Tram

**EDIT WITH UPDATE**

9/2/12

It drives me up the wall when someone will have an issue, come looking for help and then never report back as to what fixed it, etc. So here is a little update.

A simple pressure test led me to the culprit. Two failed hoses. Slightly cracked and letting coolant escape underpressure. Replaced said hoses and I now have roughly 8 hours, 4 commutes to and from work, under the belt of this thing since the fix. It looks like it was just the hoses. All driving was done in 95* Alabama humidity.

Like others said, my advice for anyone who picks this thread up in a search - pressure test, first.




Ok, the details..

1997 Integra GS
Stock engine
No mods
Fresh T-stat and Radiator cap.

So, I've been having some over heating issues. Fluctuating tempts. Hot, back to normal, hot back to normal. So, I thought I'd start hitting all the regular fixes.

T-Stat was first. Thought this fixed it. Drove it for a couple days - zero issues. Losing no fluid. Good, I fixed it.

Until today. Had been on the highway for about 35 minutes when the temps started the fluctuations again. Hot, normal temp, warm, hot.. Throw the heater on.. Normal temp, warm, normal temp, warmer.. warmer.. HOT.. So I pulled over, let it cool off.

Coolant bottle was boiling.
Added some coolant. Took over a 1/2 gallon. Hmm. Odd.

Obviously my issue wasn't fixed. Drove to Autozone and got a new radiator cap. 16# cap they called it. Neither of the product numbers they had were the right part. Finally found one that fit like the stock radiator cap. Sweet. Maybe I fixed it.

Started driving home and noticed the temps started creeping up. This time they didn't stop. Pulled over. Let it cool down. Added some coolant (the other half of the gallon) to limp home.

Got back in the car, made the 3 minute drive to the house and temps were hotter than I'd like to see. Luckily I was pulling in the driveway.

Get out and hear obvious hissing from the engine compartment. Pop the hood and steam is rushing out near/around where the upper radiator hose comes out of the head. I couldn't isolate exactly where as well, it was hot steam and I wanted no part. I checked after it cooled off looking for obvious holes in the hoses. Nothing.

When I changed the T-stat, I removed the upper radiator hose thinking the T-stat was behind there. I didn't replace the gasket, so I'm thinking that may be the issue.

I'm also wondering if the new radiator cap was working properly and created enough pressure to blow the bits left of the old gasket and thus why I am just now having the issue.

So.. My main questions..

1.) What gasket is this? I have no idea what to call it. Radiator inlet gasket? I dunno what what housing is called.

2.) Anyone have ANY ideas?

TKERacer619

Do you see any oil in your coolant reservoir?

How does the oil look?

Any smoke?

Is the fan coming on?

What concentration antifreeze to water do you have in the car?

Other then the heat issue does the car drive good?

TKERacer619

Also get a stock cap from honda or one that is proven to be good. That cheap junk you find at autoparts stores rarely work.

Tram

No oil in the reservoir.

No milky oil. No smoke. Have not been able to leak down or test for bubbles in the coolant.

Fans are operating normally.

At the time of the overheating, coolant to water was 50/50 mix with the system burped and topped off.

Car shifts a little hard, but this is related to the tension on the kick-down cable. Needs a little slack.

Car runs pretty well. Seems like it may be down on power a touch.

el crapitan

your cooling system is likely not holding pressure. a cooling system that can not hold pressure will have a lower boiling point and thus, overheats. for every 1 psi of pressure placed on the system, the boiling point is raised 3*. that's a huge temperature difference when you think that our systems are under approx. 15psi of pressure.

put the pressure tester on it. see if it holds. if not, the leak will be exposed.
and if it doesn't hold pressure, and you can't find the leak, fire it up and see if you get a big puff of white smoke

fcm

Got to agree with the above, pressure test the system, and the gasket is for the upper rad hose housing. 94

Tram

Thanks guys. I'll pressure test the system.

Tram

Ok, I haven't had a chance to pressure test it. I need to get the upper radiator hose gasket before I do anything.

Anyone know that part number? I wish Autozone had one.

bnetkillzone

http://www.team-integra.net/forum/11...se-gasket.html

Gsrsi

Take off the cap and shake the car.

TheRealTegger

Your head gasket has failed. Get it fixed quick before you damage the head/block join.

el crapitan

may want to explore the many other, cheaper possibilities first

TheRealTegger

By all means. But if the reservoir coolant is "boiling", and the rad cap has been replaced, then the probability of a failed head-gasket is about 99.9%.

95B18BTurbo

^^^ I concur from previous experiences with the same issues!

1998GsRIntegra

I certainly wouldn't rule out the headgasket. The headgaskets on these cars don't just blow on their own. They won't fail on an otherwise stock car unless you overheat the motor and warp the head.

Pressure test the coolant system and see if it holds. Personally, I think your problem will be uncovered with the pressure test.

el crapitan

well, it's probably boiling because it's overheating. and it's probably overheating because it's not holding pressure because of the gasket he disturbed.

he hasn't performed a single test yet. that's all i'm saying. test. then confirm

Gsrsi

Have you ever bled the system?

Tram

Pretty sure it's not the head gasket. I have none of the other busted head gasket symptoms. Specifically, I have no oil/water mixing, but I guess it's still possible.

System has been bled. I need to pressure test it, just haven't had a chance.

TheRealTegger

Hondas don't normally mix oil and water when the head gasket fails, they just blow bubbles in the coolant.

With the engine cold, remove the rad cap and take a sniff. Does the coolant smell like rubber, or like paint-thinner? If paint-thinner, it's definitely your head gasket.

Tram

Doesn't smell any different than any other radiator. I'm gonna try to pressure test it this afternoon.

Thinking about giving this a shot: http://www.jdmuniverse.com/forums/ho...ure-check.html

How tough is a head gasket change on these? I'm fairly mechanical, just haven't wrenched on many imports.

full Circling

it's not too bad, just use an oem gasket and arp studs

Tram

Ok, so I attempted to check the system..

I'm doing something wrong. When pressurizing the system, I'm getting no pressure, as it's all escaping out the overflow bottle.

When I plug the overflow tube, I am able to pressurize enough to realize I have a toasted hose. I believe it's the inlet hose for the heater core. It's the hose right behind the upper radiator hose. So, I'm going to replace that tomorrow.

Anyone have any suggestions on the best way to seal the system to further test the system?

slowDB1

i had same issue before, even replaced head gasket just could not figure out the problem, then i ordered a new coolant resevior tank with new cap, problem fixed, spent over $700 in parts and labor just to replace a $15 tank and that was the problem the entire time

Tram

Weird. I'm going replace the hose and go from there.

el crapitan

if you want to seal off from the overflow to perform the pressure test correctly, just remove the hose and use a rubber vacuum cap over the nipple. secure it with a screw clamp.
you want to pressurize it to about 15psi.
but yea, that leaking hose is definitely going to cause overheating.