Antifreeze / Coolant

[Valk2128]

Recently changed the antifreeze on my 98 Standard. I purchased a gallon of Honda Genuine Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant Type 2, Non-silicate/non-borate coolant, formulated with de-ionized water at the local Honda Auto dealer. It meets ASTM D-3306 and ASTM D-4340 specs. Cost for the gallon about $15.00.

Compared to the quart of Pro Honda HP Cooolant from the local Honda motorcycle dealer at $5.99 a quart which meets ASTM D-3306 specs. The ingredients match 1 to 1. Dealer stated they could not get gallons and only sold quarts.

Saved almost $9.00

[storm]

I think anti freeze is about $4 a gallon at most gas stations - same stuff without the Honda label.

[MP]

The $4 anti freeze in NOT long life, and may or may not be silicate free.  Be sure it is.  Instead of the Honda long life, I use CAT long life coolant.  Buy at a truck dealership.  Cost is about $9 per gallon.  It IS silicate free.
MP

[storm]

But the gas station stuff is fat free and has no artificial sweeteners.

[MP]

That is true!  And we don't want the Valk to gain any more weight this New Year's!

[MrBones]

Well don't pretend to know all the particulars but bought silcate free from an auto store as it was said on this forum, if not free it would make my water pump leak. But inspite of that about 3 yrs after I changed it the pump started leaking. So had to get a new pump. And I bought the Honda antifreeze and hope it will last longer. As its suppose to be better. But for the price of a pump I will try the recomended.

[storm]

I fail to see any difference or I should say any need for a different anti freeze than a car uses. Cars have aluminum blocks and heads and the seal etc are of the same material as any MC component. Buying MC anti freeze makes as much non-sense as buying MC oil.
Same stuff different bottle.
Anti freeze type will never lead to pump failure only running plain water will. But if it makes you feel better then spend triple and feel three times better I guess. I feel fine and have never replaced a water pump to date.

[Valker]

I fail to see any difference or I should say any need for a different anti freeze than a car uses. Cars have aluminum blocks and heads and the seal etc are of the same material as any MC component. Buying MC anti freeze makes as much non-sense as buying MC oil.
Same stuff different bottle.
Anti freeze type will never lead to pump failure only running plain water will. But if it makes you feel better then spend triple and feel three times better I guess. I feel fine and have never replaced a water pump to date.

According to the Honda Manual, use of a coolant with any silicates WILL damage the water pump and void any existing warranty. The engineers disagree with your statement and so do several dozen folks on this and the VRCC board. I will use ANY oil in the approved viscosity range suggested by the manual and I will use ANY coolant recommended by the manual...ONLY.

[storm]

I don't believe most modern anti freeze contains silicates is the point - it's the same stuff. Unless motorcycles are now built out of cardboard I believe what is good for a modern car is also perfectly suited for a 10 year old motor cycle.
But if one chooses to spend 3 or 4 times the money for labeled materials then that's fine too.

[Valker]

Maybe some information is in order.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/how_to_central/automotive/1272436.html
http://www.aces.edu/dept/extcomm/newspaper/coolant.html
http://bioengr.ag.utk.edu/Extension/ExtProg/Machinery/Articles/engcool.htm

[Lake Mead]

After searching AutoZone and other smaller parts stores in town, I ended up at the Honda (car) dealership for the silicate free coolant. The only silicate free coolant I could find was Dex-Cool. I would never use that in anything I owned. Dexcool is suspected of causing many problems in chevy trucks.

[Wm Jones]

Tell me it ain't true..I just bought a gallon of Dex-Cool for my tourer at the local O'Reilly's ..I haven't used it yet but now I'm afraid to use it...Oh well its off to the Honda dealer I should have known better.. stick to the honda stuff and you won't get in trouble..Right??? Maybe the auto store will take it back..Thanks for the warning..

[Bent]

Dex-cool is bad news, It is soley responsible for every GM V6 intake gasket that blows along with some Chevy V8's.  The problem is that after 50K or 5 years it starts to turn acidic and causes GM's foam intake gasket material to desinigrate.  Anyway a strict 1-2 year coolant maintence schedule should save you but is it worth risking?  Not to me.  I've seen to many GM's junked because the intake gasket starts to leak and the engine blows before the driver even knows what happened.  
Now a Valk would be different but still not worth the risk.  

[cookiedough]

Who makes Dexcool - GM or Prestone?  I was going to replace my stock antifreeze soon since probably original stuff in since new in 2001 and time to do.  I saw a yellow 50/50 mix of a gallon jug of Prestone antifreeze silicate free and also said safe for aluminum engine parts for 8.50 bucks per gallon or non 50/50 straight straight antifreeze which I would then have to buy distilled water for 10 bucks per gallon at walmart.  Might call around a few honda dealerships and find out if they have the honda gallon 50/50 jug to for around 15 bucks or so or less.  I know it is probably fine with Prestone stuff at walmart, but for an extra hopefully 8 bucks or so (twice the price), I will not have to change the antifreeze for another 5 years of driving even though they say every 2-3 years which for me is overkill.

[MrBones]

Distilled water at $10 per gallon?? Unheard of. Go to any market and it sells for about $1 Don't know how your Wally World works!! I used to use the sil. free also but then my water pump started leaking so changed to Hondaline. If it works its cheaper than a water pump!!