bass4040

I'm thinking about buying a used 97 civic. the ad says
--Burns coolant when it gets real hot. During summer you will need to top off the coolant about once a week. This takes a few seconds if you keep a bottle in the trunk. I'll throw in a bottle of coolant so you are good for several months.--

Is this an easy fix or is it ok to top off like the owner does?

TomCat39

This sounds like symptoms of a head gasket starting to fail. Thus the seller is trying to get rid of it before it gets to the point of mandating repair or becomes totally undrivable.

The fix to do it right, if I am correct is a few hundred dollars with doing the work yourself. A shop will be significantly more.

NotARaCist

iTrader: (1)

No, driving it like that is not even REMOTELY "ok". How easy the fix is depends on your definition of easy. If it's burning it, then the head gasket is fucked. Fixing that, especially with the current owner's absolutely retarded "fix" is going to cost you a weekend, a couple trips to a machine shop, and a few hundred dollars, if you're comfortable around basic tools and a torque wrench.

Former User

Nobody can answer this question without knowing the underlying cause. Therefore, the most prudent thing to do is to assume the worst - blown head gasket, cracked block, or destroyed engine. Start looking at other cars - caveat emptor.

NotARaCist

iTrader: (1)

I know this answer is borderlining on "belongs in the value sticky", but if you can get it for $600 or less, and the body and interior are all intact and in halfway decent shape, I'd personally call it a good buy. Anything more than $600, with that specific engine problem, is just begging to spend 2 year off-lease Civic money on an old and busted.

TomCat39

I've also head of a story where the guy didn't want to put any money into the car and drove it just like that for nearly a year before the leak became so great it took out the motor.

If you are only spending 200 bucks for a short term disposable car..... Or if you want something to work on and don't mind putting a little money into it....

However if the seller is looking for near normal price for your area (1200 or more), walk away.

Depending on the condition of the rest of the car really determines if you want to go as high as NotARacist said.