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Can
you mix different kinds (or
colors) of antifreeze?
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Yes, if you know exactly what you're mixing. Many antifreezes
are not
compatible. Some are compatible except
for their corrosion inhibitor additives. Mixing incompatible
antifreezes can destroy the extended ("Long Life") corrosion
protection, whereupon the mix's corrosion protection defaults to the
baseline two years.
Also, many Honda engines hide their water pump under the timing belt.
The pump itself is only $60, but you've got a couple of hours labor to
get at it. NEVER use silicated antifreezes in your Honda, since the
silica corrosion inhibitor will grind up your pump's seals much more
quickly than non-silicated stuff. The very best thing for your Honda is
Genuine Honda premix.
If you want to use some non-silicated aftermarket antifreeze that's
different from what you've already got in there, this PDF chart will
help you find an appropriate mate:
http://www.eetcorp.com/antifreeze/Coolants_matrix.pdf
Another good link on the subject:
http://autorepair.about.com/cs/productreviews/l/aa052601a.htm
If you don't know what's in there, you're in a bit of a pickle. Add
whatever you can get in order to get out of whatever jam you're in, but
then drain and refill with a completely fresh mixture at the earliest
opportunity. And don't neglect the block drain. There's a quart (or
more) of fluid in your block, or close to 25% of the total capacity.
25% is quite a bit of old stuff to contaminate your new stuff with.
Here's more on the different kinds of antifreeze, another PDF. I don't
remember how I got this one, or what Web site it came from:
DTurcotte_Mag_53_g.pdf