Performing regular maintenance on your Honda Civic radiators will help extend the already impressive longevity of your car. One of the main reasons people opt for Civics (or Accords, Elements, or any other Honda model) is for their reliability. By doing nothing more than minimal maintenance, Honda owners get much more mileage from their vehicles than most other car owners do.

So what does "regular" maintenance mean? Aside from keeping your radiator "topped" with coolant, it also means flushing it out at least once every two years. It's always best to consult your Honda owner's manual for precise guidelines, but two years is about average for most types of cars (though this is affected by the number of miles you tack on per year).

Flushing Your Honda Civic Radiators

The most important rule in flushing any radiator yourself is "safety first." Trained mechanics know to let a "hot" car sit before as much as removing the radiator cap, for the contents beneath it are pressurized and therefore prone to splashing. If you've just driven your car--even a few miles--your coolant may be as hot as several hundred degrees Fahrenheit, which can leave severe burns.

If you're adamant about flushing your Honda's radiator yourself, make sure you've got adequate garage or driveway space to do so. The first half of the process involves draining the extant coolant from the radiator and collecting it on a drip plate or some other basin. Once you've finished doing this, you can set about cleaning it out using a garden hose until the water running through its tubes is completely clear.