Long Life Anti-Freeze

[normkol]

My 2005 Pilot was in the local Firestone this morning for an oil change/rotate tires.

Service manager wanted to change the antifreeze. I wouldn't let him, since he was going to use an aftermarket antifreeze that he said would 'mix with anything'.

The question, my Pilot has 66k on it in 5 years. At what point have people changed this long life antifreeze? How long do we let it go?

[rocky]

Honda has its own brand of antifreeze which is the only thing to use.

[humanoid]

The factory antifreeze has a lifespan of 10 years or 105K miles, whichever comes first. There's a blurb in your owners manual or a sticker somewhere under the hood that states that too.

[ptsmh73]

Originally posted by humanoid
The factory antifreeze has a lifespan of 10 years or 105K miles, whichever comes first. There's a blurb in your owners manual or a sticker somewhere under the hood that states that too.

Not that there is a big differnce between 105K and 120K miles, but its actually 10 years or 120K for the anitfreeze (then 60K there after). The major items at 105K miles are spark plugs and timing belt.

[normkol]

Well, so far a consensus. I wasn't sure whether to have it changed earlier, 120k is a long time for anitfreeze.

Thanks.

[ptsmh73]

Originally posted by normkol
Well, so far a consensus. I wasn't sure whether to have it changed earlier, 120k is a long time for anitfreeze.

Thanks.

120K does seem long, but its in the manual (black & white). Many service items have been extended on later model cars & trucks. Oil changes used to be 3K, now are 7.5K; timing belts used to be 50-60K, now are 105K; spark plugs used to be 10K, now are 105K. I guess you can't blame the service manager for trying to drum up some work for his mechanics, but the manufacturer knows more about the vehicles thay build (my opinioin).

[hondacuraplanet]

The Honda antifreeze comes as a premix. It uses distilled water, which helps to prevent the buildup of deposits of calcium, etc, that would occur with tap water. Being a mostly aluminum cooling system, this is very important.

[samc]

I wouldn't be surprised if it really is 120k. I probably will change it at 100k unless I see problems. And as for doing it, I can't imagine a gallon of coolant being more then $30-40 so well worth it.

[hondacuraplanet]

List price is 14.00 per gallon for the Honda premix......not terrible.