Got a HEADACHE

Topic: Got a HEADACHE (Read 1305 times) previous topic - next topic

Got a HEADACHE

March 11, 2013, 08:12:33 PM

Well my youngest Daughter crashed her CRV. Not bad $5.000 bucks. Me and JR fixed it already which brings up a crisis . Honda the anointed car company (not in my view) Takes special antifreeze. WHY!!! Is it BS?? I think so. So off to the dealer as i had to remove the radiator and condenser for the repairs. So my parts guy tells me Prestone has a product that replaces all the anti freezes on the planet no matter what make or model. At 8 Bucks a gallon and Honda stuff at 16 my cost what is the scoop. I am not against paying the extra money but is it a scam?? They do the same BS with the Tranny fluid. Thoughts Gentlemen??

:hick::burnout::flame:

Got a HEADACHE

Reply #1 – March 11, 2013, 08:35:02 PM

I guess you don't remember DexCool...

Got a HEADACHE

Reply #2 – March 11, 2013, 08:45:27 PM

You Got it never heard of the stuff. WHEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Absolutely true 302 i have never used DEXCOOL IN MY LIFE!!!

Got a HEADACHE

Reply #3 – March 11, 2013, 09:07:05 PM

Ford is even worse, with their special "gold" antifreeze. That shiznit is incompatible with everything. If you mix it with orange long life antifreeze it instantly curdles, just like vinegar and milk. Our shop found this out the hard way, when an apprentice topped up a customer's car after an oil change. Luckily he noticed it right away and the damage was confined to having to remove the puke tank and clean it out. Lord knows what would have happened had it circulated through the engine...

Tom, I hope you're joking about not hearing of Dexcool, but Honda and Ford are not alone. Most manufacturers specify a unique coolant nowadays. Transmission fluid is even worse - gone are the days when your choices were Dexron or Type F. Now every manufacturer requires its own ATF, and most have specific fluids for specific transmissions. And now motor oil is going the same way. Not only do you need the correct viscosity, you also need oil that meets that manufacturer's specs. The Germans have always been bad for this (especially VW), but now they're all getting on board. GM has even branded their new oil spec DEXOS, so they can charge engine oil companies licensing fees, unlike the others who simply create a standard, give it a number, and leave it up to the oil manufacturers to produce oil that meets that specs (IE "this oil meets VW 502.01"). GM simply states that DEXOS oil must be used, and charges oil manufacturers simply for the right to use the word. And GM WILL void your warranty if you use non-DEXOS oil in your engine. DEXOS-branded oil carries a unique chemical that serves no other function but to identify itself as DEXOS in lab testing. GM is justifying it by blaming all of its engine problems on inferior oil. You know, the same oil that everyone else uses with no problems.

This is not meant to be a piss on GM, BTW. All manufacturers are jumping on this bandwagon, and it will only get worse as oil-critical technologies such as direct injection, MDS, VVT, and all that other silliness becomes more common. I merely singled GM out in this thread because just last week I was on a GM engine course and this was brought up...

Got a HEADACHE

Reply #4 – March 11, 2013, 09:38:35 PM

Tom Id do a test with a standard mix all coolant and some of the Honda specific and make sure there is no adverse reaction outside of the vehicle. At the shop I work we use a mix all coolant and have yet to have any issue. And we work on most makes.

Got a HEADACHE

Reply #5 – March 11, 2013, 11:40:47 PM

That Gold coolant is good stuff though. We use it in place of standard green after flushes. We only use orange until the warranty is up (then we replace it with Gold) and we don't flush specialty green (dark) unless the system is damaged. I hear you about atf, though. Mercon V, Mercon SP (superceded to Mercon LV), FNR5, AW21, CVT Blue. What else is there to say?

Got a HEADACHE

Reply #6 – March 12, 2013, 12:11:21 AM

I never take the chance, on a customer car I just pony up for what's supposed to be in there. Ford, Honda, Toyota, VW, GM, seems like everyone has something different. Just did a Ford Flex that took differnt coolant than the rest of the Fords, go figure.

Got a HEADACHE

Reply #7 – March 12, 2013, 07:15:53 PM

I have a question. The Saturn V6 not the 3.0 is a HONDA RIGHT. It takes DEXCOOL recommended by and installed from day one. But that same engine in a HONDA takes specific HONDA COOLANT. Thoughts ????

