[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jay Li
[B]2kturkey, I don't think overheating caused the #4 cylinder failures.

 

When the Chevy Vega came out it was an all aluminum engine design and they were experiencing many engine problems. Turns out people were not being careful with their coolant mix. Too much water and not enough antifreeze allows hot spots to develop. Water has a very high amount of surface tension. Try to wash a window with just plain water,...it beads up and does not coat the window. If you put a little soap in it the surface tension is reduced and you get good coverage. This in principle was happening inside the block when the coolant did not have enough antifreeze.

Chevy's recall solution was a cheap one, A soap capsule was given to the dealers to drop in the radiator. Cheaper than antifreeze.

Probably Honda wants to eliminate all variables with prmixed antifreeze because it knows most people are going to top off their coolant with water from the hose. This introduces variables (particularily with well water) such as hard minerals that can screw up your system, etc.... Why leave that to chance? It is a good idea IMHO although you would think the price would be cheaper.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by xviper
[B]The Helm manual indicates coolant changes @ 3,5,7 years.

 

It's been some months since the last post. I'm glad you brought this up again. I should have seen the difference between change intervals of my MY'00 and all later models. This should have clued me in that the Type II is a long life coolant. I'd always thought that the Type II was just a Type I that Honda pre-mixed for lazy people.
As you know, since when this thread was last active, I've gone to the Chrysler version of the long life coolant (orange) that they use in their aluminum engined cars. I hope I won't be sorry.

 

Well, xviper... I have the next 9 years or so to wait for you to post your HOW TO!

 

It's a date!

 

If our engines are still humming in 9 years (and I sure hope they are - in lieu of the banjo bolt coverup), I'll be glad to give anyone an update.

 

A question just came to mind.
If the '01's and newer cars can go 10 years on the factory coolant, how come it won't last another 10 years when you change it to the same stuff? I mean, wouldn't it be nice if, when my current long life coolant gets changed in 5 years, that I put in the Honda stuff and be good for another 10?

AND, if the owners of '00's changed immeditately to the type II stuff when it came out, could they have gone 10 years too?

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by xviper
[B]A question just came to mind.
If the '01's and newer cars can go 10 years on the factory coolant, how come it won't last another 10 years when you change it to the same stuff?

 

I think the second change interval is shorter just because the hoses and seals are all older, and there will still be contaminants in the cooling system from the first fill. I think this is the case on all my previous cars as well (first change interval twice as long as the second).