Attention! Do not allow antifreeze to come into contact with exposed areas of the body and painted surfaces of the car. Accidental splashes should be washed off immediately with plenty of water. Remember that antifreeze is a highly toxic liquid and getting it into the body, even in small quantities, is fraught with the most serious consequences (up to death). Never leave antifreeze stored in a loosely sealed container and clean up spilled coolant on the floor without delay. Remember that the sweet smell of antifreeze can attract the attention of children and animals. Consult your local authorities for disposal of used coolant. In many regions of the world, special points have been set up to receive various types of detention. Never drain old coolant down the drain and onto the ground!
Note. Recently, non-toxic grades of antifreeze have been developed, but they also require care in handling.
Regularly, in accordance with the schedule of routine maintenance of the car (see Schedule of ongoing maintenance), the cooling system must be emptied, flushed and filled with a fresh mixture of antifreeze and water. This kind of maintenance helps to prevent the development of corrosion inside the cooling path and significantly increases the efficiency of the system.
During maintenance, the condition of all system hoses and the radiator filler cap must also be checked (see Checking the Condition of the Cooling System Components (every 12,000 km or every 6 months)). Defective components must be replaced.
Remember the precautions to be taken when servicing the cooling system (see warning above).
Emptying
1. Apply the parking brake and chock the wheels. The direct execution of maintenance procedures should be started only after the engine has completely cooled down, i.e. at least a few hours after the end of the trip.
2. After waiting for the final cooling of the engine, remove the caps from the radiator neck and expansion tank (see accompanying illustration).
3. Place a sufficiently large container under the radiator drain valve. Opening the faucet (see accompanying illustration), drain the coolant. If the valve cannot be opened due to corrosion damage, disconnect the lower hose from the radiator - try not to get antifreeze in your eyes and on exposed skin. 4. After the coolant has drained from the radiator, remove the lower hose of the latter and drain the remaining coolant from the top of the engine block.
5. While the liquid is draining from the block, disconnect the hose from the expansion tank and remove the last (see chapter Cooling and heating systems). Rinse tank with clean water (if necessary - with soap). Clean the level marks on the sides of the tank.
6. Check the condition of the radiator hoses and hoses of the heating system, as well as the clamps of their fastening on fittings and branch pipes (see if necessary. Checking the Condition of the Cooling System Components (every 12,000 km or every 6 months)).
7. Replace damaged components (see if necessary. Cooling and heating systems).
Flushing
1. After draining the system, remove the thermostat from the engine, remove it from the casing and install the latter back in its original place (empty). The system is now ready for flushing.
2.. Reinstall the lower radiator hose and tighten the radiator drain valve. Turn the interior heating control knob to maximum heat to ensure that the heater heat exchanger is also flushed.
3. Disconnect the top hose from the radiator and insert a garden hose into the last one. Turn on the water supply and continue rinsing until a clean, clear stream comes out of the top hose (see accompanying illustration).
4. In cases of particularly severe contamination or impaired patency of the radiator, remove the last (see chapter Cooling and heating systems) and deliver it for refurbishment and service to a car service workshop.
5. Corrosion products and hard deposits are removed from the tract by chemical treatment - follow the instructions of the manufacturers of the cleaner you purchased.
Note. With regular flushing of the system and replacement of the coolant, the need for chemical treatment of the tract should not arise.
Refueling
1. Reinstall the thermostat and expansion tank, connect all hoses to the radiator.
2. Move the interior heating control knob to maximum heating.
3. Slowly fill the radiator with fresh, proportioned (see Specifications) mixture of antifreeze and water. Continue filling until the liquid level rises to the lower cut of the filler neck. On Integra models, loosen the special valve on the thermostat housing and let the air out of the duct (see accompanying illustration). Add coolant to the expansion tank until the level reaches the FULL COLD mark. Wait five minutes and recheck the coolant level in the radiator, adjust if necessary.
4. Without installing a cap on the radiator, start the engine and warm it up until the thermostat valve opens (the liquid should begin to circulate through the radiator, while the upper hose of the latter will warm up).
5. Stop the engine and let it cool down. Add a little more fluid to the radiator, bringing its level to the lower cut of the filler neck.
6. By squeezing the upper radiator hose, bleed the air out of it, if necessary, add a little more coolant. Reinstall the radiator cap.
7. Turn the supply air temperature and fan speed selection knobs to maximum performance.
8. Start the engine, warm it up to normal operating temperature and check the system for signs of leaks.