N.I.toHTown

Sorry if i haven't been thorough in my search but time is of the essence.

Would it do any damage to my radiator to add the little bottle of prestone radiator flush they sell to my distilled water while flushing my system?? (drain, fill with distilled water and additive bottle, drain, fill with distilled water only, drain, fill with coolant)

I dont want to screw anything up and it was just after reading about issues with non honda coolant i just wanted to check.

Thanks

Turbonut

iTrader: (1)

If the cooling system is clean, I wouldn't use the flush as it wouldn't be needed. If contaminated/dirty, use the flush as it won't hurt.

01tl4tl

if gen3 same as my gen2,,,
there is an engine block drain bolt on the rear of engine
Open that to really get everything, including some sand from the original casting!!

Make sure heater is set to full hot the entire process
Burp the air from rad per book or trapped bubbles will screw with you

changed the coolant on mine after 6 years and it was perfect inside the radiator-
spotless clean metal

kidrocking79

Just yesterday I flushed my radiator and engine block and refilled w/ regular 50/50 from Peak. What exactly could be the problem if you don't use Honda / Acura Coolant? I'm thinking about doing this drain of radiator and engine block once a year so if the issue is contaminants in the generic coolant, then I wouldn't have to worry since I'll be swapping out coolant every year.. am I correct to assume this?

I hate cars

You're not supposed to use the generic coolants in the TL. I go against the rules most of the time, when it comes to engine oil, trans fluid, etc. But the TL requires a non-silicate, no phosphorus formula. The result of using the other fluid can be leaking water pumps and failed seals along with the fact it's just harsher on the mostly aluminum engine.

It's doubtful there will be any short term effects but in the long run I would not use anything but Acura/Honda fluid.

I do a radiator drain and fill every other year. Doing it this way will never require a complete engine flush and it's overkill. The sand that came out on the first drain and fill made me wish I had done it sooner. I assume it's left over from the casting process.

01tl4tl

my opinion- as long as it says APPROVED for Acura then its fine for coolant

having silicates or not is the differance
coolant is good for 5 years then goes acidic,,, in an aluminum environment
how they think 7/105 before change is crazy talk~~

kidrocking79

Are there any approved aftermarket coolants? The PEAK one I bought says compatible w/ American and Import vehicles. Not sure if it contains silicates.

Turbonut

iTrader: (1)

As the OP stated, always use distilled water.

Hapa DC5

This would probably be the only time I would recommend an OEM fluid. When I changed out the coolant in my TL @ ~58k I went straight to the dealer to pick up the Acura blue stuff.

An article I came across, interesting read http://mr2.com/TEXT/HondaCoolant.html

kidrocking79

Since I already Effed up by putting in aftermarket coolant, does anyone think it would be a bad idea if I flushed the system w/ water before filling up w/ coolant again? Or should I just flush radiator / engine block and put Honda coolant w/o flushing through with water. I would be disconnecting the therm if I do the flush.

01tl4tl

if trying to flush system you must open the engine drain block

does the stuff you used says its ok for acura- in named car makes?
does it says contains silicates?

kidrocking79

not sure since I'm not home and the bottle has been since thrown away and picked up by garbage collectors. I will def. remove it though and replace w/ Acura / Honda fluid. Does flushing w/ water seem like a bad idea though?

Hapa DC5

Absolutely not. Flush with water, replace with the HondAcura coolant. You'll be fine I'm assured of this.

I hate cars

As long as it's distilled you're fine. No need to introduce a bunch of minerals to the system with tap water. If I had to choose between the two I would say you're better off not flushing than using tap water to flush.

Hapa DC5

^^ good catch I forgot to mention that, make sure it's distilled.

01tl4tl

or go to the parts store and read another bottle of the stuff

Could be fine- many of them are compat with our needs now- many cars use same stuff as acura

draining the rad will not remove all the fluid- must remove from engine drain block via drain bolt on rear of engine block

Tripnbeats

i wouldnt throw anything in there it seems the blue stuff they use in these cars has an additive for the aluminum not to corrode under normal conditions.... so if u throw water in there itll probably just evaporate out of the system.....or contaminate the crap out of it.....ive seen a tl having its cooling parts replaced because the dude was in a bind and needed something so he added water...bad move he let the car sit 3 or 4 days without handling his issues with it and it crapped out rust. it was at the dealer the other day

TLDude876

iTrader: (7)

Is it ok to top off with distilled water? I am about 7k miles from my 105k maintenance and I noticed I am a bit below the Min indicator.