Honda Branded Anti Freeze: Necessary ?

I'm not sure that there are any true experts here...... ;-)

Even "professional" mechanics will have different answers to this question, ranging from "it's all the same stuff", to "use anything but the Honda brand at your peril".

When I am purchasing a used car, I check to see how often the coolant was changed. The brand of fluid does not concern me, and I have been using Prestone and similar brands without issue in all of my motor vehicles for almost

25 years.

Pat

if you need proof that coolant quality matters, read this:

further reading: all this said, a quality non-silicate coolant, with a good corrosion inhibitor package, with de-ionized water, should be safe enough. if you don't /know/ it's non-silicate, and you don't /know/ it has a good corrosion inhibitor package, sticking with the manufacturer brand is the guaranteed safe way to go.

That makes sense to me. Thanks for the links and information.

I have always used a major brand over the econo stuff anyway, which is probably a very good thing.

Pat

OEM for me.

The smart decision.

In my anecdotal experience of owning 5 Hondas, your best bet is Honda fluids. Motor oil might be the exception.