Brand of Coolant

Discussion in '6th Generation 2002-2013' started by grabcon, Feb 9, 2016.

  1. grabcon

    grabcon New Member

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    I am preparing for maintenance on the 2008 VFR800. The manual says to RECOMMENDED ANTIFREEZE: High quality ethylene glycol antifreeze containing corrosion protection inhibitors, RECOMMENDED MIXTURE: 50 -50 (Distilled water and antifreeze).

    Is the Honda coolant recommended or can off the shelf automotive coolants be used. I have read on the ST forum not to use coolants with have silica in them. Does the same hold true here?
     
  2. thx1138

    thx1138 New Member

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    From memory no silica and no borate. Will have to look that up again.
     
  3. Grumpy old man

    Grumpy old man New Member

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    I just use the Honda coolant from the Honda Car dealer seems to work just fine and is recommended for all Honda engines
     
  4. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    What woukd be the price difference. The number of times you need to flush you cooling system may make you wonder if the extra cost for Honda products is worth worrying about. Then again we don't know what your financial situation is and every penny saved just might be more important to one person than the other.

    I can't say I know one way or the other. However regardless of what I said above, when I last did mine, I just went out and bought a 50-50 pre mix from the local autoparts store...more for convenience. Haven't discovered any problems.

    This post reminds me it is about time again.
     
  5. derstuka

    derstuka Lord of the Wankers Staff Member

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    I just look for a well known brand that is silicate free if I don't have Honda coolant lying around. I tried engine ice years ago but didn't notice much of a difference if at all.
     
  6. sunofwolf

    sunofwolf New Member

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    :wof:
     
  7. RobVG

    RobVG Member

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    There's 9 differant kinds of coolant on the market. I would ask the dealer.
     
  8. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

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    I run Engine Ice because it's supposed to be approved for the track, I.e. Not slippery and slimy like Glycol based coolants. Can't say I noticed a difference in cooling, because the teperature/weather is always different!
     
  9. sunofwolf

    sunofwolf New Member

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    napa has the best and cheapest anti freeze for the vfr-it comes in 100% strength-mix with distilled water makes two gals. about $20.
     
  10. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    Well. Seeing as sow says I am running the wrong stuff, and for a few years now, and my bike has 196k km on it, I'm gonna go out and flush the system right fooken now before it blows ip.

    Lets see. 50-50, no silica. Napa supplied. Anything else. Oh ya. Persian cat piss inspired.
     
  11. sunofwolf

    sunofwolf New Member

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    Good idea, you put in car anti-freeze not mC Honda recommended anti freeze, I would think car anti freeze would last a while, while the Honda spec would not wear out. Why use the wrong stuff-my car is picky too on what type should be used-some tend to destroy water pumps or eat water seals or alu parts.
     
  12. V4toTour

    V4toTour New Member

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    Prestone "Extended Life" 50/50, aka the green stuff. Can use that crap in anything, all I've ever bought for any type of vehicle. Available everywhere.
     
  13. grabcon

    grabcon New Member

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    Thanks folks for the thoughts.
     
  14. ragincanadian

    ragincanadian New Member

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    I thought the only difference was "Orange" or "Green". Why are you guys making it so complicated?
     
  15. tyarosevich

    tyarosevich New Member

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    I've switched from standard honda stuff to engine ice DURING a heat wave in NYC - my average engine temp dropped 10 degrees. The stuff is the real deal, only thing is most people don't ride in the conditions that really cause engines to overheat (like sitting on the BQE in 108 degrees in rush hour traffic). At extreme temps (engine overheat temps), it was over 20 degrees cooler than the regular stuff.

    As a side note, I tried Prestone's coolant of the same chemical type (I forget the name) and it was not as effective as engine ice. YMMV
     
  16. Y2Kviffer

    Y2Kviffer Insider

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    I use this. It's blue in color. It meets all the specs Honda Motorcycle calls for.
     
  17. JimHanus

    JimHanus New Member

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    Don't know about these days, but in the past Gold Wing riders were using whatever they wanted, and automotive antifreeze had or has silicates to scrub deposits from inside the cooling system. The silicates were wearing out the waterpump seals causing leaks. I would assume that as long as the antifreeze is silicate free and 50/50 mixture that it would work. That being said, I myself only use premixed Honda coolant.
     
  18. Gator

    Gator Insider

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    Water Wetter by Red Line and Engine Ice help in the heat, but I have only seen about 2 degree drop in any bike and that includes my VFR. You can add water wetter to anti freeze coolant too help with heat. I use it and distilled water in the track bike.
     
  19. RobVG

    RobVG Member

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    Just don't use Zerex global extended life. It doesn't mix well with others. Kind of like sow.
     
  20. grabcon

    grabcon New Member

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    I have been doing a fair amount of reading on other Honda sights and it seems that Prestone extended 50/50 is the way to go it meets all requirements and is silicate free.
     
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