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I have a problem that I can not figure out. Here is what's happening. First off I have a 1994 Honda Del Sol S, I just purchased the car a couple of weeks ago. When I got the car I noticed that the radiator fluid was being used rather quickly. I have had to fill fluid like once every couple days. I have not noticed any puddles under the car in my driveway so its not leaking out, its almost like the fluid just vanished into thin air, what I'm getting at is that the radiator fluid is just evaporating. Now today I was out and the car started to run really hot. the temp gauge went up to almost all the way up and then out of nowhere went back down to normal. so I was like ok that's kind of odd but I went on about my day. The temp gauge continued to fluctuate up and down from the normal area where it normally is to all the way up, normal to hot back and forth over and over. I pulled off the road into a gas station parking lot to let the car cool down. now I sat there for a little while and while doing so I popped the hood to see if anything odd was happening. I noticed that the fluid reservoir had a awkward sound coming from it. The sound was as if the fluid inside the reservoir was boiling and gurgling. there was steam coming from the reservoir and I've never heard this sound before. when I went to start the car back up it would not start. it was almost as if the car was overheated and it wouldn't work. when I did finally manage to get her started it was running so rough and smoking like crazy. it was so awkward I don't know what to make of it and I have no idea what is happening but I'm in dire need of fixing it seeing as this vehicle is my daily driver and I do not have any other way of transportation. so if there is anyone out there that can help me please fix it I would be very grateful and in advance thank you for the help. but please if anyone has any ideas or can help me out please respond to this thread.. thank you Aaron

 

It sounds like the coolant was boiling because of air in the system due to coolant level being low. Now why is the coolant level low? could be a number of different reasons.
Coolant leak: check the bottom of the car for any wetness, check coolant hoses (including the ones that run to the heater core and to IACV), also check around the water pump.
Bad Head Gasket: White exhaust smoke. (this sounds like your problem)
Oil and Coolant mixing: Check the oil dip stick for any white milky stuff.

If bad head gasket then the head needs to come off and most likely machined.

 

Radiator fluid should never be "used". It's a static system. It doesn't evaporate. If it isn't leaking, then you have a blown head gasket. Do a compression test to confirm.

 

Both are signs of head gasket breech but, not typical for 6th gen. Civic engines.
OP: monitor the radiator and reservoir coolant level. If, you losing coolant in radiator and gaining (or overflowing) in reservoir tank.. blown head gasket.

Get a block test and/or leakdown test done. Google them..plenty of info online, Read this: https://honda-tech.com/honda-civic-d...asket-3265689/

 

Ok so here is where im at, Today i was going to moniter the fluid levels and i really didnt even get a chance to. i went to go for a ride and the temp guage just straight up went all the way to the max and the car started to act all crazy. i had to take the ride i was taking because of its importance and as i said before this is supposed to be my daily driver. Anyways i did what i had to do and then i was going to stop at 7-11 for something really quick so i pulled into the parking lot and it started running really hard and then pretty much just turned off. When i went to start the car again it would not start and it sounded like it was not going to either. I decided to sit and let it cool down so i could try to start it and get home seeing as i was stuck about 15 miles away from home.. Eventually i did get the car to start and was able to drive it home, When i got home i went to check the reservoir level and it was completely empty. i let it cool down a bit and took the cap off of the radiator. When i got the cap off i noticed that the cap was destroyed. You know how there is supossed to be a spring in the cap and it is supposed to be pushed down to turn it, well everything inside the radiator cap was melted. The spring had come out of where it was and had fallen inside of the radiator.So now i most deff have to change the radiator out as well as whatever else. So i am just trying to figure out everything that i am going to have to do.

Tommorow morning i am going to pull the radiator out of the car and pretty much i am just wondering..

1- What should i be looking for after i pull the radiator out?
2- What else can i check for after i pull that?
3- How can i tell if in fact the radiator is the main issue?

I know for sure that i have to swap out the radiator itself because of the melted parts and **** but what else should i know??

Thanks, Aaron

 

The radiator is not your issue. Literally none of us have told you that the radiator is your issue. You have a blown head gasket. Stop worrying about the radiator.

 

Ok, What should i know about doing the head gasket? But the radiator is an issue because all of the **** melted in the cap, litteraly the cap fell apart. So reguardless i need to replace the thing. But anyways what should i know before tackling this ****? Is it simply going to be remove the head and replace or is there going to be anything else involved ie:machining or... before i do it?

 

Having the head machined for flatness would be extremely wise considering the amount of times you had let the engine go to full hot on the temp gauge. Replacing the headgasket isn't really that tough if you're mechanically inclined and/or experienced with working on engines in general.

 

Considering how many times you've overheated the motor, you need to remove the head and check it for trueness. You can do it yourself with a machinist's straight edge, which can be bought from harbor freight's website for like, $15. It's a safe bet it's warped, though, so you can probably just skip that step and take it to a machine shop. Have them flatten it for you.

