My engine (D16A6) has been rebuilt about 1000 miles ago I changed head gasket twice, and about once a month I accumulate oily residue on the walls of my coolant catch tank. I had an oil cooler (or what looked like one) mounted directly where the oil filter attaches to, but I removed it when I did the rebuild. It appeared the one of the return lines for it were not even connected to anything. I doubt its the head gasket b/c it has been changed twice. My compression is 185/182/160/180 so Im gonne pull the piston and inspect the rings. What are the chances that the oil is coming the radiator that had been contaminated before the rebuild. Im hoping that there are no hairline cracks in the head or block. Has anyone had a similar problem with this particular Civic engine?

 

Hey Guy...my theory is that all rubberized hoses s/b be maintained...that is why if i were to take into account other than oil,trans fluid, radiator flush...regarding the residue, this is caused by the hoses inside deteriorating. Try this...Snap-On pressure tester...it kind of looks like a basketball pump...you do this when the car is super cool...step 1 start pumping away...step 2 look for spots where fluid is oozing out to wherever the clamps are with a trusty flashlight.

All in all...hoses s/b replaced at every intermediate or major services to your car...with regard to the black oily stuff in your auxillary tank from the radiator, that is the hose wearing away and seeping back into your Water pump, clogging up your radiator cores...you get the idea. Good luck!

 

Noob. You're (wrongly) troubleshooting an issue that is more than 6 years old.