'm not very familiar with car maintenance or Hondas in general and have a repair decision to make. Any thoughts you may have is greatly appreciated.

I have a 1999 Honda Accord EX, 130K miles, auto transmission, 4-cylinder engine. No mods, not been raced. No problems with the engine until this point; car has been taken care of well and fluids have been replaced diligently over the life of the car.

About two weeks ago, engine oil started leaking. I noticed that this was because it had started appearing in my coolant reservoir (texture was like chocolate milk) and actually started coming out (overflowing) of the reservoir. I had thought oil showing up in the coolant could be due to a blown gasket or a cracked block, but a Honda service advisor said that if this was the case, coolant would be showing up in the oil, not the other way around.

So, I had the cooling system flushed and replaced the radiator cap, since it had deteriorated from engine oil and was not providing the proper pressure.
A week later, I noticed engine oil in the coolant tank again. A small drop was also present under the radiator cap. I was told that it could be residual oil that was not completely flushed.
No signs of overheating at this point.
A few days later, however, the car started to overheat within 15 minutes of a cold start (which has never happened before) and I barely made it to the nearest service shop, which was a Honda service center.
I opened up the hood to see that coolant had spewed all over the engine bay. There seemed to be a small crack in one of the hoses connecting the engine to the radiator.

Dealer took the engine apart and discovered that the engine definitely has a cracked head. There is a very small possibility that a crack could still exist in the block. They haven't determined the source of the coolant leak yet. Right now, the car is still at the dealer and the engine is still disassembled.

I guess I have a few options at this point:

1. Install a new or rebuilt head.
2. Replace the engine.
3. Since my car's worth about $5K to $6K, consider buying a new car.

Option 1 would be cheaper at first (~$1200 from a local, non-dealer shop), but I'm not sure what other problems may exist with the engine with the number of miles I have on the car.

Option 2 would take care of any worries concerning a possible cracked block, but would probably set me back a little under $3000, according to a local (non-dealer) shop.

If I choose to repair it, neither option 1 or 2 resolves the leaking coolant issue, which may call for a radiator fix or replacement.

Do you have any thoughts? I would greatly appreciate any help you could provide.

 

It's certainly engine related, but too soon to eliminate the head gasket as a possible culprit. In essense you've gotta think where common points occure where the two fluids are close to each other.
Head gasket in the vicinity of the pressurized oiling passage to the cam(s), or the cylinder head itself.
Your course of action is pretty much set.
Pull the head and have it dye or pressure checked for cracks.
Regardless of what the outcome (re-use or replace) the head gasket will be addressed upon reassembly of the motor.

P

 

The problemisnotin the head. Its in the block. There were some 98 and 99 accord 4cyl. blocks that developed poriss leaks that allowed the oil and coolant to mix. In order to fix your car you will need to replace the short block and ALL rubber hoses.

 

but a rebuilt motor in there

 

That's right, Evidently Honda drilled and tapped a few of the head hold-down bolt holes too deep and busted into the passage below the gasket sealing surface. It has come up on several previous threads (I even suggested this myself), but not enough to ring a bell again this time.

Considering it's only got 130k on the clock, give Honda a call Monday and see if they'll "belly up to the bar" and offer some assistance. Point out that there's nothing you could have done to have caused this
Hey, It will only cost you a phone call

P

 

http://www.steelseal.com/eng/home.html

try that, its not that much

watch the video too!

 

If the head or block is cracked you can either replace it or TIG weld it (since they are aluminum) Personally I would just put a rebuilt engine in there and if you are lucky HOnda will do the right thing and pick up the tab or at least half of it.


Honda's engines are not known for blowing head gaskets since both the block and heads are made out of the same material.

 

I didn't think that an aluminum head would crack, only warp??????????

 

Thanks for all of your responses. I have decided to sell the car and put it towards the purchase of a new one.