EdBoon

Well today, I noticed that my engine oil level was very VERY low...and decided to change my oil. Then I noticed that I was low on coolant. So I also topped off the coolant in the radiator/reservoir.

So when I run the engine after I'm done...I notice white smoke/water from the tailpipe. Then it stopped smoking at idle, yet hitting vtec resulted in white smoke.

I will compression test tomorrow probably. If there is a blown headgasket....would the compression test show inconsistent numbers?

Would a complete flushing of the coolant system help?

Thanks.

doublejz

was your coolant a milky color? like not a normal antifreeze color? If you take off your radiator cap and rev it looking at the rad does it bubble?

EdBoon

Coolant was not a milky color for sure.

I will try to rev and see if it bubbles. What is this gonna tell me?

Thanks for the help.

doublejz

if there are bubbles, then air is leaking from the cylinders around or through the headgasket into the coolant. don't rev it real high, just enough to see the coolant raise a little in the radiator. just rev it with the throttle body and watch. a compression test may or may not help you. Depending on how bad your head gasket is, it just might lower all the numbers across it'll help if you know what your compression was previously

EdBoon

Thanks again.

EdBoon

Well I revved it and noticed some bubbles.

My temp gauge seems to always be half way....yet my friend with a swap is usually 1/4 warm or just under the mid point on the temperature gauge.

The smoke isn't terribly bad...but I can kinda smell the "sweetness" of coolant.

To be honest, I've never done something major like take the head off to replace the headgasket...but I guess I really have no choice.