Honda Civic (2001 - 2005) Coupe / Sedan / Hybrid (Includes Acura EL)

Need help. Car overheated after mechanic did head gasket. Is it blown again?

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Old Dec 21, 2024 | 08:56 AM
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Unreallotus8's Avatar
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Default Need help. Car overheated after mechanic did head gasket. Is it blown again?

Yesterday, I picked up my 2002 Honda Civic after the mechanic had the head gasket done and the heads machined. Took it for a drive on the highway and after about 20 minutes, it was overheating bad. White smoke was coming out from under the hood and the temperature gauge had maxed out before I knew it. I pulled over, turned off the car, called the mechanic and they came to take a look.
Short vid https://imgur.com/a/wCNxOwc

When they came and I handed them the keys, the car had trouble turning over to start until they grabbed some O' Reilly coolant and poured it in there. They drove it to the shop a few minutes away and it overheated again on the way there. Once they had it in the shop, they saw that one of the large O rings had burst and coolant was flowing out from that metal hose (not sure what it's called). They said they wanted to replace all the O rings and clamps and then drive it to see if anything goes wrong.

I'm thinking the head gasket blew again or the head is at very least warped again. I told them this and they kept saying that they wouldn't have to take it apart to know for sure. They say that it's most likely fine since it's new. But we all know this gen has very fragile head gaskets. So I'm asking you guys, can you definitively know if the head isn't warped at all without taking things apart and looking at it with your own 2 eyes?

I don't want them to slap new O rings on in a couple days and just say it looks and runs fine
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Old Dec 21, 2024 | 09:06 AM
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Default Re: Need help. Car overheated after mechanic did head gasket. Is it blown again?

You can do a compression and leak down test to determine if the engine has a bad headgasket or even a cracked head at this point.

If the car was overheated, and they didn't pressure test the head; if they just resurfaced the head and block and sent it, they rolled the dice pretty hard on that one. Same goes for if they only resurfaced the head and not the block the last time. Gamble.

But without taking anything apart, a compression and leakdown test will give you the answer.
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Old Dec 21, 2024 | 09:30 AM
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Default Re: Need help. Car overheated after mechanic did head gasket. Is it blown again?

Originally Posted by theYBLEGAL
You can do a compression and leak down test to determine if the engine has a bad headgasket or even a cracked head at this point.

If the car was overheated, and they didn't pressure test the head; if they just resurfaced the head and block and sent it, they rolled the dice pretty hard on that one. Same goes for if they only resurfaced the head and not the block the last time. Gamble.

But without taking anything apart, a compression and leakdown test will give you the answer.
They pressure tested it when it was first brought into the shop, machined the head because it was slightly warped and found no cracks in the block is what they told me then.
And a compression/leakdown would be just as reliable as using a straight edge to check for warping? Being a little redundant but I'm paranoid after this happened

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