I’m having some trouble getting my 1995 Civic’s head gasket to seal. I saw bubbles in my coolant reservoir so I tried changing it once. At the time, I cleaned the cylinder block deck with a razor, had the cylinder head milled true (it was out 0.002”), got a new head gasket, and reused the stock head bolts. Rather stupidly I lost one dowel pin so I used just one and tried to align the head gasket as best I could by hand. I also didn’t clean out the head bolt hole threads.

The new head gasket held for a couple thousand miles but it’s burst again. I see a bubble in the reservoir every now and then when I rev up the engine. The coolant system also loses pressure slowly.

I got new head bolts and dowel pins, and intend to clean the bolt hole threads. My question is, how can I get the damned cylinder block deck clean?? Last time I cleaned it with a razor, I was able to get the deck smooth to the touch but it was still discolored as hell. I don’t want to use abrasives and I can’t find gasket remover anywhere. Is there any way? Thanks.

 

Roloc rubber finger discs. I think the white ones are the highest grit.

Discoloration is nothing, it's about smoothness and flatness.

 

Get a precision straight edge to check whether the top of the block is not flat. The procedure is covered in the service manual.

 

To add to the above post, find that lost dowel pin or get another.

 

Yeah he mentioned this time he got new head bolts and new dowel pins. It's the most likely reason the new head gasket failed. The head bolts won't stop the head from shifting around from vibration and it why the dowels are a precision fit. And I know you already know this, just stating for anyone searching who doesn't.

These are the roloc discs I mentioned.

 

wow, look at that build up in the coolant walls.

 

This is why you shouldn't use tap water in the coolant system.

 

PEOPLE DONT' BELIEVE ME WHEN I TELL THEM THAT. The argument sticks to 'water transfer heat better'. BUT BRAH.....