Hello all, I will start out first by the symptoms of my car. I check my coolant level on average about every 3 days. When the engine is cold I make sure that my radiator is full and my reservoir tank is between the Low and High level lines. After I check within 2 or 3 days, the level is lower, so I have to refill to to the level I mentioned above.

I have checked that there are no leaks by letting the car run and observing it until it reaches operating temperature (about half way). I see no antifreeze on the floor or around the engine compartment.

After the car reaches operating temperature:

First, I check the hoses, the one coming into the radiator and coming out of the radiator. They are both hot, is this normal?
http://picasaweb.google.com/ca...14530

Second, I observe that only one of the fans in the car kick in. Is this normal? Only the one on the left hand side kicks in. The other one never turns on.
http://picasaweb.google.com/ca...75682

Third, When I accelerate the car throttle and observe the exhaust I notice significantly more white smoke than when it is in idle. The picture below is when the car is in idle. Also, i notice a small clear liquid puddle in the exhaust pipe. The smoke doesnt seem to smell like anything, just vapor.
http://picasaweb.google.com/ca...44658
http://picasaweb.google.com/ca...89394

Fourth, although somewhat unrelated I see that the engine block on the left hand side is has some grease soot. Its had this for a while.
http://picasaweb.google.com/ca...35330

After describing all the symptoms my questions are.
1. Is the white smoke normal? Or is this related to the antifreeze level going down?
2. My first thought was that the head gasket needs to be replaced? Is this my situation or do I have an alternative. A mechanic mentioned to me that if it continues eating the anti freeze that there is a head gasket sealer liquid that can solve this. So are these sealers safe for the engine, or should I just do the head gasket replacement?

3. The fan on the right hand side did not kick in even after reaching operating temperature and the left fan turning on. Does it kick in afterward when it gets much hotter, or is is just not working. If not working, how can I troubleshoot it ie fuses, check grounds etc, hardwiring it


Thanks to all in advance

 

The white smoke is coolant being burned.

I may be wrong, but many civics and del sols don't even have a fan on the right...I think it is for A/C only.

Problem may be a head gasket...I wouldn't skimp out on the repairs and try any alternative...just go for the gasket replacement.

 

The fan that isn't turning on is the AC fan. Its fine.

Both hoses should be hot.

How warm is it out where you are? If its cold then it's completely normal.

If its hot out then you may be burning coolant.

 

The temperature right now is about 60F. I know that it is normal for some white smoke to come out but I watch the car until it reaches operating temperature, about half way through the temp meter, and about the same amount of smoke comes out. Also, when I rev it up to about 3,000 rpm there is significantly more of smoke coming out, just that I wasnt able to take a picture of that.

 

 

make sure your car is cold, take off your radiator cap. start your car. wait for the coolant to heat up, then rev up your motor if you see that the coolant level rises and falls you probably have a head gasket leak. *edit* there should either be bubbles/shooting coolant if there is a leak so be careful

or check your oil to make sure there isn't any coolant.

and BTW VTEC has no H

do the work and replace the gasket if needed. gl

 

head gasket head gasket head gasket


woo


have fun

 

Just as an update to this thread and for some closing. After replacing quite a few things

-thermostat
-radiator cap
-ECT (engine coolant temperature) sensor
-air temperature sensor
-pcv valve

the overheating, and coolant loss problem went away. It is no longer loosing any coolant. I was misdiagnosed twice for a faulty head gasket and that wasnt the cause. There are a million other causes so I would recommend people to change all the easy stuff first before they start thinking that its the head gasket.