hondaluv345

Thanks in advance for your help since I know squat about cars; I'll be concise:

Car: 1998 Honda Civic, approximately 165,000 miles
Background:
Last month, my car overheated badly and was towed to the mechanic. He pressure tested the cooling system and found a leaky heater hose. He replaced the hose, retested and the pressure rose to 22 PSI. A chemical headgasket leak test showed no evidence of a blown gasket. He cautioned me that the car is still not in perfect working order and to be sure that there is always coolant in it. My car ran quite well until it ran out of coolant a week after being filled.
Problem(s):
- Overheats to the point where coolant in the resevoir begins to boil and evaporate into white smoke
- The temperature gauge goes past the red before this happens
- Throughout overheating, the radiator fan does not come on
- After boiling for a minute or so, all the coolant in the resevoir is gone and the temperature gauge instantly goes just below the half-way mark
- There are no visible leaks except:
- There is a slow trickle of oil (I think) leaking from the seam of what I suppose is the two halves of the engine block (I can post a video of this if necessary) even before the car overheats and
- Although I didn't see it this time after "testing", usually there is a little bit of coolant settled in the outer grooves of the radiator after all of this happens
Additional Info:
- The abovementioned conditions came about after a 45 minute idle test; when driving the same things occur in about 15 to 20 minutes
- When I "tested" there was no fluid in the raditor and I did not add any
- Radiator replaced once in the past (a few yrs ago) and repaired once after that
- Car would not start up again until mechanic (from last month) replaced ignition coil
- The mechanic also replaced the radiator cap
Question: What is the likelihood that this is not a headgasket issue?
Purpose: To avoid additional diagnostic costs if it is clearly a blown headgasket (at which point, I'm done with the car)

I hope that wasn't too long, as I want to be thorough. Thanks again.

CO671

iTrader: (1)

Have you ever felt the lower hose (when upper hose is hot) to ensure that the coolant is flowing through?
Are you sure the waterpump or thermostat aren't faulty?

Have you done this?




If it is a headgasket and you're interested in replacing it, I could help guide you through the process as I've been through these problems myself.

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

Dammit! Now THAT is how you write up a post!!! And a 1st post at that! Thank you!

Does the fan actually work?
Check that the plastic top of the radiator hasn't started to separate from the radiator itself.
I see no mention that the thermostat was checked?
Stop overheating it or you will warp something if you already haven't.

angrysmileyface

Sounds like we need some template police.

OP:
1.Please check fan switch/relay.
2. Replace thermostat if not already done as indicated by the lovely FSM page.
3. Get radiator pressure tested, check for coolant in oil (Making oil)
4. Do a block test checking for exhaust gases in coolant (tester and fluid can be rented/purchased at autozone)

hondaluv345

I didn't feel the lower hose, but the upper hose was extremely hot. Although, there was little to no coolant being expended from the resevoir throughout overheating (until it began to boil).

Frankly, I know nothing of the waterpump or thermostat, where they are, etc. I know that the thermostat was replaced once when my radiator was replaced.

I appreciate your offer, but since I can hardly understand your graphic, I don't think I could replace the gasket myself. Plus, I live in an apartment, so there is no where for me to do so.

Thanks

hondaluv345

I don't know whether or not the fan works since it never turned on while "testing". It does spin if I flick it though, lol. I'm not sure to what area of plastic you're referring, but I have noticed that the radiator is a little loose in the top plastic/rubber connector which connects the whole thing to the inner hood frame.

I'm definitely stopping now. I only tested b/c that's what a friend suggest I do. Unfortunately, I've already (not purposefully) overheated it to this point about 4 times...ooops....

1 and 2. I'll google how to do these things, thanks.
3. Is a radiator pressure test different from a cooling system pressure test?
4. Is that the same thing as a chemical headgasket test?

Thanks.

CO671

iTrader: (1)

Feel the lower hose because that's where the coolant gets pumped through. If it's cold and it doesn't feel like there's any flow either the waterpump is faulty or the thermostat (if present) is faulty and not opening up.


Aww, well I knew nothing more than changing oil when I tackled a headgasket problem so I could relate to your current level. No problem, best of luck to you and thank you for making the post as descriptive as possible for others to help.

hondaluv345

Also, thanks for complementing my post "layout". Trying to make your guys'/gals' task as easy as possible. Since you've given me a few more things to test, would I be correct in thinking this is not incontrovertibly a headgasket issue?

EDIT:
Will do, thanks for your help. Just so I understand correctly: The lower hose should feel warm or otherwise not cold if coolant is running through it properly?

CO671

iTrader: (1)

Correct. Lower hose should feel the same as upper. If it doesn't, I would take out the thermostat, let the car cool down, top-off radiator again and hope it doesn't overheat + lower hose feels the same temperature as upper.

Nes One EJ6

3. Those are the same, but you need to have it done again if you are losing coolant, make sure you are adding 50/50 mixture of coolant and water.
4. Yes this is the same thing, but you also need to do this again as you overheated the vehicle multiple times after it was performed.

Also, when you check if the thermostat is opening you need to make sure the vehicle is full of coolant as well, if there is no coolant in the motor it cannot flow to the thermostat to heat it up and open it.

hondaluv345

Thanks for the info. I'll check all of this plus the things mentioned by others.