I just purchased a 2003 Honda Civic 5 speed about two weeks ago. The owner said he had just replaced the head gasket, and radiator before i bought the car as he was fixing it up to sell as rebuilt title.
I have only drove it a few times 10-15 miles each and not noticed any issues.
However, today I drove about 50 miles one way. While I was stopped I checked the oil and noticed it was on the low part so i added about 1/2 a quart. The oil was to the top when I let it settle.
I got back on the interstate, and started to observe the temp gauge was going up to the High and staying there. Before I had noticed it going back and forth but didn't pay any mind because it was little amounts. I turned on my heat with defrost and it started going down. My cruise control kicked off suddenly, and wouldn't stay on for very long about 30 miles into the way back. It would stay on then the car would kick and it would turn off. I watched the temp gauge throughout my trip noticing it kept going to 1/4 to 3/4 on the gauge. Anytime i turned off the heat it would rise again. When I made it back home I was driving slowly with the heat on and the gauge started rising more. When i made it home and parked i let the car sit off for about 5 minutes. I then started the car and a boat load of white smoke flew out of the exhaust. I let the car cool for about 30 minutes. I checked the radiator and the coolant was no longer visible as it was when I made the stop and added oil originally. I topped off the coolant in the radiator, and started with the cap off which i had seen to try and see if bubbles would start popping up. As I turned the car on the coolant shot out of the radiator cap, lol. It did start bubbling i turned it off quickly but I was unsure if it was just cycling through. There isn't a cap on the coolant reservoir, which I'm not sure if it even makes a difference.

I've noticed a strong odor of fuel when the car is running too that the smell gets stronger then dissipates. You can't smell it inside though only when you roll down the windows.
Hope I can get some feedback, thanks

 

Sounds like the car has a blown head gasket. You should not have to add any coolant.

 

the head gasket had just been replaced.

I changed the thermostat and made sure to get all of the air out of the system and it's working good no issues now.

 

You should not be getting a plume of white smoke from the exhaust if it wss just a bad thermostat.

Imo, sounds like whoever fixed it didn't do the head gasket job properly.

 

I'm p pretty sure it was oil burning from not being able to be cooled. Not having any white smoke and oil isnt burning up like it was . The white smoke only happened once

 

I think it sucks either way. These motors don't do well when overheated. Because the motor overheated, there's a good chance the head gasket will start leaking again. In fact the faulty thermostat overheating the engine is probably what caused the head gasket to fail the first time.

 

I had the same thought. When I noticed the car was nearing the Hot I turned my defrost full blast. Luckily I didn't drive it until I replaced thermostat. I drove over 200 miles since then and everything been running good

 

Perhaps the head gasket job was faulty using non-OEM gaskets and the head was not planed flat?