Honda-approved substitute for VTM-4?

[silver05]

Is there one yet? It's time to change again and all I need in about 1/2 a qt. so I don't want to spend $25-35 on a gallon.

[iivtecracerii]

Acura VTM-4 fluid would be your only other option.

[humanoid]

There is no substitute, only use Honda branded VTM-4 fluid... or if you really don't give a crap about your VTM-4 system then use anything you want in there, but I wouldn't recommend it.

[jestmaty]

Originally posted by iivtecracerii
Acura VTM-4 fluid would be your only other option.

Is it less expensive? It is much more convenient for me to buy Acura fluid such as VTM4, radiator, brake, etc.... maybe even tranny fluid?

The Honda dealer is about twice as far away as the Acura folks.

[silver05]

Thanks for the replies... I think it B.S. that they only sell it in gallon size. I mean come on, the diff. doesn't hold a gallon, and you can't get 2 full changes out of a gallon, why not offer it in 2.8-3qt size instead? Obviously I'm just irritated at HAVING to buy 3.56765 qt's more than I need. Sorry for the rant.

[iivtecracerii]

Originally posted by jestmaty


Is it less expensive? It is much more convenient for me to buy Acura fluid such as VTM4, radiator, brake, etc.... maybe even tranny fluid?

The Honda dealer is about twice as far away as the Acura folks.

it should be the same price because it is the exact same stuff. but who knows, they might charge extra for the acura label on the bottle.

[hondacuraplanet]

Brake and power steering fluids are general fare. VTM-4 is VTM-4, as long as it says VTM-4 on it (do NOT use dual pump fluid!). Honda coolant is premixed with distilled water so that the cooling system isn't prone to developing mineral deposits from hard water.

[WillyHank]

I seriously doubt Honda uses "Distilled Water" in their coolant mix. Maybe a highly filtered water, but distilled has a missing ion and will destroy the cooling system. This from many years of maintaining all kinds of equipment.

Please clarify and quote Honda maintenance manual pages please.

Bill

[N_Jay]

Originally posted by WillyHank
I seriously doubt Honda uses "Distilled Water" in their coolant mix. Maybe a highly filtered water, but distilled has a missing ion and will destroy the cooling system. This from many years of maintaining all kinds of equipment.

Please clarify and quote Honda maintenance manual pages please.

Bill

Hu?

While distilled water is slightly acidic, it is not for "a missing" ion, it is from the lack of any ions (Water is naturally slightly acidic).

Distilled water is just fine in colling systems (unless they are constructed of some exotic and very reactive materials).
As soon as the distilled water comes in contact with any metal it will no longer be acidic, and the only ions will be those of the metal it has contacted. Since the coolant is already mixed with additional chemicals, the water in it is no longer "distilled water" even if it started as such.
Whether they use distilled water or otherwise deionized water really does not matter.

[WillyHank]

N-Jay,

Are you stating this from a scientific background?
I have seen my statement in writing by the Caterpillar Corporation.
I will dig it out and send you an attachment if you like.
Will you do the same to back your statement.

Bill

[deparson]

Distilled water is simply water that has been converted to steam then condensed back to liquid to remove the nasty stuff that might be in it.

And, if the ion was really missing you would have thought someone would have found it by now

Originally posted by WillyHank
I seriously doubt Honda uses "Distilled Water" in their coolant mix. Maybe a highly filtered water, but distilled has a missing ion and will destroy the cooling system. This from many years of maintaining all kinds of equipment.

Please clarify and quote Honda maintenance manual pages please.

Bill

[dontnomuch007]

Distilled water by itself is very corrosive because all of its dissolved ions have been depleted. If you were to use 100% distilled water in a cooling system then, yes, that would be very bad for your vehicle. However, what NJay is referring to is diluting the coolant with distilled water which will negate the corrosiveness of the distilled water.

Here's a link of what distilled water can do to a metal..

http://www.water-cooling.com/article...aterwetter.php

[WillyHank]

That metal destruction will happen even when diluted with coolant, if you use a fairly large amount of it. I treat coolant with the same respect I have for lubricants. I never go less than 100,000 miles before any engine troubles. When I was doing service as a job, I had 18 wheelers going over 1 million miles without ever needing to go into the engine for any reason. These fluids are the life blood of your engine and drive train - don't cut corners or operate on myth's, you will regret it down the line. Two bigest attackers on your engine - HEAT and DIRT.

Regards,

Bill