We have a 97 Civic lx, bone stock. I think it's a d16y7? I don't know, it's been a while since I thought I knew everything about Hondas...

The car overheated while the wife was driving. I wasn't in the car at the time so I have no idea how long she drove it hot. Refilled coolant, let it cool down, all seemed well.

Later (as in a month or two) we're driving together, and it starts to overheat in traffic. Check coolant, sure enough it bubbles out of the radiator when she gives it some gas. I assume that means bad head gasket.

I replaced the head gasket without using new head bolts or machining the head flat using a kit from:
http://www.1aauto.com/1A/EngineGaske...GS00035/353140

After putting it back together it water was still rushing out of the radiator when she gave it gas. So I took it back apart, had the head machined flat, and bought new head bolts from Honda. I cleaned and reused the new head gasket. I did not clean the block using any special tool; just degreaser and paper towls. I later found a thread on this forum recommending this ( http://www.amazon.com/Scotch-Brite-R...dp/B002P55TX6/ ).

The problem persists. Now it has a lumpy idle with timing that coincides with the water bubbling out of the radiator; as if it's building pressure in the combustion chamber and then venting into the cooling system.

I made sure to blow out the bolt holes with compressed air, I soaked the new head bolts in oil, the block and head look pretty straight (but I only have a 24 inch straight edge so I couldn't get all angles).

Any idea on how to resolve this once and for all? I'm pretty frustrated as I've not had this sort of problem before. Could it be something other than the head gasket, or am I just doing something wrong?

 

Sounds like the block should be michined also

 

well seems like you have made mistake after mistake. New bolts, new gasket, clean everything the first time, then you wont have these problems. You cant reuse gaskets, it doesnt work. The bolts you MIGHT be able to get away with, but not if you dont clean the whole surface.

 

Copper Spray i saw a writeup that says its optional but it can help with the seal

http://www.civic-eg.com/viewtopic.php?t=2865 heres the write up

sorry if external links are not allowed just a good one that i know of

 

copper spray works wonders, I always use it, along now with Hondabond around the cylinders.

 

Hehe, I used a new head gasket the first time I changed it. The car wasn't driven, only started, so I reused the new gasket after the head machining. I used new bolts and had the head machined as well. Thanks for your helpful comments, Jimster.

 

Always use a new gasket. You might need to have the block decked, and at the point you might as well have it rebuilt.
I would try again with a new head gasket. Have the shop check the head again. You can't take shortcuts.

 

Those cheap shiny black coated head gaskets in those cheap kits are junk.
And you can't re-use it, even if only torqued once. The ridges get smashed for the sealing.

Make sure to follow the head bolt tightening sequence.
It is more imoprtant than you think.

Felpro has a newer special blue coated MLS headgasket for D series hondas.
They are awesome. Got it at autozone.

I had replaced my head gasket 4 or 5 times, having similar problems like you.
Finally got my head resurfaced one last time, used head studs from ARP, and followed the torque sequence religously.
No more problems! Coolant level stays at the same level over weeks and weeks.

Good luck!

 

yea I once reused a gasket that I had put in my built motor which wasnt even in the car, after a complication with one of the ARP headstuds the whole motor had to go back to the machine shop to get machined because the slot was stripped. I reused the gasket (the motor was never started or even turned over with that gasket, and never even fully torqued down) and it leaked from day one. Ended up changing it 2 weeks into having the motor in the car.

 

Thanks guys. I was suspicious that it may have been related to reusing the head gasket. The goal is to get this car running well enough to sell it as we've already bought the wife a new vehicle so I've not spent any money on it we didn't need to. Sadly, it appears I didn't quite know what constituted "need" in this case... :-)

I'll check out the Fel-Pro gasket. Thanks for the insight 95streetciv.

 

yea fel-pro gaskets are awesome. I remember when I blew my fel-pro someone was like oh its because fel-pro is a POS blah blah get OEM. So I spent $80 on a OEM HG, and it blew in 4 days! So I went back to Fel-pro.

 

 

Like stated you should use a new head gasket everytime, and it is a good idea to use new head bolts but not necessary. The honda head bolts are generally reusable, but I recommend to get new ones.

 

I like felpro too but the only problem I run into on them is the b series ls (non vtec) valve cover gasket, it seems they make it just a little too long. I work at an auto parts store and I use beck arnley more than felpro. There is another company we use called oem and their gaskets kick *** too. http://http://www.showmetheparts.com/oem/

I know it doesnt pertain to this thread, just thought I would share

 

not trying to start an arguement but I strongly dissagree and i could be wrong. You must replace headbolts on these everytime unless you have arp studs. they are reuseable but only so many times. replace gasket and bolts everytime, in my opinion.

 

I didnt replace the bolts on the car im driving right now because I was short on cash, but the copper spray and Hondabond made it all fine. HG hasnt leaked a drop :knock on wood:

 

I've never used that copper spray before but the reason I feel the way I do is because the 1st honda I ever owned (b18a1) needed a head. we replaced it and a whole head gasket kit and it leaking after a couple days. We simply removed the head with a new gasket and bolts from honda, problem solved. I hope yours last as long as mine did

 

I've read countless threads where people stated they were able to reuse head bolts. The FSM says to replace them every time, but that doesn't seem to stop guys from successfully reusing them.

 

I went through these problems on a 2001 Civic.
All the answers so far are not even close.
I replaced the head gasket in my Civic with new aftermarket gasket and bolts.
When torquing the head the bolts would torque but spring back after
i let off on the torque wrench.
I soon found the bolts were bottoming in the blind holes of the block, preventing the head from being torqued.
The bolts were twisting before clamping the head down.
The fix can be done in two ways.
Go get some heavy machine washers, about 1/4" thick and put one under each head bolt.
Or, cut a 1/4" off each head bolt in the chop saw.
If the head and block are machined to true it up, this compounds the issue.
This insures the head bolts don't bottom in the block and clamp the head down as required.
I now have a friend with a leaking head gasket on a Honda.
Before we tear it apart to do the head gasket, I am going to put the washer under each head bolt, retorque and give it a try.
We have nothing to lose other than an hours time.
The gaskets are steel shim gaskets so it hopefully is not blown.
It's worth a try.

 

Thanks for the input but this is a old thread 10 years at least..

 

It may be 10 years old but applies today the same as 10 years ago.

 

 

Make sure there is no oil or other fluid at the bottom of the threaded holes. It can hydraulically lock and prevent the bolt from threading all the way in, or worse, it can crack the block if you try to tighten it down. I spray each hole with brake parts cleaner and then blow out with compressed air (hold a rag over the hole while doing this), then visually check each hole with a flashlight to make sure you can see the bottom of the hole.