1997 Honda Accord LX 2.2 F22B2 Engine

Just changed the Oil in the car, and looked at the dipstick, and it had some light brown bubbles and milky looking substance on it. Checked the Coolant level, and it was low, about a gallon low. Oil Cap had the same look on the underside of it.
Does not appear to have any oil in Antifreeze. Or I did not see any brown stuff floating, but have not changed the fluid yet. Not driving the car now but looking to fix it up myself or with some help?

How can I diagnoise if it is a Head Gasket or Cracked Head or Warped Head?

Are there any ways to check without pulling the Head?

What am I going to need to do to pull the head on the car?

Parts to get from the Auto Parts store?

How hard is this, and what am I looking for spending on this? 6 hours? 9 hours?

Is there anyone in the area that wants to lend a hand in doing this if I take the dive?

Thanks

Trey Carter

 

Your probably looking at a bad head gasket. Do a compression test on it to get some more info before changing anything. That will help determine if it is infact a head gasket problem or something else.

 

I have a leak down tester, but currently not a compression tester.

I can probably do the rent thing from Auto Zone if they have the correct spark plug hole.

I tried to rent a radiator testor and they did not have the correct adapter to allow you to even pressurize the system.

So I get a compression tester and use it, what am I going to look for, and what should I disconnect so I don't ruin anything?

Thats what nice about the leak down tester, you just find TDC with a TDC tool, and then use the air compressor to test it no moving parts, and nothing to crank over.


Trey

 

I haven't done a compression test personally yet. I was going to on my girls brothers car but he sold it before we had a chance to or fix the problem, oh well. I have read a bunch of info on how to use it and what the readings mean but can't remember what they were. I know you have to remove something like the ECU fuse or something so the car won't start. Try searching for "compression test" and see what comes up. You should be able to find all the needed info from that.

 

If the compression test turns out low on one cylinder, or on two adjoining cylinders, that would be evidence to support your blown headgasket theory. And yes, definitely take out your ecu fuse before you do the test....I blew my ignition coil because I forgot to the first time.

 

You can still do the test with the leak down tester, its easier then with a compression tester. Fill the radiator with water and start testing the cyl's with the leak down tester one at a time. If you hit a cyl and get air bubbles in the radiator with the cap off then its a blowen head gasket. Good luck man