Ok, so im at 150K miles on a 96 2.2/AT coupe. The coolant has never been touched. It is dexcool. I searched but didnt find any definitive comfirmation on the following questions:

1. Can I switch to reg. green coolant?

2. If i can, can i flush the system with WATER from my garden hose first, then refill with coolant (since i dont want to spend any more on this car than i have to)?

3. If i cant switch, are they any brands (prestone, etc) that make the coolant (or one compatible) or do i have to go to a dealer?


All hoses look good and T-stat is working fine. i just dont like the brown color of the coolant (not mud, just looks like a thin used oil...its the right consistency, wrong color.)

input please?


2006 Honda Civic EX Sedan AT-Galaxy Grey Metallic Pearl, 37,000 miles,Loaded with everything except Leather and Nav, Tint-5% rear, 20% front, Calipers painted Subaru WR Blue, Ipod Integration, XenonDepot 4300K HID Conversion kit, Debadged, Optima Red-Top, No performance mods because its an auto, and its under warranty.

Quote:

Ok, so im at 150K miles on a 96 2.2/AT coupe. The coolant has never been touched. It is dexcool. I searched but didnt find any definitive comfirmation on the following questions:

1. Can I switch to reg. green coolant?

2. If i can, can i flush the system with WATER from my garden hose first, then refill with coolant (since i dont want to spend any more on this car than i have to)?

3. If i cant switch, are they any brands (prestone, etc) that make the coolant (or one compatible) or do i have to go to a dealer?


All hoses look good and T-stat is working fine. i just dont like the brown color of the coolant (not mud, just looks like a thin used oil...its the right consistency, wrong color.)

1.U can switch coolant if you want to, Just make sure you got all the old coolant completely flush with a coolant flush solution, (My opinion I would just keep using the dex-cool). Youre choice.

2. Also u can use ordainary water, Distilled water is recommended, Tap water will work just fine.

3. Prestone is good enough, Just make sure if youre gonna use dex-cool, Just use only that coolant, Other stuff will make fail, cooling system will over heat.

4. I would recommend replacing youre Thermo-stat cause then, If problem accures then u can narrow it down.

Good Luck.

2-I tryed tap water and it just boiled so no i would not try that.

just to flush it...im talking about running it till the thermostat opens and flushing it out, then refilling.


2006 Honda Civic EX Sedan AT-Galaxy Grey Metallic Pearl, 37,000 miles,Loaded with everything except Leather and Nav, Tint-5% rear, 20% front, Calipers painted Subaru WR Blue, Ipod Integration, XenonDepot 4300K HID Conversion kit, Debadged, Optima Red-Top, No performance mods because its an auto, and its under warranty.

you can use green, but you have to get ALL the dex-cool out. i put in prestone yellow, as its dexcool compliant, but doesnt turn to mud.

I recomend you flush it, but i recomend you first run the car with dex cool in it, plus a flush additive. then drain, then flush completely with water, even taking off heater hoses and flushing core, etc....VERY thouroughly.

I would think about replacing t-stat while you are doing work, just because coolant is expensive these days, and i would hate to see you have to drain it all back out to change it in a month.

make SURE you bleed ALL the air out of the system.....which is not easy.

how does one bleed the air? we dont have a pressure cap i noticed...


2006 Honda Civic EX Sedan AT-Galaxy Grey Metallic Pearl, 37,000 miles,Loaded with everything except Leather and Nav, Tint-5% rear, 20% front, Calipers painted Subaru WR Blue, Ipod Integration, XenonDepot 4300K HID Conversion kit, Debadged, Optima Red-Top, No performance mods because its an auto, and its under warranty.

Most coolants these days work with dex-cool, so it is not that big of a deal. Read the botttle it will say. Regardless of which you use a good flush is always good. As mentioned put some flush stuff in and follow the directions, then drain, fill with water run and then drain. Fill with proper coolant.



FU Tuning

the bleeding procedure is different depending on year/engine.

There should be a tiny little plug on one of the heater hose tubes, you take that out, and pour in coolant until it flows from that hole without air.

A lot of people also like to jack up the passenger side of the car, and run in jacked up with no rad cap. this will let the air climb to the resivoir and out.

I'm a big fan of flush T's, although I haven't done it yet on the cavalier.

2.2 97 Cavalier......the "Crapalier"

I just flushed the system, and I am ready to refill. Just have to put the prestone in. LOL. You know the housing by the battery that says "thermostat"? yeah...theres no thermostat there, It is on the other side under the alternator. LOL.


2006 Honda Civic EX Sedan AT-Galaxy Grey Metallic Pearl, 37,000 miles,Loaded with everything except Leather and Nav, Tint-5% rear, 20% front, Calipers painted Subaru WR Blue, Ipod Integration, XenonDepot 4300K HID Conversion kit, Debadged, Optima Red-Top, No performance mods because its an auto, and its under warranty.

i believe it says thermostat see other sid eor something

GM moved them in 96 95 and older they where there not in the OBDII cars tho

PS i use tap water and never had an issue i usually open the rad drain let the coolant out once it stops i run thehosefill the entire thing with water once it comes out clear its flushed

let it drain close the drain fill it 50/50



JBO since July 30, 2001

I actually opened the drain cock, and then put the garden hose in the coolant resivoir...i let the water go through the entire system till it was clear, then i closed the drain, shut off the hose, added the radiator flush from prestone, and let it run till it got close to overheating. (about 5-8 mins), then i drained and ran the hose through it for another 2 mins, then shut the hose off, let the water drain and filled the system with prestone.


2006 Honda Civic EX Sedan AT-Galaxy Grey Metallic Pearl, 37,000 miles,Loaded with everything except Leather and Nav, Tint-5% rear, 20% front, Calipers painted Subaru WR Blue, Ipod Integration, XenonDepot 4300K HID Conversion kit, Debadged, Optima Red-Top, No performance mods because its an auto, and its under warranty.