I'll keep it as short as possible, organized and detailed.

1998 Honda Civic DX Hatchback
-100% stock
-previous owner had the engine rebuilt, gave us receipts and car drives 100% fine/amazingly, can't remember off the top of my head what all was done but it was almost a full rebuild if I remember correctly.
-owned the car so far about 6 months
-automatic
-temperature gauge when we first bought the car was slightly 'wonky' (would show 50% of the time what the temperature was, otherwise it'd just show "freezing" temperature) recently it started working about 99% of the time.
-the other day I drove it hard, fast acceleration/speeding (80-90mph) for about 20mins straight to the airport. On the way back home it started going to almost 80% of the way to the top on the temp. gauge.


To be honest this is the first time I've driven this car "that" hard. I don't see it as THAT hard but whatever it may of been.

Problem now: Randomly while accelerating and sometimes just sitting at an idle the temperature gauge will go up to 80% of the way up again, never hits the red mark thankfully. Most of the time when it does go up, it'll stay for about 5 seconds and then drop very quickly (about 2 seconds max) back down to normal temp.
I also popped the hood and it appeared to sprayed out some of the coolnant near passenger side of engine. Not alot but enough to "stain" it white and be noticeable.

Anyone have an idea what could be wrong?




I'll try to keep updating this thread as replies come in but my phone is being stupid.

 

Have you checked/replaced the Thermostat?

 

No, but I have a strong feeling that it's a 'main' problem. I don't think it's the only one though.

I do plan on replacing it. Sadly, to be honest, I can't remember how to do it on the ek's though >.<

 

did your radiator fan turn on at all? should be the same as any other D series engine just follow the bottom radiator hose to it, make sure you bleed the system correctly once your done.

 

Ya rad fan turns on fine.

Alrighty I'll check it out. (thermostat)

 

Follow the hose back, and you'll see the housing. There are 2 10mm? bolts on it. You can remove the house if you want, or leave it on. I always have left it on. Un bolt it, and you'll see the thermo stat. It's the opposite of removal for re-install.

Of coarse, drain the coolant before doing this, and do it on a cool engine.

When done, bleed coolant.