I just completed a rebuild of a 1998 Honda accord engine (F23), and noticed some steam coming out of the radiator. I noticed a small crack under the cap, so I ordered a new radiator, not Honda or OEM. I filled the radiator with bleeder valve open, then filled radiator, then filled overflow to line.

Next day, I blew our the heater intake hose:



After replacing it, and the radiator cap (Autozone, new radiator did fit the old cap well enough, I don't think it was a honda cap) I refilled again. Now the lower radiator hose blew off and drained the radiator.

What is going on with this engine? What could be causing these issues?

 

Faulty rad cap or maybe a blown head gasket. What PSI is the cap rated for? Do you see the overflow filling with coolant as the engine temp starts to rise?

You could try and put a pressure test on the cooling system and see if you have a blockage somewhere or a leak in your head gasket.

 

GhostAccord,

The cap is rated for 16 lbs and is brand new, not that it can't be bad. But I had the original cap on this new radiator when the heater inlet hose blew. So I replaced that hose and the cap. Then the lower hose gave way; I don't think it shreaded I think it just came off. I could have had the clamp cocked too, not on 100%.

Someone suggested I start the engine with the cap off, and see if I have bubbles in the coolant, which would indicate a head gasket issue.

As far as the overflow, is that what is supposed to happen? As the temp increases it should begin to fill or increase it's level?

Thanks

 

I think it's the head gasket. I opened the bleeder to prepare to fill radiator and it farted quite a bit of air and coolant.... explosively. Then I filled the radiator, left the cap off, and when we started the car it exploded out the filler neck with each compression... at least it appeared that way. I saw a few pieces of black crud floating in the filler neck, and when I checked the oil it appeared sloppy wet. I couldn't tell if it was coolant as it was dark, but it was sloppy.

How the hell do you clean out and engine after this mess?

 

Wow, that's a damn shame man. Definitely sounds like a head gasket. Did you torque your head bolts to the proper specification? Did you use a Honda head gasket?

The next thing I would do is a cylinder leakage test. Put some air down in those cylinder's and open your radiator cap, oil cap, and see if coolant bubbles from the radiator, then you'll know its your head gasket.

 

well.... I forgot to mention the car suddenly became a cloud maker.... huge cumulus clouds of white smoke.

No, I did not use a Honda head gasket, I bought a complete rebuild kit that came with pistons, gaskets, head bolts, etc.... I think I made a mistake in cranking the head bolts down. I torqued them inside out to their specs, but then I re-torqued them again because I noticed the center bolts were no longer to spec. The I did it again.... but I did not notice that after torquing to spec, you are supposed to tighten 180-270 degrees, depending if the bolts are new or reused. I then tried the 270 rotation and the bolts barely moved.... so I think I over torqued them and overly crushed the gasket... or something.

I am depressed, as it appeared good after rebuild. Compression looked good, 180-200 across all cylinders.... but now I need to take the head off, clean it, put it back together, redo the timing, valves, etc.... if they are not damaged; while driving it I pegged the temp gauge for three minutes trying to get to a place I could turn it off. I am hoping the head's not warped or the block from the high heat..... if so I may set fire to this thing and send it to hell! I'm so depressed.

 

It does sound like you over-tightened the bolts. Get some new bolts as these have already been stretched. Also, be sure to torque the bolts in stages. Example: spec is 49ft-lbs with a torque-to-yield of 180 degrees. You torque them all (in sequence) to 14ft-lbs, then 36ft-lbs, then 49ft-lbs, then the torque-to-yield.

Before you set it on fire I'll take it.

 

Received new headgasket, installed as per manual. Then, when I reinstalled the rocker arm assy. I broke one of the 6mm bolts. i removed the assy and the break is in the head! I am just gonna put it all togethwr and see if it runs... i dont have the time or the money to deal with this.

 

If I'm not mistaken I think you can buy single drill bit and screw extractor kits (easy-outs) for a couple bucks.

Or just bolt it up and see if she holds....