Coolant Replacement DIY
#1
Coolant Replacement DIY
This procedure generally follows Acura shop manual w/ some noted exceptions:
1) Crank engine and turn heat controls to Hi or Max Temp on ATC. Don't allow engine to warm. Turn engine off
2) Remove radiator cap from cold engine only.
3) Drain coolant from radiator drain plug in center of radiator.
4) This step deviates from Shop Manual. I found I had only drained perhas 3/4 gallon when drainage was per shop manual 1.4 gallons. I used a 1/2" PVC NPT x pipe union fitting to form a semi seal at radiator cap inlet and use air compressor rubber tipped jet to force air into cooling system. I set regulated air pressure to about 20 psi max to slightly pressurize cooling system. Coolant began to flow and I wound up w/ 1.25 gallons total, still not 1.4 gallons but close.
5) Remove and drain coolant reservoir, about 1 pint was drained. Note, this is included in 1.25 gallons removed total. Fill reservoir to Max level w/ new coolant. Reinstall reservoir.
6) Close drain plug in radiator,
7) Slowly fill the radiator w/ new coolant. I found the system vented back through upper radiator hose well and was able to install a total of about 1.25 gallons of new coolant.
8) Deviation from shop manual. Install radiator cap and drive car to fully warm and circulate coolant.
9) Deviation from shop manual. Allow to cool completely and top off coolant reservoir as necessary. Apparently not necessary in my case, however wife took off before engine had time to cool and pull any coolant from reservoir.
Discussion:
I used Honda/Acura Type 2 premixed coolant. Kind of pricey at $18/gallon off ebay from seller discountautoparts. I could not find a specification or mention of Type 2 coolant w/ major coolant sellers. Unsure what this spec refers to but there are ASTM spec references also.
There is no engine block coolant drain mentioned in shop manual. They are generally very inaccessible on Honda/Acura products and if you change coolant regularly it's not necessary to replace every drop.
Regards
1) Crank engine and turn heat controls to Hi or Max Temp on ATC. Don't allow engine to warm. Turn engine off
2) Remove radiator cap from cold engine only.
3) Drain coolant from radiator drain plug in center of radiator.
4) This step deviates from Shop Manual. I found I had only drained perhas 3/4 gallon when drainage was per shop manual 1.4 gallons. I used a 1/2" PVC NPT x pipe union fitting to form a semi seal at radiator cap inlet and use air compressor rubber tipped jet to force air into cooling system. I set regulated air pressure to about 20 psi max to slightly pressurize cooling system. Coolant began to flow and I wound up w/ 1.25 gallons total, still not 1.4 gallons but close.
5) Remove and drain coolant reservoir, about 1 pint was drained. Note, this is included in 1.25 gallons removed total. Fill reservoir to Max level w/ new coolant. Reinstall reservoir.
6) Close drain plug in radiator,
7) Slowly fill the radiator w/ new coolant. I found the system vented back through upper radiator hose well and was able to install a total of about 1.25 gallons of new coolant.
8) Deviation from shop manual. Install radiator cap and drive car to fully warm and circulate coolant.
9) Deviation from shop manual. Allow to cool completely and top off coolant reservoir as necessary. Apparently not necessary in my case, however wife took off before engine had time to cool and pull any coolant from reservoir.
Discussion:
I used Honda/Acura Type 2 premixed coolant. Kind of pricey at $18/gallon off ebay from seller discountautoparts. I could not find a specification or mention of Type 2 coolant w/ major coolant sellers. Unsure what this spec refers to but there are ASTM spec references also.
There is no engine block coolant drain mentioned in shop manual. They are generally very inaccessible on Honda/Acura products and if you change coolant regularly it's not necessary to replace every drop.
Regards
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brad757 (05-25-2014)
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