| Maik |
OK, now that I have changed the brake pads, I am feeling pretty bold, and am looking for more DIY tasks that I can take care of with the MDX. The next "project" I would like to do is flush out and change the antifreeze, which poses the following questions from the resident gurus:
1) A quick look under the front end reveaved no obvious (at least to me) drain plug or bolt for draining the old fluid. Any picture or description would be appreciated.
2) While I will use Acura coolant, is there anything to be gained by flushing out the radiator prior to putting it in? If there is, what is the best thing to use? Cheap antifreeze? Garden hose water? Distilled water?
3) Any other issues to be concerned with?
Thanks. |
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| nightguy |
Tim said a while back the dealership usually just does a 'dump and go' with coolant. If your '02 is still running the original stuff you may want to flush it with a cooling system cleaner and plenty of flushing afterward. I'm no longer a big fan of installing flushing tees. They don't normally seem to do much and it introduces another 2 clamps that could someday leak. If you use a garden hose for flushing/rinsing, you're supposed to avoid soft water. Be sure to collect the old coolant. If you're on a municipal sewer, usually you can flush it down the toilet...check local codes.
I guess if I was using the Acura coolant, I would just dump and go since it's already pre-mixed. Otherwise any leftover water would give you a diluted mixture.
Wife just left with the X so I can't look but usually a draincock is on the driver's side back corner of the radiator, either on the left side or engine side. You may need to remove some plastic to access it though it is not necessary to remove it for draining IMO. Just rinse with plenty of water when you're done. |
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| Gregc |
The Acura recomended interval on Coolant change is 120,000 miles or 120 months. Most people would change the coolant at the time the timing belt is changed at 105,000 miles. No harm in changing it earlier.
Greg |
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| nightguy |
quote:
Originally posted by Gregc
The Acura recomended interval on Coolant change is 120,000 miles or 120 months. Most people would change the coolant at the time the timing belt is changed at 105,000 miles. No harm in changing it earlier.
Greg
I actually had to look to make sure that's correct, and it is. :confused: I wouldn't wait that long as the antifreeze can break down long before then. There's also a lubricant in it that keeps the water pump running smoothly. It's so easy to do I would stick to a 24 month/30,000 mile schedule. Or maybe 36/45 and then every 24/30. |
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| frostyra |
quote:
Originally posted by nightguy
I actually had to look to make sure that's correct, and it is. :confused: I wouldn't wait that long as the antifreeze can break down long before then. There's also a lubricant in it that keeps the water pump running smoothly. It's so easy to do I would stick to a 24 month/30,000 mile schedule. Or maybe 36/45 and then every 24/30.
That's the same kind of logic I use when deciding how often to perform maintenance on the X -- and I use the "severe" schedule as a result (3750-mi oil change, etc.). She's gettin' her last oil/filter change and tranny triple drain & fill this coming Friday just before she goes off warranty -- this is the first vehicle I've ever had that ran out of warranty miles before it ran out of warranty time (but it's only by a bit less than two months). |
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| m2pc |
For my other cars, I usually drain as much out and then fill with Distilled water. I run it the engine to get this circulated. Then wait till it cools down and drain it again. Then put in the new mix (I like sticking with OEM Radiator fluid) of 1/2 Rad fluid and 1/2 distilled water.
Empty out the reservoir as well and top off with new mix.
Run engine and check coolant level a few times as air pockets may get purged out.
And I think you are good to go!
I was planning on changing out in 5 years (1/2) on original and then 3 years after the initial change. And I think the above method is sufficient. |
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| G. COLTON |
quote:
Originally posted by nightguy
I actually had to look to make sure that's correct, and it is. :confused: I wouldn't wait that long as the antifreeze can break down long before then. There's also a lubricant in it that keeps the water pump running smoothly. It's so easy to do I would stick to a 24 month/30,000 mile schedule. Or maybe 36/45 and then every 24/30.
May I ask what it is in the anti-freeze that breaks down. Auto manufacturers are usually very conservative in their suggested maintenance schedules. Why do you not think theie suggested schedule is correct in this instance?
G |
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| DaleB |
I don't believe it's a truly 'sealed system'. Some oxidation in combination with constant heating and cooling can breakdown various properties of the fluid. Of course, we don't really know how much reserve is included. I think taking a conservative approach is the best. Using that approach, the greatest risk is changing it too soon, and the greatest downside of that is an economic one.
I think it's an individual choice, based on your own experience, how long you plan to keep the vehicle, and well as any OC tendencies one may have with regards to car care. :) |
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| nightguy |
quote:
Originally posted by G. COLTON
May I ask what it is in the anti-freeze that breaks down. Auto manufacturers are usually very conservative in their suggested maintenance schedules. Why do you not think theie suggested schedule is correct in this instance?
G
It's not the coolant itself but the additives. The most important is the corrosion inhibitor and pH. Some research suggests that it breaks down within a few months. While you lose corrosion inhibitor, some of the salts can deposit themselves on metal parts slowing heat transfer by insulating the engine. Silicates can gel up and further insulate the engine and be abrasive to the water pump.
Maybe the Acura coolant is liquid gold and doesn't do this. My guess is that it behaves in a similar fashion to all other products. This breakdown is another reason I like to use distilled water if I'm not using a 50/50 premix, like the Acura coolant. Distilled water won't have minerals for more chemical reactions and more breakdown. As I recall from titration in chemistry, distilled water won't change the pH of a solution. Most coolant manufacturerers don't recommend softened water.
As far as conservative schedules, it's really in the manufacturers' best interest to take a conservative point of view. More parts to sell later on. The MDX manual has the same time frame for the first coolant change in the normal and severe schedules. |
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| hammermdx |
quote:
Originally posted by DaleB
I don't believe it's a truly 'sealed system'. Some oxidation in combination with constant heating and cooling can breakdown various properties of the fluid. Of course, we don't really know how much reserve is included. I think taking a conservative approach is the best. Using that approach, the greatest risk is changing it too soon, and the greatest downside of that is an economic one.
I think it's an individual choice, based on your own experience, how long you plan to keep the vehicle, and well as any OC tendencies one may have with regards to car care. :)
What the master said!:4: |
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