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So whilst cleaning my salt/mud/dust riddled windows and lights, I decided check how my coolant is doing in my radiator.
It was topped up to the brim when the shop changed timing belt/water pump on last October's 31st.

I opened up the cap to see that coolant's a bit lower now. Like 4-5mm lower. So I kind of want to top it up again(and the reservoir too, it's empty as of now) but I don't feel sure about what kind of coolant I have now.
The shop's service invoice says they put 2 liters of "26109 - Pure Long Life Engine Coolant", which was CAD 27.18. Tried googling it but nothing comes up.
I can't really tell the color and don't know if I'm okay to just mix the coolant with something I buy over the shelf.

I know the owner's manual says "only Honda type 2 coolant" but can I just use something with similar spec and mix it up with the coolant I have it in the radiator now?

Also, my heater's blowing cold air when stopped even though the temp gauge is showing it's at optimal zone.
When it was -20 out there, I assumed maybe it's too cold out there so that it's overcooling to keep the heat going.
But now, it's -5 ~ +5 outside but heater's still blowing cold(to lukewarm) air when stopped.
Here's the weird part. If I turn the fan **** to 1 (saying 10 is the highest), I can feel the air being warmer than keeping it on 7.

Could this be from lower coolant level than before?

 
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Blown head gasket.

 
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Engine oil level's steady and not diluted, could still be blown head gasket?

 
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yep. these cars are strange like that.

 
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If the head gasket were bad you would see the radiator low and the reservoir overfilled. With the engine cold fill the radiator and ensure the reservoir is at the "min" line then go for a ~20 drive. When you return check the level in the reservoir, is it significantly higher than it was before?

The common head gasket leak on these engines is combustion gases in the cooling system. This pushes coolant into the reservoir possibly to the point of overflowing.

 
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Okay, but I don't know what kind of coolant's in the rad now. Is it okay to just put any coolant and make it mixed?

 
Rep Power: 222

It will be fine

 
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Thanks. I'll get coolant topped up and report back.

 
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So, uh, call me stupid. I tried topping up coolants before heading home from work and it was really dark outside.
I managed to fill the radiator just fine(by the way, had some burp? like it had some bubbles coming out whilst filling. Don't know if that was from air in radiator... or head gasket leak) but I've filled up reservoir to the point it overflowed.
I couldn't see any color or liquid through outside of the reservoir.. so I kept adding until it puked. I really don't think first and act when it comes to cars.. always end up just making it overflow, be it oil or tranny fluid.

One good sign(I think) is the heater's now blowing hot air even when stopped. Unless I drain the coolant, won't be able to do the Brotato's method...
But does heater working fine now means head gasket's fine? Hopefully?

Thanks in advance.

 
Rep Power: 222

Have to monitor your coolant level and see if the rad empties while the overflow fills. Hopefully the rad level wasn't low enough to damage the head gasket

 
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I think I used around 500-800ml to fill both rad and reservoir. But fingers crossed.

 
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So tonight, I decided to 'burp' my radiator to eliminate any air pockets in it.

Started engine whilst radiator cap and reservoir cap off, turned heat temp to max, fan mode to defrost/under cabin on 1 notch.
Idled for about 20 minutes and idle was on 850 RPM, could see rad fan turning on and off so checked the coolant level. No to minimal change on reservoir (almost full to the top neck) but could see radiator's coolant being lower again by 5mm.
But here's the question, shouldn't rubber hose from radiator, top and bottom one hot? I squeezed both ones but both of them was just luke warm, and could see a bit of vapor coming out every time I squeeze both bottom and top one.

I've shutdown engine and left both caps open and will leave it there until morning but is this symptom indicating anything related to HG?

 
Rep Power: 224

Top hose should be warm as soon as the coolant temp warms up, bottom hose only gets warm when the thermostat opens up. Neither should be so hot you can't keep your hand on it.

If you filled the reservoir to the point it overfilled you should really pull some out before driving otherwise it will likely puke some out once warm. Have a hand pump you can use to pull some out? Otherwise I think there's one bolt holding the tank in.

The fact that the radiator was low enough to prevent the heat from working well points to a coolant leak or a bad head gasket.

 
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Thanks for all the info guys, but I'm gonna call it.

I think HG is gone, did another burp this morning with funnel method.
Gave a good 30 minute idling using about a liter more in the radiator with funnel it started to stop going in radiator.
Again, almost none to minimal change to reservoir. I even tried to fiddle with reservoir but ended up breaking positive terminal of battery break trying to access it. I'm just gonna keep it as is since it still contacts battery.

Anyways, but coolant kept going up and down slightly in the funnel. No air bubbles. Then, I saw slight oil film on top of coolant.
Took the funnel off (wiping flooding coolant with towel) and checked directly on radiator neck.
Bubbles constantly. After staring at it for two minute without stopping, I just sucked out a bit more from neck with the towel and capped it.

Honestly, wish the shop I took the car in right after overheat would've told me head gasket was gone because that's the only time it would've damaged it. Then I wouldn't changed timing belt/water pump/ . . . of $3500 BEFORE HEAD GASKET.
I can't afford to spend more on this car, I'm probably driving this until engine blows and I'll scrap this. Who knows, it's been doing fine for 4-5 months and have a few more in it.

Cheers.