Greetings. I perused a few of the forums on this topic, but there were a few differences that I felt it warranted a separate thread.

-Coolant levels are fine/green.
-Burns a little oil/tranny fluid (like any older car I've owned) but I'm incredibly vigilant about upkeep.
-No pools of fluid under car after sitting.
-Bottom hose is normal temp, top is hot.
-There are no notable coolant leaks from either hose or the radiator itself.
-Fans are working.
-Smoke is coming from the engine block after overheating.
-Last time this happened I changed thermostat and radiator about 3 years ago without issue and have had no problems since.

Started 2 days ago. I can go about a mile before temp goes above halfway point. I live in a city and drive less than 300 miles a month, max.

However, unlike my past experience with this car and overheating: the temperature does NOT go back down after I begin moving again. A lot of threads pertaining to this matter suggest head gasket?

 

could be head gasket and much more prevalent when engine gets hot as things expand.

 

You need to do a compression test.

When you replaced the thermostat you should ONLY use OEM parts.

 

When the car is overheating the lower hose and upper hose should be the same temperature and they should both be hot. If they are not hot then the thermostat is stuck closed and that would mean you bought an aftermarket thermostat. Get a Honda thermostat and say goodbye to thermostats going bad every 3 years. Also, when they fail they fail open so your car won't overheat.

If they are both getting hot, the fans should both be coming on. If not then you have a fan issue. Just report back.

If both hoses are hot and both fans are running and the car is still overheating then you likely either have too little coolant or a possible head gasket leak.

 

Bottom hose was stone cold after car started overheating. Ordering OEM Thermostat right now.

 

Update:

Changed Thermostat. No dice. Old Thermo looks fine. Still overheating. Everything was plugged back in/fastened appropriately.

Once over heating bottom hose is not hot. Large puffs of smoke appear to be coming out of the actual housing unit for the Thermostat. Ugh...

 

what about your water pump?

 

I just drove it around my parking lot...there are small spurts of water (colorless/odorless) appearing on the ground. Not a single dribble, but little puddles coming out at once. There's a slight growing now, so could be water pump?

the other symptom I forgot to mention was that when idling the car begins to rev. The revving happens in any gear while idling.

 

Well my reasoning for water pump is that when you drive say on the highway the car is designed to make use of the free flowing air and doesnt require fans to keep cool, this however is not happening for whatever reason on your car. Which means there may not be coolant flowing. MY arguement and opinion against the head gasket would be if there is no oil or foaming in the coolant, no white smoke, and no coolant in the oil then you shouldnt have a HG issue, but do a comp test like the guys said before and double check. You arent getting flow for some reason.

 

bottom hose should be hot when the car is warming up. The thermo allows the coolant to flow from the head to the top of the radiator once it is warmed up

 

What I would try when the car is cold, take the rad cap off and start the car. Let it idle until its up to running temp, watch inside the rad and see if the coolant is flowing and bubbling. If it doesnt move and the car is (at running temp) you have a coolant flow issue. The revv issue can be related to air trapped in the cooling system. There are bleeders near the back of the engine right on the thermo housing. Sometimes leaving the cap open and letting the air out while it warms up works as well.

 

if you dont bleed the system the thermostat might not open