About oils!!! What has changed in an internal combustion engine that warrants special oils. OK bearing clearances.. Not to much. bearing materials OK. What about all the other components like rings ETC. Not much in my view so why the different oils. I know the additives and junk like that. But what is wrong with plain old GREEN COOLANT. just saying!! I use Fleet charge in all my engines with no issues. And according to Prestone they have a universal line that is compatible with everything according to my rep. So any thoughts??

Got a HEADACHE

Reply #8 – March 12, 2013, 07:34:26 PM

Quote from: bodyman;411050

I never take the chance, on a customer car I just pony up for what's supposed to be in there. Ford, Honda, Toyota, VW, GM, seems like everyone has something different. Just did a Ford Flex that took different coolant than the rest of the Fords, go figure.

I always use dealer coolant on new cars with segregated coolants and oils. I agree with this 100%. But why the difference. Seems like a scam!!

Got a HEADACHE

Reply #9 – March 12, 2013, 09:05:19 PM

A big part of the oil thing is the new technology they're putting in cars. Direct injection, multi-displacement systems and variable valve timing are all very dependent on oil, both quality and viscosity. Direct injection uses a cam-driven fuel pump that jacks pressure upwards of 3000PSI. That's a lot of shear-load on the cam and lifter for the pump (and also the source of most of VW's engine problems). Multi-displacement engines (IE Displacement ON Demand, a modern version of Cadillac's V8-6-4) use oil pressure to enable and disable cylinders, and that oil has to be a very specific viscosity and at a very specific pressure. VVT uses oil pressure to phase the cams. Engines are now so fussy about oil that some vehicles will turn on the check engine light and set a code if the wrong oil is used, say 5W30 instead of 5W20. This automatically disables VVT and MDS, because they can't properly be controlled. Add that to the extended oil change intervals and oil quality becomes critical. I know we all change our oil at 3k intervals but some modern cars go 24k miles between oil changes (BMW)...

But still, it is all just a big rip-off. Oil that's good enough for VW or Benz or BMW should be good enough for your Silverado, but if it doesn't say "DEXRON" on the bottle you're pooched...

Got a HEADACHE

Reply #10 – March 12, 2013, 10:13:53 PM

The Focus I have takes the Motorcraft Gold coolant but the Mustang has some red stuff in it. I have no idea what it is.

I miss the days of just buying the green stuff at the parts store. What worries me is when they stop making it. Then what will I throw in the Thunderbird and Mark?

Got a HEADACHE

Reply #11 – March 13, 2013, 01:30:34 AM

Honda used to have green coolant , but changed it about 8 years ago to the blue stuff. Their take on the coolant is the materials used in the radiator, engine, and heater core. I use it in all my cars as I come up with free surplus on my job (20 year Honda tech), and it seems to be good stuff. Honestly, I don't think it makes a bit of difference what you use. The Honda stuff does last, and is designed for and replaced at 110,000 miles. I've drained a bunch of this stuff at and after this mileage, and it looks brand new still. Take it all for what it's worth... Sorry about your daughter's CR-V, but I'm glad she's ok.

Got a HEADACHE

Reply #12 – March 13, 2013, 05:30:14 AM

Thanks A Bird she is fine and the car is all fixed. What happened was the VOLVO LADY was tail gating her on a single lane road. Once the road became 2 lanes the Volvo made a right turn in front of my daughter to pass her. But the car in front of the Volve was making a left and stopped. So the Volvo's right Quarter hit the left front fender of the CRV. My daughter pulled hard right in to a snow bank and the rest is history. Not to bad. 2 hours on the frame machine and 1400.00 In parts and a bunch of welding. Thanks for asking. The Volvo driver got a written warning. She was on the PHONE!! But we cant prove that as getting the info is almost impossible. Unless the phone is obtained by a court order. Either way everything is OK and thanks again for your concern. That was really nice of you. TOM!!

Here is my BABY GIRL. Complete with a DISNEY CAKE AND SOME SORT OF CHAMPAGNE pen 15TAIL FOR HER BIRTHDAY.