hello

i've noticed on my beater civic (Stock '90 DX) that whenever i look under the car for an oil change, etc. there are lots of oil and coolant splatter on the oil pan, axles, cv joints, etc.

i've noticed this since i got the car about 2 years ago. this past weekend i topped off my coolant and since then my car has been dripping coolant on the driveway. i dont think it was from me spilling from an overfill, but i think its actually leaking now. even though there was oil/coolant splatters under the car before, it would never drip onto the floor.

so, my question is do i have a blown head gasket? or do i need a new valve cover gasket?

any help is appreciated.

 

it could be many things... but the dripping of the antifreez could be 1. the over flow canister which isn't a problem at all, 2. bad water pump (happened to me...) big problem dont let it get worse...

if you may suspect it to be ur head gasket one of the sines would be oil in ur radiator... take off the cap & stick ur finger & if there is oil on ur finger thats wat it most likly is....

also another wa to determin what the problem is is to trace it... look where all the oil & fluid id coming from... if it stops in between the block & head... bingo...... also pics help

 

Try putting a large piece of cardboard under your car on the driveway while your car is up to operating temperature, Shut the car off and let it sit over night. You will probably see drips on the cardboard in the morning. Don't move the cardboard and look directly above the oil and coolant spots and it should help you narrow down your search of where the leak is coming from. Hope this helps!

 

Thanks for the help.

i know its not the overflow tank for sure because it was below the minimum line.

i never thought it could be the waterpump but i think thats a good bet too.

i'll try to take some pics. i used the cardboard "trick" but i dont think it will help because its really really messy under there. i wouldnt be able to tell where the coolant was falling from.

 

drain coolant, if there is oil in it u have a blown head gasket, but to have both oil and coolant leaking it sounds like a head gasket to me, and i have blown many head gaskets on many cars good luck

 

you might see coolant and oil spatters everywhere because your engine might be leaking oil and beside you might have a radiator or hose leak. as already mentioned check your oil and antifreeze for contaminants and that will determine if in fact you have a blown hg

 

theres no oil in the coolant when i take off the radiator cap. if there was oil in the radiator it would float to the top wont it?

 

yup

 

hahaha yea this is how i knew i had a blown head gasket...

this was on my 2004 sentra...

 

Check all of your hoses as well. When I still had my a6, I think every coolant hose had to be replaced due to cracking/breaking at some point or another. There was a small hole in one that would only leak above idle so it was hard to find. Hoses are cheaper than a headgasket so it's worth a look, good luck.

 

even if there is not oil in your radiator, check to see if there is any white foam on your dipstick

 

When I noticed coolant under my car, I was fortunate enough to have had it leaking from the waterpump gasket. ******* RAD bro!!! I can't imagine how much fun that's gonna be changing in 20 degree weather

 

Check all of your hoses as well. When I still had my a6, I think every coolant hose had to be replaced due to cracking/breaking at some point or another. There was a small hole in one that would only leak above idle so it was hard to find. Hoses are cheaper than a headgasket so it's worth a look, good luck.



sirhavok


if you replace every hose on the car, it is more expensive than a head gasket, 26 bucks at your local autozone man

 

if your car s exhaust is white then you have antafreeze in your engine??? not good.