DumpdEJ6

Ok, I've resigned myself to replacing the head gasket AGAIN in my CRX w/ DOHC ZC after less than 6 months of replacing it the first time.

However, I'd rather not go to all the trouble if it could be something simple that I've overlooked. Here are the symptoms:

1. I checked the head and block for warp the first time with a metal ruler. Not the most accurate thing I could have used, but the most accurate I could afford. There didn't *seem* to be any warping.

2. Consistent overheating (probably 10+ times) while I frantically tried to run my heat, reduce RPMs, increase airflow to radiator, etc. I shouldn't have continued driving while it was overheating, but it would cool down within 1 minute usually, then overheat again. I feel ashamed that I even call myself a car guy, I KNOW not to do that ****. :facepalm:

3. Consistent coolant loss. I would have to top off the radiator about once a day or so. I burped the system many times, hoping that was the problem, but to no avail.

4. No white smoke from burning coolant.

5. No leaking coolant hoses or cap, thermostat functions correctly.

6. Oil looks fine, but oil level seems to drop about half a quart a week. Also no smoke.

7. Water pump is fairly new but I'm not sure *exactly* how old it is.

8. The last, and perhaps most telling symptom: today, after topping off the coolant system I was waiting for the thermostat to open so I could "burp" the system. I began topping it off and the coolant was bubbling hardcore, spraying coolant out of the radiator at idle. Lots of steam shooting at quick, regular intervals out of the radiator, similar to the timing of the piston travel. :-(



TL;DR version:
Consistent coolant loss and overheating
No leaks
No white smoke
No brown oil
No loss of pressure from the cap
Thermostat functions
Fairly new water pump
Coolant appears to be pressurized by the combustion chambers




Head gasket failure? Head was torqued to spec with new Felpro gasket. What do you guys think?

KINGVEM^^ED6

iTrader: (1)

Are you sure thers no leaks

seems to me that there is

DumpdEJ6

I'm 99% sure there are no leaks, it doesn't drip or spray or anything. Once the coolant system is pressurized tomorrow I'll check again for ***** and giggles, but I've gone over it quite a few times.

The spraying radiator seemed to me to be a dead giveaway, what are your thoughts on that?

1990edsedan

Take the head to a shop and have them check it for cracks, if ok, then skim it flat and go at it again..

DumpdEJ6

I was hoping I could figure out FOR SURE if it was the head gasket before I go to all that trouble. Plus, money is ridiculously tight right now...

fireant

How old is the thermo? They usually fail stuck open, but it could be stuck shut.

Look around your engine for blue stains, there might be a hairline crack in your radiator (especially on the top) that is letting it seep when the car is warm, and coolant hoses can also do the same thing. You'll be able to smell it too (kind of a sugary chemical smell).

How old is your water pump?

///Mathew

If I had to guess I would say the head is cracked.

4drEF

Get a headgasket check kit.
It looks for exhaust gasses in your coolant.

DumpdEJ6

I will check that out. How much is a head gasket check kit? Hopefully its pretty cheap, I'm broke as a joke. Also I have an update: I compression tested it and its 195/185/180/175 starting from cyl. #1. I tested it cold though, so I'm not sure what the warmed up results would be.

While checking it, I found a leak. Tightened a hose and then refilled coolant, drove it for 30 minutes in stop and go traffic, then let it sit idling in the driveway for 10 minutes, NO OVERHEATING, it ran perfectly.

Then I go inside, eat dinner, wait a few hours, and then head out on the highway to pick a letter up from my previous supervisor about 45 mins away. 10 minutes in, it starts overheating!!!! WTFF!

So I pull off, let it cool for a second, then carefully release the cap and coolant and steam shot out, as expected. I wrapped my hand in an old shirt and let it slowly release pressure until I could take the cap the whole way off. I refilled it with coolant, started it up and it sprayed coolant everywhere! So I put the cap on, started it up and let it idle while I slowly refilled it.

After that I took a video of it bubbling while it idles, I didn't think its supposed to do that. Here's the video, it looks to me like the coolant system is being pressurized by the combustion chambers, but ZERO white smoke, engine oil looks good. Again, WTF?

Watch the video, tell me what ya'lls opinions are. Thanks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuz6BnNtN_o

4drEF

I've had that happen when my headgasket was bad. A break between a cylinder and a water channel. Every time that cylinder fires the water would shoot out several feet like a geyser. Revving the engine made even more spectacular to watch!

The bubbles in your video are a tell tale sign of a blown headgasket.

Search the internet for 'block tester' for the check kit... although at this point I don't think you really need one.
You can rent them from some stores and just buy the fluid.

24TEN

iTrader: (2)

I had a similar issue with my car, the bubbles my car made were tiny by comparison. It was like a small stream of tiny bubbles that made a frothy type of look. Guess my "break" in my gasket was a tiny pinhole compared to yours. But I think 4drEF is right on the money.

I replaced my gasket, it got much worse. I never checked the head/block for warpage, I just replaced the engine altogether.

DumpdEJ6

Thats what I was afraid of. Oh well, I've replaced it once, I can do it again. *le sigh*

DumpdEJ6

UPDATE: Pulled the head off, I think I found the problem:



I don't know what the hell did that to my block, but you can clearly see where its raised up. Problem is, its still an area that the head sits on, and I must not have noticed it when I had a gasket on it the first time. I'm going to file it off and smooth it down, send the head to a machine shop and get it checked for warping and double check everything better this time!

1990edsedan

Yep, and use the Felpro gasket.

DumpdEJ6

I used the Felpro the first time, I used Beck/Arnley this time. The quality looks better to my untrained eye but its probably about the same.