just did my 30K service.. i did not change the coolant.. manual says change it at 90K miles... which i think is plain crazy. I was gonna do it at 60K miles... but hot days are here,,, just want everyone's opinion on how long should I or would you or have you wait until you change the coolant...?

 

ahhhh, change it or addd more to it? I don't plan on changing my coolant for awhile.

 

Hmmm, my wife's Civic had the coolant change at 60K mi. I'd go with what the manual says but that shouldn't stop you from doing it more frequently. Lets see what Michael Wann says.

 

Im changing mine at 30K...Its easy as hell and coolant is cheap so why not?

Edit: Actually, I may end up changing it sooner when I decide to install that CT heatshield.

 

I'm at 56k miles and have the Hondata heatshield waiting to be installed.

 

I say change it at 60,000 mile.

BTW, if you have AT, you should change the ATF every 30,000 mile.

 

Do it at 90,000 - coolant really doesn't breakdown unless it is regularily exposed to air. Better yet, you can buy a fairly cheap coolant strength tester and see how it does; use the coolant in the recovery tank - you should not open the rad cap unless you really need too.....otherwise you may be asking about air locks which I have seen blow head gaskets and thermostat housings.

 

i changed everything at my 30k miles except for power steering.

 

lol, do I hear 120,000?

Theirs just no reason to wait that long on something so simple and cheap.

 

Its easy to due, but messy unless you take off the entire underbody plastic cover

 

The tube dosent go through? Damn...

 

unless I missed something when I did it, there's no tube. you just open a valve and it pours out on the cover and you try your best to collect it all

 

Yea, I meant the valve. I think on my old Tacoma the valve had a very small tube at the end of it. Both would protrude through the underbody cover...

 

no tube, just turn the drain valve counter-clockwise to let out the coolant. just put a big pan underneath.

 

How much coolant is in the radiator?

 

Not exactly sure, but

 

On my 60K service dealer changed all fluids - worth the $320 it cost not to deal with disposing of used fluids and other hassles. I suppose being 48 has some bearing on that too.

 

greatly appreciate everyon's response. since i just had my 30k service, and i use mobile 1..

so would it be safe for me to say i can wait till my next oil change at 35k miles and change my coolant at that time? 35k miles? thanks!!

 

I'd drain/fill the radiator and block sometime after 3 years, but before 5 years. Most of you probably won't exceed the mileage.

I'm using the Prestone Universal Coolant right now in another car and it seems to be working fine. If you're too cheap to purchase the Genuine coolant, then you'll need to drain/fill the system repeatedly with water (until discharge is clear) before installing a different type of coolant.

 

Good advice! But I think my car is worth the Genuine stuff.

 

Good to know........thanks.

 

Yea I know.......but I was at work when I posted the question.

 

And also make sure your temperature controls is set to hot when doing this.

This will open your heater water valve and allow the remaining coolant to circulate out of the heater core.

Different types of coolant cause electrolysis type reactions, that's why Michael Won has suggested that.
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It doesn't hurt to change your coolant often. The more you change it, the more fresh the coolant is and allows seals and other components to retain more life (especially the freaking water pump...that is a pain to get out in any import car). I think in the standard industry, 2 years is coolant changing times. I personally would stick to the severe schedule as recommended by Acura/Honda. That 90K sounds like what the manufactor considers normal driving and in the real world, that is in perfect conditions of no dust, year round optimal weather conditions, and a bunch of other unrealistic conditions. What is it anyways for the TSX, I just don't feel like pulling out my maintenance schedule?

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Oh another thing, once your done changing your coolant, make sure you bleed your coolant system through a bleeder screw, generally near the water pump housing or thermostate housing, which is very common in Honda's. It needs to be obviously done while the car is running. I know some of the older folk remember just leaving the cap off the radiator and allowing the system to just "burb" the air out by letting the engine run, but I think Honda's and BMW's are unique to this bleed screw (I could be wrong on this...just don't see them often).

 

Sorry, I meant it needs to be done with the engine not running, otherwise with it running you'll have a shooting stream of coolant.