Honda 3.5 V6 Pilot Ridgeline Strawberry Milkshake Radiator Failure! How to Avoid it!

[@locohefe]

Very helpful video, thanks! Ill be doing this tomorrow now that I understand the issue and how exactly to avoid it. It'll be a weight off my shoulders for sure. Thanks again!

[@trevfamily5109]

Appreciate the video, so you connected the hose, but what did u use to cap off the remaining 2 pipes? Or did you just use that small hose line you took off and connected one line to another?

[@gregs_garage]

I didn’t show that very well. I used rubber vacuum caps. You could also use a chunk of hose and a plug. Or just leave them open no big deal.

[@locohefe]

Just got this done today finally and I left the radiator part uncapped. I blew out the extra atf and cleaned it all up. My question now is if those internal fittings do fail (that would have caused fluids to mix) at this point, will my coolant pour out of the uncapped ends of the heat exchange side being bypassed? Thanks again for the video!

[@gregs_garage]

I wonder about that too. I guess if you see a coolant leak it’s good to know early and get a new rad. My vac caps fell off recently

[@stepheno9569]

Great video Greg, thanks for making it.

[@mysticstylus]

Thanks for sharing this info! I purchased an ‘07 Ridgeline last year with 123k miles and wanna make sure she runs a good while longer. Are there any potential downsides to performing this mod? Also, is there an easy way to tell if the radiator in the car may have already been replaced with a model that fixes the issue?

[@gregs_garage]

I do not think there is a downside. Maybe the trans heats up a bit slower but I doubt there's a measurable difference. Look at the rad part # and see if it's aftermarket. If Honda, likely original.

[@lololollaughatlife1431]

So if this happens beyond the warranty- sounds like the owner will be in danger or pay a lot.

[@gregs_garage]

yes pay a lot. All of these are 15 years out of warranty

[@billmoxon9506]

Very helpful! I'm doing this tomorrow.

[@gregs_garage]

good luck. those vacuum caps may fall off and trans fluid will leak out for a while. Or blow them out but that's a mess too. Mine is dry but I had a few drips when the caps fell off maybe due to air pressure when it got hot. caps not really needed since nothing will get up into those lines anyway. or clamp the caps.

[@robertburke4263]

You only reference model years 2006-2008 so are you saying that Honda fixed the issue for later model years? I have a 2012 Pilot so should I be concerned?

[@gregs_garage]

Apparently Honda fixed the issue for 2009+.

[@robertburke4263]

@@gregs_garage I believe this became an issue due to lack of coolant change thus creating an acidic condition attacking the internal line. I wonder how Honda addressed this issue? What are your thoughts and TY for the video which was very clear.

[@cokemanjake6284]

I've heard that its most common on 06-08 but can happen to any first gen.