Hello, name is Lee, first post here. 2005 civic, motor is stamped d17a2 and i believe head is different as there is a vtec solenoid but no wiring to plug the solenoid in. Purchased and the seller told me nothing had been changed and she had driven it since 20k miles. Odo said somewhere around 150 when i bought it i believe. I got hosed, shouldve look better but cant change the past. Engine runs smooth mechanically though so it can be fixed and made good. Right so my problem. Bout a year ago temp gauge went up while driving, pulled over let ut idle, temp went back down making me think low coolant so i drove on. Checked coolant and topped of rad and went on with life. Did nothing for a while then driving interstate ut went high again and back down and fluctuated like low coolant so just drove on and went to oriellys, got a thermostat and swapped it that night. Went on for a bit and then started noticing the overflow was tip top full and everytime i would take the rad cap off it would send pressure into overflow and spill over. Couple weeks back i used a funnel and bleed the whole coolant system and put overflow at proper level. Wemt fine for city driving, then drove interstate and a few days later, got hot and overflow spewed. Have done reading on this forum and it seems like pin hole in head gasket. Thermo is new, overflow cap is new, and i believe rad cap i also got new during the process.

So, i went to school for mechanics but didnt do it for a job afterwards so i have knowledge but experience is lacking, so ill explain what im planning on doing and if anyone has advice, send it and ill figure out a plan. Gonna compression test this morn and see what numbers are and may do wet compression also to check rings. Not sure what type of oil to use though so any help there would be appreciated. Still thinking ill just replace head gasket no matter what and freshen the engine up. Most parts will be coming from rockauto because i gotta watch money. Head gasket set comes with valve seals and cam seals and valve cover gasket and head gasket and alot of other seals. Gonna try and find a shop that can check my head and test valve seats for leakage. I understand rockauto has a bad rap and that some honda parts of best using oem but im not sure which one need oem and which can be cheaper brands. Was going to get a timing belt kit and water pump alsl since im in that far and replace front main seal. Also any intake and exhaust gasket that is taken apart will be replaced. Should i replace head bolts and if so, oem or would a cheaper option be ok? Thanks for any advice on things i should do while this deep in the motor.

 

I also believe the fans do turn on but have purchased a new fan switch to replace but to be sure thats solid. Crossing those wires do turn the fans on so wiring to switch is squared away

 

Compression results. Throttle open and 6 compression strokes for each test. #1 80psi, #2 35psi and redid the test and it went to 50psi, #3 80psi, #4 80 psi.

​​​​​How my mind see it is that its a bsd head gasket and not piston rings. I feel like rings would show more inconsistent pressures across all 4 cylinder and not just one, idk but thats how i see it. Since a head gasket is a common problem on these motors also, i think head gasket and refreshed head is in store and replace what i run across to freshen up the motor