mickey513

Going to drain & reill the coolant on the TSX, is 1 gallon enough? I don't want to start and find out I don't have enough and be stuck filling it with water.

LukeaTron

I've not done it so I can't say for sure but I would guess no. I think the radiator alone could hold a gallon. Also, unless you're buying the premixed stuff, you're supposed to mix it with water. Straight anti-freeze is significantly less efficient at moving heat around than water.

MMsTSX

I would also say no.

how much does antifreeze cost?
can you afford more than a gallon?

so...

why would you only buy one gallon?
be safe and buy 3, you can store the leftover in the garage for future use
or for use with other cars.

poltergeist

Spec is 5.6-5.7 qts. depending on whether the car is M/T or A/T, so if you're using the recommended Honda/Acura premixed coolant you'll need 2 gallons.

1slwTSX

I did a coolant flush in my RSX couple months ago. If I can remember correctly, I went with 2 to 2 1/2 gallons to refill. Im sure the TSX is around the same amount. Just get 3 gallons just incase and save the rest that you end up not using.

mars

I Flushed the coolant few weeks back and 2 gallons will be enough..

aaronng

I bought a 5L and 1L bottle. Used about 5.5L. So yes, get 2 gallons.

Varia

Put in a gallon of coolant and fill the rest with water. Putting water in your radiator is honestly nothing to be concerned about.

aaronng

The minerals in the tap water will precipitate and deposit on the water pump and cause wear.

LukeaTron

The bigger issue is that the minerals will react and corrode things. This gets to be a problem with very thin metal such as what a radiator is made of.

n3ok318

iTrader: (1)

2 gallons is enough.

tsxowner1

I'm about to do the same, can you share your experience after you've completed this? Post pix if possible. Thanks

poltergeist

This is why one should never believe everything they read on the internet. What a great way to be sure you have the wrong coolant to water ratio. Either use the recommended Honda premixed or if you do elect to use aftermarket and mix it yourself......do the 50/50 mix before you pour it in.

mars

I just used the Honda recommended coolant. It's already mixed with water and we don't need to do any thing..Just bought two gallons and one quarter is still left after the complete flush ( i flushed the radiator and refilled the reservoir)..

The biggest pain is removing the Plastic shield ..I broke couple of clips..

Here are the steps :

1) Start the engine..Set the heat temp control dial to max heat or climate control system to high, then turn off the ignition switch. Make sure the engine and radiator are cool to touch.

2) Remove the radiator cap.

3) Loosen the drain plug ( you need to remove the plastic shield).and drain the coolant..

4) After the coolant is drained, tighten the radiator drain plug.

5) remove , drain and reinstall the reserve tank.

6) fill the reserve tank to MAX level

7) install radiator cap loosely

8) start the engine, and let it run till it warms up ( the radiator fan comes on at least twice) . It takes at least 10 min..

9) Turn off the engine check the level and fill it if it is below the max level..


mars


2)

mickey513

I don't see how some of you guys used up to 2 gallons. The only coolant that can come out is from the radiator and heater core in a drain and refill. The coolant in the engine block cannot come out unless you have a machine to flush it out. Anyway, I'm probably just going to take it out to Jiffy Lube to have them flush out the whole system and fill with new Prestone Anti-Freeze. I called my local Honda dealer to inquired about the price on the coolant and it's $16+ A gallon, so 2 gallon is $30+. I can get a full coolant exchange at Jiffly Lube for $65, not worth saving $30 by doing it myself.

*before you guys flame about Jiffy Lube, I used them for years and never had a problem but I always go to the sameone, know the manager by first name*

aaronng

Honda/Acura anti-freeze for me. Nothing else will enter my radiator.

poltergeist

Sorry but it doesn't work that way. Because the drain petcock is below the level of the engine, the coolant in the engine block (at least a majority of it)also drains out. Spec I quoted above is from the S/M under "coolant capacity at coolant change." If you insist on Jiffy Lube (or whomever) make sure what they are using is compatable with Honda "Type 2" Coolant/Antifreeze. Some aftermarket coolants are supposedly not.

TSX882

how about the stuff that says (prestone) use for any car with any color?

LOL888

How often are you supposed to do this?

Hoosier_Buddy

mars,

At what point, if any did you add coolant directly to the radiator?

npolite

The problem in the past was that aftermarket coolants such as Prestone had silicate which caused the waterpumps in all Hondas to begin leaking prematurely. Usually you can get around 90-120k+ from one before it begins to leak. You will shorten the lifespan of the waterpump if any of the aftermarket coolants that still have this. Yes it is safe for the car but at a cost. I wouldn't chance it and just get the stuff from Honda. I found that the same materials such as coolant, transmission fluid and oil filters is slightly less at a Honda dealer than an Acura dealer and it is the same stuff.

jlukja

I did my drain/fill at 30K mi. I don't recall what the recommended interval is but its easy enough to do myself for some peace of mind.

Leonard Hotea

Just did my coolant flush and drained 4 quarts with the radiator cap off in a pan, i thought there would be a lot more fluid, no idea i guess thats all my radiator takes??? And i took the lower radiator hose out and nothing came out after the drain, after every flush i drained about 4 quarts and in the end, i used a gallon of50/50 honda long life , and that one gallon was enough to fill my radiator and reservoir, does this seem bormal? I squeezed those hoses a lot to burp them with the car in and off and had my heater blasted after each flush and nothing more can fit in my radiator so i guess my capacity is a gallon .