l4zy415

anyone knows any good fluid for the legends? i pretty much like the acura kind, but is there anything better?

__________________

\18" Limited 341 Chrome Rims/\Matador Red Paint/\Weapon R - Secret Weapon Intake/\LED Bright White Dash Lights/Floor/\Kenwood KDC-X590 Excelon Mp3 Deck/\Ford Taurus Coin/Cup Holder/\2 12" Kickers/\1200 Watt Sony XM-2200GTX 2-Channel Xplod Amp/\2 Rockford Fosgate Capacitors/\Power Acoustic Capacitor/\Clear Rear Turn Signal/\Reverse Glow Gauges/\Swapped 88' Headlights to 89'-90'/\JDM Rear Chrome Trim/\Stromung Muffler/
Soon To Come: Rebuild Motor and 5-MT Swap

 

Xcaliber003

Personally I would stick with the honda/acura brand antifreeze because it doesn't have a chemical called silicate(?) in it. Honda engines also use softer seals than other engines so antifreeze with silicate(?) in it would wear the seals out quicker. That could cause big problems like a leaking water pump, leaking gaskets, etc.

__________________
"love em all,trust a few,and fear none". . .Mos Def


"Don't look at your car as it is now, see it the way it'll be when you're done fixin it up."

paulo57509

Peak Long Life and Peak Global Long Life are silicate free coolants.

__________________
'87 L-Coupe 5-Speed
Stock; NO Mods
392K Miles - original engine and drivetrain.

pnoye2

I've used Prestone antifreeze/coolant to all my vehicles and have yet to run into any problem(s) with them... I just follow the scheduled change intervals and they seems to work.

__________________
291K+ miles; original power/drive trains

Mouse

What about Prestone? Do they have silicates in them?

paulo57509

Yes, Prestone does. You can read the labeling on the back of the container.

__________________
'87 L-Coupe 5-Speed
Stock; NO Mods
392K Miles - original engine and drivetrain.

paulo57509

I have a .pdf of a Honda Service News bulletin regarding coolant containing silicates. I'd attach it but it's too large a file.

Maybe this will work:



FWIW, not counting the initial factory fill of coolant, my Legend has had nothing but Prestone in it between 59,694 miles (9/20/1989) and 293,590 miles (6/9/2001). That's 233,896 miles. Within that time, the car has had two water pump replacements. Not because they were bad, but replaced along with the timing belt.

I doubt that silicates affects water pump life to any significant extent. I will say that it did lead to a plugged radiator; engine temps would climb when driving up steep grades at highway speeds. The original radiator lasted 320,460 miles before I replaced it with a new one.

As long as coolant containing silicates is replaced BEFORE it gets old enough to where the silicates come out of suspension (meaning regular flush and fills), Prestone is fine. That white crusty stuff you see in neglected cooling systems.....that's silicate.

__________________
'87 L-Coupe 5-Speed
Stock; NO Mods
392K Miles - original engine and drivetrain.

Mouse

Oh my god.

All this time I went with the most expensive brand name and thought I was actually being good to my car. And yes you are so right, I do find that slimey white stuff in my system also.

Tell me, is it all right to mix Prestone with Peak or the Honda antifreeze because when I drain and refill, not all of it will be flushed out?

paulo57509

A little mixing is probably OK, but I wouldn't mix the two. Reason being that silicate and non-silicate coolants use different corrosion inhibiting mechanisms and the two aren't rerally compatible. One inhibiting mechanism might hinder the other, then you'll be left with marginal protection.

You need to not only drain the radiator, but open the engine block drains too (be environmentally aware.....catch the drainage in a bucket or pan. Don't let it go down the sewer).

Close the drains and refill with water only. Let the engine idle until the cooling fans cycle twice. Drain. Repeat this until the water comes out clean. Run the heater full HOT when you run the engine.

After the final drain, you can now run whatever coolant you want.

If you're worried that you can't get all the clear water out of the system, take the total capacity of the cooling system, calculate how much coolant you'd need for a 50/50 mix, add that amount of coolant and top off with water.

BTW, for the final fill, I'd use distilled water.

__________________
'87 L-Coupe 5-Speed
Stock; NO Mods
392K Miles - original engine and drivetrain.

89HondaLegend

I am not keen on spending money for 'Honda' products. But being on this forum for a couple of years I have learnt three things.
Use only Genuine Honda Coolant, PSF and ATF.

I got water in mine at the moment because my top radiator hose burst a while back and I couldn't afford the Honda coolant lol.
I don't want to get any just yet because my bottom radiator hose and all those other little water hoses are definetly in need of replacement.

__________________
Regards,
Steve

Love to Love the Legend

1989 Honda Legend Melbourne Blue - 203 000 Miles
1991 Honda Legend Maroon - 230 000 Miles



Pictures of My Legend

Mouse

Thank you for the excellent instructions.

Chomot

Silicate free and a nice additive like Purple Ice helps.

http://www.royalpurple.com/prodsa/prpice.html

pnoye2

^^^ this I've yet to try, ALL of my 50/50 mix is just common tap water... I use distilled water for my battery, but if you dont mind me asking; what are the advantages of substituting from plain old tap water to distilled water, less minerals?

__________________
291K+ miles; original power/drive trains

paulo57509

Yes, less minerals. I live in an area with "hard" water. I wouldn't want all that crusty stuff in the cooling system.

For less than a $1 a gallon for distilled water, I think it's a much better alternative to tap water.

__________________
'87 L-Coupe 5-Speed
Stock; NO Mods
392K Miles - original engine and drivetrain.

pnoye2

Thanks paulo ...I'll try that on my next coolant flush!

__________________
291K+ miles; original power/drive trains