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I saw an old topic about changing coolant here and it isn't detail enough. Any idea?

 
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It should be in your manual. If not then there's a little butterfly valve under the radiator, usually, and you just pop the cap, drain and refill. If you wan't to flush the system you use a hose plugged into your radiator with the valve open and your car running until you get all the old coolant out.

 
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This might help; it's number two!

 
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prestone make a flush kit just for that perform it every 2 yrs is recommended

 
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I wouldn't get the kit, you have to cut your hose and that's just another place to start a leak. A typical way for someone at home is to drain the radiator, fill up with water, drive around a few minutes and drain it again, maybe doing this twice or till you're happy. Don't for get to also run the heater because there is old coolant in there too. when filling up leave the cap off and run the engine with the heater on till you see the coolant flowing and make sure all the air gets out of the system.

 
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go to a real spot like a lube shop and get it flushed out properly with a rad flushing machine that is the better way.

2 years or 48000km ...dont know how much miles that is tho.

 
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anyone know if it's okay to use non-Honda coolant? what brand would you recommend? i think i remember my old integra saying the only Honda coolant should be used because of something to do with aluminum, yadda yadda yadda....

also, what really is the best way to DIY? the Haynes, the owners manual, and one of the posts here on the forum all detail a different way to change your coolant. i'm lost! help me out here.... [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/IMG]

 
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Yes, it's okay to use non-Honda coolant. It's winter now (at least where I live), so you'll have to use a 50/50 mix. Half coolant, half water. Tap water is allright to use, using pure water would be best, but where the hell do you get that? Anyway, there's also pre-mixed coolant out there. The thing with the aluminum is that the coolant has to be safe for aluminum radiators and engines. Almost all coolants are now, but read the labels to make sure. Using something called "Water Wetter" by Redline, or a similiar boiling point increasing additive will also make your cooling system more efficient. Not that we need it, but what the hey...

For DIYing... Just make sure the engine has cooled down. Take off the raditor cap. Put something like a catch pan under the little drain valve. Then open the drain valve and let the coolant drain out into the catch pan. When it's out close the drain valve and refill from the radiator cap. Also, if there's a reserve tank (not sure, haven't looked) then pour some into the reserve tank as well. Make sure that the coolant is all the way up to the level. Now put the radiator cap back on. Start the car and make sure that the drain valve isn't leaking (nor the radiator cap for that matter). If everything is fine then you're all done. Well... Not quite. Drive around for a little bit and then let the engine cool down again. Check the levels in the radiator and the reserve tank. Add more coolant if it's low. There, that's it. [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]

You can flush the rest of the old fluid out by sticking a water hose in the radiator cap opening and catching the water from the drain valve. It might be messy if you use too much pressure. Be friendly to the environment! Don't just let that crap flow all over your driveway. Catch it and at least flush it down the toilet (or sink for those with septic tanks). I think the place you buy the fluid from has to accept the old fluid, but I'm not sure? You can ask them before you buy it.

 
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i suggest that you do use honda coolant.. read everything here

Honda Genuine is the ONLY way to go.. if you care about your car

 
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Okay, so make sure to get an aftermarket one with no silicates or borates.