How to change the coolant 2006-2011 Honda Civic
To change the Coolant on your Civic it couldnt’ be easier. You’ll need to set up, bleed the cooling system, clean the cooling system as well as carry out a few other steps. You can carry out this tutorial of 10 chapters in 90 minutes. Take your fluid container and your funnel and let’s get started!
Duration
90 minutes
Number of steps
10
Difficulty out of 5
3
Average savings
$100
Parts You Will Need
Tools You Will Need
Step-by-Step Installation
Chapter 1:
Set up
Step 1/3
To facilitate the flow of liquid while draining, open the radiator cap.
Chapter 1:
Step 2/3
When completely bleeding your cooling system, we advise you to do it when the engine is cold.
Chapter 1:
Step 3/3
Get a fluid collection container to collect the coolant that will flow out.
Chapter 2:
Bleed the cooling system
Step 1/5
On this vehicle, the radiator is equipped with a bleed screw, which you access from the underside of the vehicle, on the driver side.
Chapter 2:
Step 2/5
You can then unscrew the bleed screw to let the coolant flow.
Chapter 2:
Step 3/5
You can use special compressed air tools to effectively bleed your circuit.
Chapter 2:
Step 4/5
Once drained, close the bleed screw.
Chapter 2:
Step 5/5
Open the coolant reservoir cap.
Chapter 3:
Clean the coolant reservoir
Step 1/3
When completely bleeding the coolant, we advise you to completely empty the coolant from the reservoir.
Chapter 3:
Step 2/3
Detach the reservoir hose. Then remove the reservoir. This will make it easier to empty. Also, clean it with demineralized water so as to clean the impurities remaining in the reservoir.
Chapter 3:
Step 3/3
Put the coolant reservoir back in place.
Chapter 4:
Clean the cooling system
Step 1/3
Before adding coolant, we advise you to thoroughly clean the coolant system by filling the coolant reservoir and the radiator with demineralized water.
Chapter 4:
Step 2/3
Squeeze the coolant hose several times to help expel air bubbles from the cooling system.
Chapter 4:
Step 3/3
Once the system has been filled, close the cap of the reservoir and that of the radiator.
Chapter 5:
Warm up to operating temperature
Step 1/7
Start your vehicle.
Chapter 5:
Step 2/7
Make sure the air conditioning is turned off. Then turn the ventilation and heating to maximum in order to circulate the liquid in the heater core.
Chapter 5:
Step 3/7
You can maintain the acceleration around 2,000 rpm to accelerate the engine warm-up.
Chapter 5:
Step 4/7
Once the engine is at operating temperature, with the engine temperature rising, the thermostat should open.
Chapter 5:
Step 5/7
Check that the hose coming out of the thermostat is hot; this means that the thermostat is in the open position and the liquid is circulating through the engine.
Chapter 5:
Step 6/7
Also check that the heater core supply hoses are hot, and that hot air is coming out of the ventilation; this means that the liquid is circulating freely through the heating circuit.
Chapter 5:
Step 7/7
You can then turn off the ignition and wait about one hour for the motor temperature to drop back down.
Chapter 6:
Bleed the system
Step 1/2
Once the engine is cold, open the radiator cap and repeat the bleeding operation.
Chapter 6:
Step 2/2
Once the demineralized water has been bled, close the bleed screw. Don’t forget to empty the water from the coolant reservoir.
Chapter 7:
Fill the cooling system with coolant
Step 4/6
For this vehicle, we advise you to follow the manufacturer and product recommendations, to adapt coolant dilution to the specifications of your vehicle where necessary.
Chapter 7:
Step 5/6
You can now fill the coolant reservoir to the minimum level.
Chapter 7:
Step 6/6
Close the cap.
Chapter 7:
Step 7/6
Also fill the radiator to the maximum level.
Chapter 7:
Step 8/6
Squeeze the coolant hoses several times to help expel air bubbles from the cooling system.
Chapter 7:
Step 9/6
Close the cap.
Chapter 8:
Warm up to operating temperature
Step 1/5
Start your vehicle.
Chapter 8:
Step 2/5
Make sure the air conditioning is turned off. Then turn the ventilation and heating to maximum in order to circulate the liquid in the heater core.
Chapter 8:
Step 3/5
Once the engine is at operating temperature, check the opening of the thermostat by making sure the hose coming out of the thermostat is hot; this means that the thermostat is in the open position and the liquid is circulating through the engine.
Chapter 8:
Step 4/5
Also check that the heater core supply hoses are hot, and that hot air is coming out of the ventilation; this means that the liquid is circulating freely through the heating circuit and air bubbles are not obstructing the circulation.
Chapter 8:
Step 5/5
Turn off your vehicle’s ignition.
Chapter 9:
Readjust the coolant
Step 1/2
Readjust the coolant reservoir to the maximum level.
Chapter 9:
Step 2/2
Then gently lower your vehicle to the ground.
Chapter 10:
Tips
Step 1/2
We advise you to check the general condition of the cooling hoses to make sure there are no cracks or leaks. During the first few miles of driving, pay special attention to your coolant level, which will have to be readjusted if necessary. Also check regularly for leaks on the ground.
Chapter 10:
Step 2/2
Operation complete.
