I am preparing to change coolant for my 2011 MDX, I roughly check bottom of radiator, and cannot find the drain hole? anybody know where the drain hole is? for coolant type, can I use Honda coolant OL999-9011 to replace it? how many quarters the coolant i need to buy? If somebody can give me clue, i would appreciate it.

 

Welcome to the forums.

Since this is a technical issue and not a "New Member Introduction" I moved this thread to the appropriate subsection so you can hopefully get more help.

Please do not post any more technical questions in this forum.

 

I just emptied my radiator, changed my thermostat, and both radiator hoses.
Get a pair of 4" or 5" needle nosed vice-a-grips and remove the lower radiator hose.
When I refilled the radiator, I used 1 1/2 gallons of Zerex Asian coolant. If you don't remove with the upper hose and thermostat, you'll need 1 1/4 gallons.

I used a Fill-Free-Funnel, by the Lisle Corp, for the first time ever and it worked great re-filling the radiator. Just remember to squeeze the upper hose to see all of the air bubbles come out, of the system.

 

Full drain flush requires to remove the drain plug on the rear of the engine block (Near the firewall) otherwise you will be removing the main content of the radiator alone which is roughly 1 gallon... There is almost another full gallon inside the engine that will only drain through the engine coolant drain plug.

 

is that part of the routine maintenance or just going the extra mile?

 

That is HOW YOU CHANGE the coolant.

for me; it's considered routine maintenance... as that's the quickest way to drain the engine block

 

that's not what a dealer does on a "5" service code. they drain and pour from the radiator only.

 

 

Sorry but if the dealership is draining the radiator only its just ripping you off.. Roughly half of the capacity of the coolant resides inside the block, So yes in order to completely drain the old coolant you MUST drain the block. Also remember to set the heater to max hot so it also drains some of the heater core coolant.

 

If you are doing coolant you should be doing timing belt/water pump at the same time unless it's very low miles. Belt is almost 8 yrs old at this point!

 

^ The OG Poster put that comment in 2017 I think he probably had done everything by now.

 

 

I had to buy the petcock socket on Amazon to open up the drain plug on my radiator. It was worth the swearing I was Doing the day before when I tried to loosen the valve by hand.