled. That bleeder is a bloody mess to deal with.

BoYgUaN · 05-18-2003, 08:20 PM

how do you drain the block?
i cant find the bolt to do that anywhere

sharkcohen · 05-18-2003, 08:21 PM

Heh, I haven't ever drained the block. I guess I should do that next time.

axio · 05-18-2003, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sharkcohen
I don't use the bleeder. I fill the radiator, fill the overflow bottle, let it idle for 5 minutes, let it cool, and then check the coolant level. I also double check the level the next day after I've done some driving. Haven't had trouble getting it filled. That bleeder is a bloody mess to deal with.

shark, is there any problems since air is probably in the coolant system?

sharkcohen · 05-18-2003, 08:50 PM

That's why I triple check the level.

TimeRacer · 05-18-2003, 10:15 PM

I can't see why the bleed valve is all that big of a deal. Fill the radiator, untorque the bleed valve, wait til a steady flow comes out (no bubbles) close it, retorque to specs and drop a cup of water on top of the bleed valve. Regardless you're going to be double and triple checking the radiator fluid level so either way works.

There is a bolt in the block that you remove to drain the block. It's in the helms if you want to do it.

bdb · 05-19-2003, 08:41 AM

Alternatively, after you have filled the rad with the bleed screw open and you want to ensure there is no air in the system, take off the rad cap and start the car (from cold) and watch the bubbles come out of the rad. Just top off the fluid when it drops. I suggest waiting for about 2 fan cycles or until the bubbles stop.

alphajesse · 05-19-2003, 09:44 AM

Unfortunately, the radiator isn't the high point in the cooling system, hence the bleed valve. That's the only way to get all the air out.

acb45 · 05-19-2003, 10:14 AM

where do you guys dispose the old coolant fluid???

Paluce · 05-19-2003, 10:40 AM

There shouldn't be a problem doing it sharks way. How did people change their coolant before bleaders? Ans. ->Sharks way.
If you presurize the coolant (warm up the car) the air goes right to the top.

Kool-Lude · 05-19-2003, 01:29 PM

I also don't use the bleeder. No problems at all.

To flush out all the old coolant... I drain out the old stuff, fill up with water, run it through a few fan cycles, drain and repeat until clear water comes out.

alphajesse · 05-19-2003, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paluce
There shouldn't be a problem doing it sharks way. How did people change their coolant before bleaders? Ans. ->Sharks way.
If you presurize the coolant (warm up the car) the air goes right to the top.

that is exactly the problem, and why honda puts the bleed valve in- that is the high point in our cooling system. many older cars,m in the day of square grilles have the radiator at the top of the system, so a bleed valve wasn't needed.