1999 honda civic help - oil in the overflow tank
 

about 6 months ago i started having problems with my good ol trusty civic. the car is all stock by the way. car wouldnt start so i replaced the distributor and fixed the problem but i started noticing a lack of power and acceleration in the car .. i also noticed the overflow tank had oil in it and the top of the raditor cap had some as well but couldnt see any in the actual radiator and no antifreeze in the oil so i figured it wasnt a head gasket? just wondering what this could be .. or if i have multiple problems? is there a water or oil jacket maybe bad? any help would be appreciated?

Re: 1999 honda civic help!!!
 

Compression check.

Oil in the coolant, or vice versa points to head gasket.

Re: 1999 honda civic help!!!
 

thats what i thought but i thought it had to be in the radiator too? or oil?

Re: 1999 honda civic help - oil in the overflow tank
 

can be trans oils in there too, if it is automatic.

Re: 1999 honda civic help - oil in the overflow tank
 

yes its a automatic.. who knows what it is , ive read that the coolant system could need flushed but still runs with a lack of power and im lost as to why

Re: 1999 honda civic help - oil in the overflow tank
 

The reason it might be trans fluid is because the automatic trans fluid cooler is built into the bottom of the radiator. If that leaks...then you may have trans fluid in your coolant and coolant in your trans-a nasty combination.

But more than likely, you're seeing exhaust soot in your coolant because you've got a leak in your headgasket around the water-jacket.
Is the car overheating or are you seeing bubbles in your coolant?

The reason why it would run with a lack of power is because you're likely bleeding compression into your cooling system, which would be proven by exhaust bubbles in your cooling system. (either that or you're burning coolant in your combustion chamber which leans out you air/fuel mixture, causing a lack of power...or there really IS coolant leaking into your trans or you're losing trans fluid into your coolant system, resulting in shitty (lack of) torque in the trans)
OO

Check for bubbles and check your trans fluid ASAP!
Also check for white smoke from your exhaust (burning coolant)
Hell, do a compression test while you're at it

Re: 1999 honda civic help - oil in the overflow tank
 

Do a block test.

Re: 1999 honda civic help - oil in the overflow tank
 

Yep, run to Autozone and get the loaner block tester, ask the sales guy how it works. Go home and use it, then bring it back and get your money. That simple.

Re: 1999 honda civic help - oil in the overflow tank
 

ok guys tommorow im going to test the compression on her, that will tell me about a head gasket? and block tester tells me if i have a cracked block right?

Re: 1999 honda civic help - oil in the overflow tank
 

A block tester will tell you if you're bleeding compression
(I think)

Re: 1999 honda civic help - oil in the overflow tank
 

This will tell you if you have a leak in or around the head gasket or similar combustion areas. If you had a cracked block it would drive very very bad and overheat like crazy. The block tester tests the coolant to see if exhaust carbons are present. A compression check would only see PSI. Do a block test first, it is way easier and will get you going in the right direction.

Re: 1999 honda civic help - oil in the overflow tank
 

ok il do the block tester first

Re: 1999 honda civic help - oil in the overflow tank
 

what is this block tester that you speak of?

Is it like a leakdown or compression test?

Re: 1999 honda civic help - oil in the overflow tank
 

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...er=391378_0_0_

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...ntifier=391381

1999 civic intermitten starting problem???
 

sometimes it starts right up but recently it just cranks and the only way it will start it holding the gas pedal to the floor and it will eventually start and smokes for a second which is probably cause of holding the pedal down, you can shut it right off and it will start right back up. plugs are kinda white, i replaced the distributor and plugs and wires last summer . any info on this would be great i have no idea what could be up with this thing but its a pain in the you know what lol

Re: 1999 civic intermitten starting problem???
 

Could be fuel pump..

Re: 1999 honda civic help - oil in the overflow tank
 

when i replaced the distributor it ran with no power , i had to tilt the dizzy almost all the way toward the fire wall to get it to run right?

Re: 1999 honda civic help - oil in the overflow tank
 

What happened did you do the block and compression test?

As for the dizzy you need to set the timing using a timing light, that is in the stickies on how to do it.

Re: 1999 honda civic help - oil in the overflow tank
 

no never did the test been to busy.. so where do i put the dizzy at

Re: 1999 civic intermitten starting problem???
 

doubt it ... bump...

Re: 1999 civic intermitten starting problem???
 

CEL codes?

Have you replace the fuel filter?

What color is the smoke in the exhaust?

Re: 1999 honda civic help - oil in the overflow tank
 

Your head gasket is almost surely blown. Focus your diagnostic tests there.

Re: 1999 honda civic help - oil in the overflow tank
 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't adjusting a D-series distributor toward the firewall advancing your ignition timing? You have most likely been driving around with advanced timing and damaging your engine, i.e. head gasket, seals, perhaps your valves and piston rings.

Re: 1999 honda civic help - oil in the overflow tank
 

Yes

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/i...cture_3267.jpg

Re: 1999 honda civic help - oil in the overflow tank
 

Well, the problem obviously existed before the distributor change. My vote is for head gasket. That would be the least of your worries.