Ok I was coming home yesterday from dropping my mom off at her house when all of a sudden I noticed smoke was coming out of the engine. Good thing I was like 50 feet away from my apartment when I noticed it. After looking for 10 mins trying to find why its leaking I noticed a goof ball sized dent in the radiator. A rock or a frozen dead squirrel must of caused it. Anyways I called pep boys and there radiators are 100 bucks. I got a question before I switch them. I heard that youHAVE to use honda coolant for your car. Is this true?

 

It's always a good idea to use the O.E.M. coolant. If you use the wrong coolant you could end up doing more damage than good. Over time the wrong coolant could cause holes to form in your block, for instance. OVER TIME though...

 

I actually found out why honda suggests to use there coolant. Our blocks are made of aluminum andalot aftermarket coolants have silicate in them and that makes corrosion in our blocks and heads. Honda brand coolant is silicate-free. Too bad its 15 bucks a gallon

 

Damn it, I wanted to find it! I knew there was a reason and I wanted to be more specific but couldn't remember what my teacher said! Ohhhs wellss...

 

Hey thanks for the help anyway.

 

Ok new problem. I took out the old radiator and put in the new one but I cant get it to circulate any new coolant into the engine. I put on new coolant lines and clamps but wont flow. Im thinking its the therostat but it was working fine before the old radiator got busted. Im open for any suggestions. Also if it helps the fluid isnt getting to the heater core.

 

Did you loosen bleeder valve (# 10 on the pic)? Sorry, I don't have better pic to show here. It is where upper radiator hose joins the head.

 

no i didnt know there was a bleeder valve. what does it do?

edit: also i have a 97 civic if that makes a difference

 

It lets the air out when you fill the system. And all cars that I know do have one. When you fill, you keep it open until coolant starts going through it, then shut it and top off. Don't forget tokeep the heaterat full heat while filling. Good luck.