How to change your coolant for dummies-
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,734
Likes: 632
Thanks for the great write-up!
I have a question regarding switching over from Honda green coolant to the new blue coolant. I've read that all MY00 came with the Type I green coolant. To switch over to the blue stuff, how does one go about getting all the old coolant out?
Drain & fill with Type II coolant, run the car until the radiator fans kick in a few times, repeat the step 3-4 times?
OR
Drain & fill with distilled water, run the car until the radiator fans kick in a few times, repeat until radiator drains clear water, and then drain & fill with Type II coolant a couple more times to maintain the right 50/50 mixture?
I know these may sound overkill, but I want to be sure both types of coolant are not mixing. Any inputs would be appreciated.
I have a question regarding switching over from Honda green coolant to the new blue coolant. I've read that all MY00 came with the Type I green coolant. To switch over to the blue stuff, how does one go about getting all the old coolant out?
Drain & fill with Type II coolant, run the car until the radiator fans kick in a few times, repeat the step 3-4 times?
OR
Drain & fill with distilled water, run the car until the radiator fans kick in a few times, repeat until radiator drains clear water, and then drain & fill with Type II coolant a couple more times to maintain the right 50/50 mixture?
I know these may sound overkill, but I want to be sure both types of coolant are not mixing. Any inputs would be appreciated.
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 148
Likes: 7
From: Spokane, WA
This writeup helped a lot! However, some things I experienced during my coolant change:
For whatever reason, I was unable to get the heater blowing hot with the engine just idling up to operating temp. I must have cycled the car on and off and bled the air out like, 8 times, the heat was still not blowing out hot air, and I wasn't getting much, if any, air out of the bleed valve, just coolant everywhere
. I figured maybe the coolant isn't getting to the heater core so I revved the engine a bit (3k rpms for like 5 seconds) and boom! Heat started coming out of the vents! I shut off the car, opened the bleed valve and finally more air came out. I guess the air in there just needed a bit more pressure to get it out. 
For whatever reason, I was unable to get the heater blowing hot with the engine just idling up to operating temp. I must have cycled the car on and off and bled the air out like, 8 times, the heat was still not blowing out hot air, and I wasn't getting much, if any, air out of the bleed valve, just coolant everywhere
. I figured maybe the coolant isn't getting to the heater core so I revved the engine a bit (3k rpms for like 5 seconds) and boom! Heat started coming out of the vents! I shut off the car, opened the bleed valve and finally more air came out. I guess the air in there just needed a bit more pressure to get it out.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2007
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Another newbie question. On step two where you repeatedly squeeze the radiator hose, I understand from several people that after you squeeze some fluid out of the bleeder bolt, you close the bleeder then you unsqueeze. However, for the first few squeezes when no fluid is coming out, do you have to close the bolt before you unsqueeze? Thank you in advance!
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,097
Likes: 1
Another newbie question. On step two where you repeatedly squeeze the radiator hose, I understand from several people that after you squeeze some fluid out of the bleeder bolt, you close the bleeder then you unsqueeze. However, for the first few squeezes when no fluid is coming out, do you have to close the bolt before you unsqueeze? Thank you in advance!
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,734
Likes: 632
Question, I know it's not completely necessary, but since the 2nd bleed hole is the highest point in the cooling system. After doing this procedure wouldn't you also want to make sure coolant overflows from there when you squeeze the top radiator hose?
