ANY silicate free antifreeze can be used. I bet all of the antifreeze sold today is silicate free. If you read the article at the above link, it says type 1 antifreeze contains silicate, so the above statement is a bit confusing since it implies there are two silicate free coolants, type 1 & type 2 , and that's not true. Only type 2 are silicate free.Honda Type 2 coolant, in the fast blue color: https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Honda-Parts-OL999-9011-Coolant/dp/B0089LSFJ0 You can get it at any Honda auto parts counter.
To your question "can any silicate free coolant be used?" No. Only Type 2 silicate-free, and you can't always tell from the label. See here for a good discussion: http://pages.infinit.net/mcrides/engine_tech/engine_coolant.htm. Hence, why Honda Type 2 is a good idea.
The type numbers are Honda's thing. Everybody else calls it "silicate-free."I thought the designation 'Type 2 coolant' simply identified the fluid as being silicate free.
I thought the designation 'Type 2 coolant' simply identified the fluid as being silicate free.
Looks like Honda engineers changed their color for the 1300s.The Honda Type II coolant MSDS can be found here: http://www.worldpac.com/tagged/Coolant_-_Honda.pdf
The Zerex G-05 MSDS can be found here (after a bit of drilling down): https://sds.valvoline.com/valvoline-sds/sds/materialSearch.faces
Both MSDS are attached to this post also. While the bulk is very similar, there are differences in minor constituents between those two (as there are in many similar coolants).
I know professionally (I'm an engineer) that chemistry differences (Brand A vs Brand B) in all kinds of fluids that are used in my line of work that there are differences in performance and degradation of various "equivalent" fluids--some are better than others and chemistry differences can have effect. The longer a fluid is in service (such as 2 years inside an engine), the more any subtle differences can matter.
I'm not arguing that we must use the Honda coolant, rather am simply saying that I for one am not knowledgeable in those minor ingredient's activity/purpose within the motor. So for *me*, I'll trust Honda's engineers who do know and who 'design' their coolant specs to be compatible with their engine parts, seals, and use conditions. So *I* use Honda's Type II coolant, change it on recommended intervals, and don't worry any further.
I'll also mention that my ST13 did NOT have Honda's blue Type II coolant as delivered from the factory. I've no idea what brand coolant mine had in it, but it was green:
That very coolant also precipitated out some debris (both in the overflow bottle and in the drain pains), reinforcing that coolant issues can show up after long service time:
Good intentions CAN be foiled. Since it originally came to stealer crated, had to be uncrated, some parts installed(front wheel, etc.), It also comes crated with no fluids installed in motor/cooling system, so who knows what coolant was initially used. BTW, initial coolant color helps to identify its chemical content(or lack of). That looks by color just be good "old-school" antifreeze of past decades used.The Honda Type II coolant MSDS can be found here: http://www.worldpac.com/tagged/Coolant_-_Honda.pdf
The Zerex G-05 MSDS can be found here (after a bit of drilling down): https://sds.valvoline.com/valvoline-sds/sds/materialSearch.faces
Both MSDS are attached to this post also. While the bulk is very similar, there are differences in minor constituents between those two (as there are in many similar coolants).
I know professionally (I'm an engineer) that chemistry differences (Brand A vs Brand B) in all kinds of fluids that are used in my line of work that there are differences in performance and degradation of various "equivalent" fluids--some are better than others and chemistry differences can have effect. The longer a fluid is in service (such as 2 years inside an engine), the more any subtle differences can matter.
I'm not arguing that we must use the Honda coolant, rather am simply saying that I for one am not knowledgeable in those minor ingredient's activity/purpose within the motor. So for *me*, I'll trust Honda's engineers who do know and who 'design' their coolant specs to be compatible with their engine parts, seals, and use conditions. So *I* use Honda's Type II coolant, change it on recommended intervals, and don't worry any further.
I'll also mention that my ST13 did NOT have Honda's blue Type II coolant as delivered from the factory. I've no idea what brand coolant mine had in it, but it was green:
That very coolant also precipitated out some debris (both in the overflow bottle and in the drain pains), reinforcing that coolant issues can show up after long service time:
My Honda Service Manual calls for replacement of the 'radiator coolant' at 24K miles. (The Manual is for 2003 - 2011). I don't know about any other years, but I suspect they are the same. Regardless, we hear stories about guys who never change the oil in their old Detroit iron and the car at 75k miles is 'as good as she ever was'. No doubt anti-freeze might still be liquid at 100K miles but protect the engine after 10 years? Let the chemical engineers argue this one out.Thanks BakerBoy for finding those MSDS sheets. Are you a chemical engineer ? Not much difference between the two that I can see. Even the PH is speced within 0.1 .
And BTW, they should still be effective as far as protecting the cooling system for at least 100K miles. Most cars today have a very long drain & fill interval. Jim V. , MSEE
Jim, MSME here. I deal with chemistry problems and metal microstructural issues all the time. Initial chemistry is interesting, but more important is how the chemistry changes as it ages, and what that shift leads to (corrosion, or other) during its service.Thanks BakerBoy for finding those MSD sheets. Are you a chemical engineer ? Not much difference between the two that I can see. Even the PH is speced within 0.1 .
And BTW, they should still be effective as far as protecting the cooling system for at least 100K miles. Most cars today have a very long drain & fill interval. From what I have read, the coolant is suppose to coat the inside of the cooling system for protection. So it seems like even after that occurs, if the substance in the cooling that does that is depleted, it's a moot point since the coating is then present.
Very interesting that Honda thought it wasn't that important to use the "magic" blue Honda antifreeze in your ST1300 at the factory. So, I would say owners shouldn't need to be that concerned either. Just use any silicate-free antifreeze designed for aluminum engines. And I bet there is nothing special about the water pump seal used by Honda either that requires the blue coolant.
Jim V. , MSEE
One of the reasons I check out different threads is to learn from the expertise of SToc'ers with different specialized backgrounds. I really appreciate this information and glad that it had "gotten deeper than it needs to have gotten."To be fair, this discussion has gotten deeper than it needs to have gotten, and I doubt that there would be a quick and aggressive failure from corrosion within the cooling system of our beloved ST's with any of the silicate free coolants that are brought up in this thread (as long as they're changed at proper intervals).