Hello!

I've got a 2000 civic lx (d16y7), and i recently took it on a 650mile trip. during this trip, ive had to refill the coolant 3 times. i noticed that the temp gauge would slowly rise and drop, and once this happened, i knew it was time to add more coolant.

Since arriving at my location, i have not added more coolant, and have driven roughly another 100 miles. however, i can tell that it is time to add more coolant, as my heat is not getting as hot anymore, despite the temp gauge still reading normal.

Furthermore, when bleeding the coolant system, i noticed exhaust gases coming out of the funnel.

Do all signs lead to a blown head gasket, or could i just have a coolant leak somewhere else?

Thanks for any help!

 

The coolant is going somewhere, if not on the grund then its going into the engine. What color is the oil?. IF it looks like chocolate milk, yep head gasket. When you say "exhaust gases coming out of the funnel, is it just bubbles or BUBBLES. Either or, it sounds like a headgasket.
Good luck

 

oil looks normal.

the bubbles are pretty big, and come up only when I rev the car. none of the coolant in the funnel goes down, so I'm assuming it's exhaust gases and not air pockets.

something I noticed today was when I rev'd the engine, there was smoke coming from under the throttle body, but ONLY when I rev'd the car. maybe that's where the coolant is leaking onto? from the IACV line?

other than that, yeah. oil is normal, only symptoms are exhaust gases and coolant loss (at a very slow rate)

 

Sounds like the headgasket has a leak or a cracked sleeve. My y8 started doing that at the start of winter. Once it warms up I'm going to pull the motor and see what's up.

A leakdown test would help tell you.

 

i hear ya, definitely wanted to do the head gasket once it's warmer.

my gut tells me it's my radiator cap.. going to replace it, but wondering what y'all think of that idea?

 

If you want to do the headgasket just plan to do a full rebuild; hence why I'm pulling my motor to see if it's even worth rebuilding or if I just want to swap a B20 into it.

Is your coolant overflow filling up/overflowing?

 

I'm not sure if I'm that experienced yet for a full rebuild 😅 it took me 3 days to do the timing/accessory belts, I'm slowly working my way up the ladder!

the coolant reservoir is pretty filled, past the max line. what does that indicate?

 

Swapping just a headgasket is a huge dice roll. The headgasket ususally loses seal for a reason. Probably need the head and or block decked. Check for cracks.

If the overflow is continuously filling up, you keep getting air in the system; the writing is on the wall, headgasket is leaking. Thats called pushing coolant.

 

Yeah, you've got to be right. I'm currently away for university, and will definitely want to do the job over the summer. Will driving 5-10miles a day (if that) make the issue worse till then?

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If you keep an eye on it, pay attention to how long it's low on coolant, like you've been doing I bet it will be a slow death and you'll be OK. Just don't forget or it might turn into a fast death lol

 

noooo don't mention death!! 🤣

thanks for the talk!! good luck with ur y8/b20 if u go that route!

 

Hey, coming back to update you!

Ordered a new radiator cap about a month ago, and so far I've driven roughly 270 miles and the radiator is still full! I think the issue might have been a faulty radiator cap, and the coolant would spill out of the expansion tank overtime.