 

OP.. You've heard of the Internet haven't you? Google? Youtube? Honestly, just type in 96 00 or 6th gen Honda Civic head gasket replacement and you'll find plenty of threads on how to do a DIY head gasket. I believe there's some info in the How-To's and FAQ's here.

Bring it to a reputable local mechanic that has been in business for several years and have them diagnose it for you. Most local shops will diagnose it for free..it's always the patron's option if they want it repaired after diagnosis

 

But do ur self a favor and take the radiator out and just flush it with a water hose (low pressure). stick the water hose end in the bottom and turn the radiator up side down. Get the head machined and replace ur thermostat just in case thats the root of ur issue.

 

It always amazes when a person buys a $500.00 car and expects it to last forever with virtually no maintenance.

If this car has several hundred thousand miles or kilometers on it, most people would plan on spending a couple of thousand dollars getting it back to pristine condition.

Of course most people would have taken it to their friendly neighborhood mechanic for a complete evaluation before they bought it. The mechanic would have done a compression check, as well as dozens of other check points to ensure the reliability of the car. He would have advised the customer to either replace the head gasket, or not to buy the car.

The head gasket leaking was probably why this fellow bought the Del Sol cheaply.

 

For one I'm not a dumbass and am very capable and smart enough to maintain my vehicle properly. On top of that who said anything about $500.00?

Maybe most people ie: yourself would spend or for that matter have a couple of thousand of dollars to throw away but other people as myself living in reality aren't going to just **** away money douchebag.

Who gives a **** if I didn't bring the car to a mechanic to be checked out. I bought it on the spot and obviously got fucked with no lube right up my *** but you know what, that's my problem and it has no worries to you, so while you are driving your 2015 Honda Accord or whatever the hell your parents bought for you because more than likely your a spoiled little bitch I will be fixing my own car that I paid for with my own money that I worked for and will have 1000% more respect towards me than you ever would/could have for yourself and then once I complete the job at hand I will walk inside bang my girl real quick just for you bud and then take my piece of **** del sol and go race around town cuz I'm a dick like that. if you don't like it I don't give a **** nor does it matter the slightest bit what you think so go **** yourself keep your bullshit to yourself and suck a dick.

More than likely yes because the dude I bought it from was some douchebag such as yourself. you prolly hold circle jerk parties on the weekends together

 

Putting money into your ride, clear example was that you needed to make a trip that was important, is not pissing money away. Specially when the ride is an older vehicle.

Blown headgasket is probably the issue. You need to test for exhaust gas in your coolant.

 

Lol. That was awesome. One of the best replies I've ever read on here.
For the record I banged your girl too and then raced around in my shitty '97 EX coupe.. I just don't know which one of us is getting sloppy seconds?
Anyway, Nirox is a pud but, his advice to take it to a mechanic wasn't off base..it's sound. His remark about putting thousands of dollars into a beater DD is absurd. Not all honda owners are willing to spend thousands of dollars to upgrade a car that will just keep losing value.

Check out this thread, watch the videos and you'll be straight. Sixth gen. Hondas have their issues but, you'll see a lot more of them on the road than any other car from their era. The beauty with them is how DIY friendly they are to work on.

 

Thanks that dude def caught me on the wrong day. ****** douchebag!


Maybe you did but if that is true you must have the smallest **** ever cuz that **** is like trying to stuff a watermelon into a garden hose lol

I agree with that the advice about the mechanic was sound, he just came off as such a dick that I needed to get in his *** real fast. I most def should have at the very least had someone take a look at it but **** it **** happens ill get over it. And yea man I'm def not gonna put thousands into a beater that I spent $1500 on roughly. I bought the car and a honda 100xr dirtbike as a package deal for $1900 so somewhere around that number but either way. **** it man **** happens and I will fix it. I'm going back outside right now to **** with a couple of things I just ripped the radiator out and drained it and put some water thru it with a hose to clean it out cuz it had some **** in it. I went to Advanced Auto today and bought a new radiator cap since the old one was **** and also a new thermostat since I wasn't getting any heat but I just put the thermostat in a little while ago and I'm gonna do some other **** that I can do now in the mean time. Thanks for the advice man, Be easy brotha!

 

Sure is..and that's because her repairative tissue has to work overtime after I get done with it. In essense, her elasticity after repairing makes it even tighter so it fools normal size dudes (such as yourself) into thinking they're king-dong...lol

I don't care what any dude is packing, it's not as big as a 7 to 10 pound baby coming out that chute.

Back to the car: it's better to get an OEM radiator cap. Stant and other after-markets don't fit/seal as well.

 

your a beast lol She would prolly get soo pissed off at this lol shes laying in bed like 4 feet over my shoulder lol. Clueless..

The cap I got was strait tho no problems