Did I ruin my engine?

I while ago, I wanted to top off the cooling system in my '01 Accord. I
called the dealer and asked him if I could use a regular antifreeze, he
said yes, so I added some. In all I added about 2 cups of the stuff plus
water.

Now I realize that I added a silicate formula antifreeze.

So the question is: Did I ruin my engine? Should I drain the system and
fill with Honda antifreeze? Or should I wait for the scheduled replacement
(120K miles or 10 years - but more likely 7 years when I change the water
pump)?


Thanks

 

No harm will come of it,just replace it now with honda coolant.I ran a
silicate coolant in my honda for 3 years with no
problem then changed to honda brand stuff.Supposedly silicates ruin the
water pump seal on hondas and honda coolant doesnt have this.Dont know if
this is true but i changed just in case when i read about it.Could just a
ruse to make you buy their coolant at double the price.

 

How long has the stuff been in there?
Over time non Honda antifreeze can cause corrosion of the aluminum and
damage the water pump seals. If it's only been a few days or weeks, you'll
be fine, just drain it and refill with Honda stuff. The Honda stuff only
costs a few more dollars than the cheap stuff (it may be double the price,
but it's still only a few dollars more, I can get a gallon of premix for $10
here in Boston) and you don't have to worry about it.
If you added the stuff to the overflow tank like you are suppose to, then
most of it is probably still in the overflow tank, and never even got into
the system! In which case you really didn't do any harm.

 

Thank you for the answer. The antifreeze was added about 2 years ago.
Would it be OK if I just took out the overflow tank, emptied it and filled
with Honda antifreeze? It is something I can do on my own, vs. draining the
system which I can't.

How much would a dealer charge for drainig the coolant?

 

I would advise you to take your car to a Honda dealership or radiator shop
and have them flush your system and add new antifreeze. If your Honda is
still under warranty--have the Honda dealership do it for you so it will
be on your record in case problems develop on a later date related to the
cooling system. You should have this done about every two years--check the
maint. schedule that came with your vehicle. It's my guess that you did
not do any damage to your system. In the future, just add water if the
level is low. If it's really low--buy the anitfreeze at the Honda
Dealership if that is the type of antifreeze that was used during the last
flush.

 

(Bill B. Johnson) wrote in

Thank you for the answer.

The manual specifies changing the coolant every 120,000 miles or 10 years,
whichever comes first.

The manual specifically discourages adding water only.

 

Needless to say, I disagree with the manual. As you may know, all car
companies are now making studpid recommendations regarding mait. on their
vehicles. Many car companies, for example, suggest that the oil be changed
every 10,000 miles and that the first tune-up should be done at 50,000
miles. Those car companies want your car to develop major problems after
about three years so that you will trade it in on a new car. That's
alright for those that only plan to keep a new car for two or three years.
However, for those people that plan to keep their cars for five or more
years--you should use some common sense related to maint. schedules. For
example, the oil and filter should be changed every 3000 miles and
transmission fluid and raditor fluid should be changed every two years.

 

Are you sure about that? My '96 Odyssey and my '00 Acura TL both say change
it first at 45,000 miles, then every 30,000 after that. I have to wonder
what changed that Honda would suddenly change that recommendation to 120000
miles.

 

There are some new high-tech antifreezes out there that will literally
go 120,000 miles, some of the car manufacturers are using them.

You have to be careful, I believe these antifreezes are not compatible,
i.e. don't top-off with regular antifreeze.

 

I would not use the antifreeze that allows your car to go 120000 miles
before you have to change it unless it came inside a new car equiped to
handle it. Even then--I would change it within 2 years. The reason is that
transmission fluid picks up lots of metal particles that can get past the
filter. This is not a problem as long as the transmission fluid is changed
every two years. After 100,000 miles the number of metal particles and
other particles that got past the filter could do some serious damage to
the transmission. I feel the same way about those companies that produce
oil that they say needs to be changed after 10,000 miles--the oil might be
great but the particles in the oil and transmission fluid are the problem.

 

(Bill B. Johnson) wrote in

OK I am confused here - what does the transmission fluid have to do with
the engine coolant? Does the coolant pick up metal debris as well?

 

Somehow the attributions in this clipping have gotten corrupted. I did not
write that. Your supposition is correct - there is nothing in common with
transmission fluid and antifreeze. They do not meet or mix anywhere in the
engine. If they ever do, you would have big problems.

Also, Honda transmissions do not have a filter like conventional automatics.
They do have a magnetic drain plug to capture small metal shavings. But
this has nothing to do with antifreeze. If metal particles started showing
up in the antifreeze, that would indicate big problems - probably a
disintegrating water pump.

Honda recommends/requires silicate free anti-freeze, specifically their own
in-house brand. Sometimes this get confused with the GM dexcool stuff. It
is not the same.

My question was: What has changed that Honda is now recommending 120000 mile
change interval?

 

It is nothing new. All 2001 Accords specify a 120,000/10 year interval, the
same for severe conditions.

The Honda dealership tried to sell me on a 45,000 mile interval, but I
think they were confusing it with the Odyssey.

Most people will replace the water pump at 7 years (with the timing belt),
at which time they will replace the coolant too.

By that time, of course, the car is not covered by any warranty so you're
on your own.

I think I will replace it at 45,000 miles or 3.5 years, then again at 7
years with the new water pump.

 

You are not confused. It was my mistake. I read two posts and had both of
them in my mind when I responded. Sorry about that.

 

Is Honda using a new kind of corrosion inhibitor that will last 10 years?

--jmowreader