Hello, I've got a 1994 Honda DelSol with a B16A2, I recently changed the engine oil, spark plugs and oil filter and I've noticed that every 4 days I need to top up the coolant, here are some things I've also found:

- Opened up the oil cap and theres the milky substance on the inside but in the dipstick the oil is fine
- The car has never over-heated on me
- The radiator was replaced at the beginning of the year
- Blows white smoke and clear liquid from the exhaust only when it isn't fully warmed
- There is also black ash like marks under the exhaust

If it helps the weather here has been below 10°C (50°F)
Does anyone have any suggestions? or is it a blown head gasket?

I've also got some images if it helps:

Oil Cap:


Dip Stick:


Ash-Like Substance:


Exhaust Fumes (See Liquid Spraying):

 

Looks like a blown HG to me. Do a compression test?

 

Your head gasket is likely blown. Coolant and oil are mixing and burning.

 

Holy **** that's a lot of stuff spewing out of your exhaust.

Do a block test to confirm, but your head gasket is likely blown. When everything heats up, the metal swells and tries to fill in where the head gasket is damaged, but that's not good for your car.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions, spewing that it's the head gasket but I'll double check with the block and compression tester
I was told that there is a small chance that it can be condensation, but I'll check anyways, thanks again

 

As far as I can see in the pic, the oil on the dipstick looks normal, it's just the top of the oil cap that has the "look".

Question about your exhaust, is that on initial start up or does it do that after a 20 minute drive?

If it's still doing it after a solid drive, than I may be concerned but if it's only on initial start up after sitting for a few hours or more and goes away once warm, you are probably fine.

Like NotARacist said, a compression test and a block test will be a lot more definitive on whether your HG is toast.

 

Make sure to change out the head bolts/head studs with new ones when you go to replace the head gasket.

 

It only does it on start up, when I leave it in the drive way to warm up, after that it's normal
Yeah I'll probably just get the tests done first before I start assuming anything
If it turns out to be the head gasket I'll just take it to my mechanic and get him to do what he thinks needs to be done
Thanks again

 

Yeah...irrefutable evidence in my eyes. I bet his HG is blown. When the engine warms the sizes of everything change slightly.

I bet it will begin to happen more and more.

 

I've had friends that got the milky oil cap tops and never failed a block test or any other test for bad head gasket.

Something as simple as a leaky valve cover gasket could potentially let in moist air to condense on interior surfaces of the head, most of it gets washed away and dealt with by the oil additives to combat moisture except that lovely oil cap.

I don't believe that to be irrefutable evidence of a bad head gasket, unlike certain results of a compression test or the lovely yellow colour of a block test.

There are many areas to lose coolant, and the head gasket is only one of them.

 

Jeez...maybe intake manifold gasket letting coolant into cylinders to burn? If compression test/block test is negative-maybe check?