oranginal

to sum it all up i think i have a leak in my headgasket but wanted to get some more info/feedback

built h22 boosting 15lbs, i know this isn't necessarily FI related but i figured why not.

symptoms: black sludge like substance in coolant reservoir, not 100% sure it is oil. No coolant mixing with oil though (have done 2-3 oil changes since this first started to occur)

I was going to try to get a hold of a leakdown tester but never really had the time so i've just been emptying and refilling the coolant reservoir for now.

more recent i notice my car will be hard to start/stutter when started up after i am done a drive and let the car cool down but when the engine is still warm try to start it. It sounds like it is about to start but doesn't. If i let it cool down some more it will eventually start but it sputters until i rev it out. I'm thinking maybe coolant is starting to leak in the cylinders causing combustion issues making it hard to start and also causing a puff of white smoke on start up due to the coolant being burned off. When the car does finally start and stutter i can rev it out and then it runs fine.....until i turn the car off and try to start it while the engine is still warm.

Seems like it only happens when the car is warm (so the coolant is still pressurized unlike then the car is cold and the coolant has no pressure)

wasn't sure if it could be a main relay or some other issue.

thanks!

Hondaspeed5540

Hey I was wondering if you figured out a solution for your problem? I'm having a similar problem too. I have a fully built jdm h22 turbo set up.

HondaKid936

deffinately coolant in your cylinders i had the same problemo....
That white smoke is coolant
the car wouldnt turn on after like 4 hard pulls id have to let it cool down...

Hondaspeed5540

Ok well its confirmed I have coolant in all 4 of my cylinders, which is strange since usually if you have a blown head gasket or a cracked head you may only get one or two cylinders filled. I've also notice that once the engines warms the prelude runs perfectly and boosts fine. Can someone help me with this issue it would be very appreciated?

Thanks

dpetro1

well obviously replace your headgasket. make sure the head and deck are straight and flush the cooling system once done to remove any gunk left behind

redlinetuning

if you're getting coolant in all 4, it's possible your cylinder head was not correctly torqued down.