Was having the most fun I could have with my pants on last weekend at a Chinmotorsports DE at Barber. The CRX was running very strong (passing a 360 Modena is just plain wrong-we all know that has to be a slow driver).

Anyway on day two after the first session, I had the radiator cap off and saw just a hint of oil in my fresh water/water wetter. Ran the electric pump again and found a trace of oil again. No foamy dipstick, no steam out the back, no misfire on start. But the head gasket is starting to go.

sooo, any recommendations on the best head gasket for a B18C? Any other recommended parts or procedures when do the head gasket (besides making sure the head and block are within spec)? Thanks.

Barry H.

 

I'm running a Cometic HP gasket and it has held up great for road racing with a turbo, but I also have ARP head studs, and I think that's really more important. I would expect a stock gasket and ARP studs to work just as well, and I know a very experienced Honda/Acura mechanic who says the same.

Also, that's probably carbon / exhaust in your coolant, rather than oil. The oil passages are unlikely to get involved in a blown head gasket on a B-series... it's usually a leak between cylinders or between a cylinder and the coolant.

 

Hmm, well I am a "cookbook mechanic" in that I can't diagnose squat but when someone tells me what is wrong I am OK on fixing some things.

I had a pinhole leak in my lower rad hose on saturday but was caught it before the temps got bad. Went home and put on a new hose and put fresh water and water wetter in the rad. Looks like cherry koolaid!!

After first session the radiator fluid had a dark grayish look to it with a very slight oily film on top. I stuck my finer in there (after it cooling down of course) and felt an oily film. But there was not a lot because the person I showed it too sticking his finger down next did not feel it. I turned on/off the pump again and that person was then able to stick their finger in and get that oily film that time.

I have been getting this odd temp spike which I have discussed on here before. Runs great in a straight line and a left turn all day long. May run great for a session or two and then I get this mystery quick temp spike in a right hand turn only (but then most tracks have a predominance of right hand turns). The temp would fluctuate quickly which seems odd. I thought maybe the pinhole leak which finally showed itself was so tiny at first that I could not tell it but was causing the mezier pump to have a problem picking up the water with the pinhole and collapsing the hose somewhat.

Barry H.

 

Factory or Mugen Gasket for me on NA track applications.

You might want to pull the cams retorque the heads flush the water and wetter, and then try again before you pull the heade

 

somewhat off topic-OP, any opinions/remarks/comments regarding the meziere pump.

 

I vote Cometic. I have had good luck running them on my B18C motor.

 

STOCK HONDA

 

OEM with ARP

or Cometic if you like.

But definitely ARP head studs.

 

We have used Stock Honda/acura ones Mugen ones and Cometic ones and they all work great, never had a problem with either one yet "knocks on wood" Mugen ones to raise the compresison a bit and a cometic cause thats what we had when we needed one. Pretty sure any of them will hold up fine, and as stated a set of ARP's wouldn't hurt. DO you know what you coolant temps were ?