Ok, honda techs. I REALLY need your help here.

I have a 96 Accord EX that my bro-in-law was borrowing. He overheated the engine (badly) and now it starts to overheat about 15 minutes after driving. He replaced the lower radiator hose and tried putting a Stant, pressure release radiator cap on (seems like it wasn't made to fit my accord though because it seemed to big and looked like he forced it in there). I've replaced the thermostat and flushed the coolant, but it's still overheating badly. The coolant is boiling over to the reservoir and is overflowing and steaming out.

Well I'm thinking it might be a blown headgasket, or maybe worse, like a warped head because it looks like there is cylinder pressure traveling through the coolant. Now can someone confirm for me that this is indeed the problem, so I can pinpoint the problem. After I drain and fill the radiator, with the radiator cap off, I start the engine and coolant shoots out of the radiator. I'll top off the radiator but air is constantly bubbling and blowing out of the radiator. And when I rev the engine it does it even faster. With the cap on, and when it warms & starts heating up (maybe about 15-20 min) the reservior starts bubbling and filling up, and eventually overflows out.

If a blown headgasket is indeed the problem, do you think Steel Seal or K&W NanoTechnology Permanent Head Gasket & Block Repair (jeez that was a mouthful), work? They do have a moneyback guarantee.

Help me out guys. And I APPRECIATE any help you guys can give me!

TIA!

 

rule #1

Do not let other people borrow your only car

rule #2

see rule #1

take the head off and check to make sure it is still true. if everything checks out, replace head with new gasket and bolts

 

Well it's not my only car. His wife wrecked their pickup on black ice, and he was borrowing my Accord until he picked up another car.

So are you confirming that it is a blown head gasket or warped head that's causing the bubbling out of the radiator and reservoir?

 

you said he severely overheated it...........and the fact that it bubbles out the overflow tank.......yeah I am like 99% sure.......

 

100% sure that it's a blown gasket with a 60/40 chance of a warped head. 60 being warped, 40 it's not. It all Depends on how long he ran it after it had started to overheat. Where you say, he severely overheated it. I would have the head checked at a machine shop when you take it off to replace the head gasket.

 

Blown Cylinder Head Gasket for sure, Warped Cylinder Head most likely and hopefully not a cracked Cylinder Head.
The surging and instantanious pressure in the cooling system are the give-aways.
This wasn't just an idle "oops, the light came on and I stopped" kinda overheat, but more like a "oh S**t, I'm stuck in East Bumf**k and it's a fifteen mimute drive" kinda overheat. He did you no favors.

P

 

i like this rules. even if its not my only car. for an extended period of time one will not get my keys. if or when something goes wrong, they don't want to take responsibility when they screw up your stuff. and family does you the worse at times. not only is he out of a ride but so are you now. is he going to help pay or he left you SOL.

 

Yeah, I figured it was the head. Well he lost his job and can't help out at the moment. Yeah really f'n sucks... I'm SOL, and have to pay for it on my own. Definitely the last time I let him borrow any of my vehicles.

Well thank for all the help guys. I'm not sure exactly how long it was driven once it overheated, but it was hot enough for the plastic label on my oil filter to melt and shrink.

So should I not bother wasting my money and using one of those quick fix remedies that have a money back guarantee to fix blown gaskets/warped heads?

 

your engine should go straight to rebuild man, the amt of money u are going to spend getting that fixed, you might consider getting a reman or j/y engine

 

well i hope you are a very nice and forgiving guy. i know a car is material items but damn. at least if you did it, you can't blame anyone. i honestly hope he feels like sh*t. i can be very **** with my things. with me knowing me, i probably won't speak to him for quite some time. some cars you just have a bond with and its weird when you don't have her to ride in anymore.

i'd just save up the pennies and rebuild or get a different motor. you could use this as an excuse to do an upgrade swap or just find a descent used motor that don't require too much up front replacing parts.

 

Sorry, but "Mechanic Inn'a Can" isn't going to fix this one!
Hopefully, loosing your ride won't cause you to loose your job as well .
THAT would be the ultimate "catch 22"; Need a car to get a job, but can't fix it because you don't have a job.... s**ks big time

P

 

Hello. You will need a shop to remove head and replace H.G. and then mill the head and have it magniflexed for cracks. If you DIY your looking at about $250 to $300 if you can reuse your head. A shop should be about $500 - $600 to do the work.

 

you don't need a shop to remove the head. he would just need them to do the machine work. with a decent metric set, time and some elbow grease, he can save some money, dismantle the motor himself and take that to a shop. on top of that, i wouldn't mill the head unless necessary. it will mess with your compression. its not like you can add the material back once its gone.

 

Thanks for all the replies everyone.

Well I'd rate myself a beginner type mechanic. But I've never have attempted replacing a head gasket (or any type of internal engine work). I do have a shop manual for a 94 Honda Accord, but mine is a 96. Is there any difference between them as 94-95 is OBD1, and mine is OBD2? Or can I just follow the 94 manual?

And should I buy just the head gasket or the whole set? And is it ok to purchase aftermarket, or should I go with OEM? If aftermarket, what do you suggest? Anything on Ebay any good?

This will be my first time attempting this, so if any of you have any tips/tricks or suggestions, please feel free to mention them. Thanks.

Oh, and MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone!!

 

The 94 manual has the same specs that are used for the 96. You should stick with OEM when it comes to the gaskets if you have the money. As well, if you have the money, now would be a good time to replace the water pump, timing and balance belts, belt tensioners and the complete gasket & seal kit. Unless you have just recently had all this service done than I wouldn't bother.

 

I wouldn't spend any money on gaskets until the head checks out good as if getting a low mileage or used motor your not going to need the headgasket ...but if it got as hot as you said your going to need another motor...