Correct Coolant?

[Scooterboy]

I was checking fluid levels this morning and found the coolant level low. What coolant should I use? Honda's over priced coolant or can I use some of the nationally know coolants? The manual says to use Honda's if possible, and if you use other kinds , to have the system flushed when possible.

David...

[repiv]

According to your sig, you have an '06. Your car takes Honda Type II coolant, which is a long life coolant and comes already mixed, ready to pour into your reservoir. I'm not sure it is compatable with other long life coolants like Dexcool or even Honda's own original "Type I" that came in the year 2000 cars. Both Type I and Type II are ethelene glycol based but Type II has some other components in it to make it last years longer.
Granted, Honda's Type II is expensive, but I think you can buy it in a smaller container just for topping up and since it'll last almost forever in the jug, why risk putting in something else? May as well just buy a small jug and keep it on hand. You manual will say something like 10 years before your first coolant change, but I'd have it examined every year after 5 years. In any case, a small jug will be handy to keep around for all those top ups over the next 5 to 10 years.
Now, if you are just wanting to top it up this once, just use distilled water into the reservoir. It shouldn't take more than 1/2 a pint or so. This will mix into the cooling systems coolant and won't affect your boiling/freezing pt to any significant degree.

[Scooterboy]

Thanks. I plan on stopping by the local Honda dealer tonight to pick up a jug of Type II. I am a little concerned as to why the coolant level has dropped. The reserve is empty and the radiator is down a little. No signs of leaks as of yet.

[repiv]

When was the last time you noticed the level? How old is the car? If this is the car's first winter, it may very well be that having the heater control knob to HOT may have encouraged the system to burp itself clear of air and depending upon the length of your drives over this time, it may have taken several driving cycles to evacuate all the air.
If you have a leak somewhere, there should be tell-tale signs (dried green deposits) at key locations. Begin at the reservoir itself. Some owners have noted that the hose going from the rad filler neck to the reservoir can be a bit loose and putting a zip tie at each end will resolve this type of coolant loss. Those particular hose connections need to be tight or you could have a one-way flow. Then move to the rad cap itself. Make sure it is one straight and tight. Check the area around the upper rad hose connection at the rad, move under the car where this goes into the thermostat area, then to the lower rad hose connection. Check the heater hose connections, Idle Air Temp lines, throttle body coolant lines and oil filter coolant lines for signs of dried deposits.
I can't imagine that you're seaping coolant through the head gasket at this early stage.

[Scooterboy]

I am going to look closer tonight. I have smelled coolant but have yet to see any sign of it. The smell was coming from outside, not in the cabin (as in heater core leak).

I will go over all the hoses.

Thanks!