Hernst

Hi,
Need help diagnosing oil in coolant problem for a 2001 F23a1 engine, in a 2001 Accord coupe.
Getting about an ounce of oil (brown milkshake) in my radiator overflow bottle for every 4 hours I drive. It's the only symptom. No white smoke, no coolant in oil, compression is good, better than 170 for all 4 cylinders.
Leakdown tested each cylinder at 120psi, all seemed good, air escaped slowly thru piston rings.
I've read all of the threads on this site but need further help in narrowing down the possible source of the oil contamination.
Previously the leak was much worse, but I replaced the head gasket with OEM, had head pressure tested and shaved. No warpage on block either. Didn't use new head bolts though, everyone I talked to said it wasnt necessary.(should I have?)
Could this 2001 have a porosity issue like the 99's and 98's?
Engine has 220000 miles on it. All mechanics I talked to said they've not seen cracked block or porosity issues on the F23A1 for these years.
Are there any tests that would identify a cracked block or cracked head with certainty?
Given the age of the engine, I'm tempted to replace it with a used JDM or is another look at the head the best course of action?

nvus.cd7

I would just buy an engine you want instead of dumping money into an engine that will only cause you problems. Sounds to me like you have an issue with your headgasket sealing the block and head.

holmesnmanny

A compression test can only tell you for sure that a head is leaking around the combustion chamber. It cant tell you if the block has a pinhole leak in it or if the head gasket is leaking water and oil.

I would just swap out the engine with a jdm.

Hernst

So a good leakdown test won't rule out a head gasket issue, either?

Still curious if any has had similar experience and it turned out to be block issue on the '01 f23a1?

I do suspect most likely that the next step will be swapping in a used JDM.

Yesterday however, figuring I had nothing to lose, I went and cranked down the head bolts a bit more, by 30 degrees each. It's really tight now! torque wrench showed 120 foot pounds. Initial drives are encouraging. No oil leakage at the moment. We'll see how it holds up. Will update this thread with the outcome.

holmesnmanny

Leakdown and compression tests are obviously only checking the cylinders for leakage.

It cant check the rest of the gasket or the block.

Im guessing the car may have overheated at some point but it only damaged the head/head gasket where oil and coolant are sealed off.

Hernst

So you are saying within the head gasket, oil could be leaking directly into a coolant passage,without affecting a cylinder?

If that is the case, is there a test one would verify this with?

Hernst

Disappointing news. The leak is back! About a teaspoonful of oil leaks into the radiator every 50 miles. I suspect a cracked block or a block porosity issue that can occur in these engines. One last thought is that since the leak is so small would it be sealable with radiator Stop Leak or some oil based leak stopping product? Suspect since oil is only getting into the radiator that the radiator fluid based stop leaks would be useless. Any recommendations out there?