So i had a blown head gasket on my 99 si, b16a2. I pulled the head and sent it out to a machine shop, we reinstalled the head and the car ran perfect for 5 days. All of a sudden i stopped to get gas and the car wouldn't restart. I towed the car to my shop and the next morning I tried to start it and it fired right up. But it was smoking really bad out the tail pipe. shut it off and removed the spark plugs and found that the 2 middle pistons have a puddle of coolant on them. Thought maybe it was a bad gasket so we did the job again. after a new honda gasket and head bolts were installed a second time, we still have the same problem. used a straight edge and checked the block and the head, and they are both straight, no warping. what else could be causing the coolant and oil to mix? the coolant and oil did not start mixing until the head was machined. changed the head gasket due to external oil leak.

 

engine stock?

 

Did you deck the block to make sure its not warped as well?

 

Stock motor, and yes i checked the block and it is not warped.

 

Did the car ever overheat really bad with the blown head gasket? if so a water jacket could have busted or cracked, letting coolant into the oil.

 

If you didn't replace the dowel pins there is a chance that they could be causing the head to not seat correctly. Sad part is that the original gasket was probably fine and something else was causing the leak. I see that all the time.

 

So i have now removed the block and sent it to the machine shop they decked the block, pressure tested the block, honed and changed the main bearings, and new rings. I got the engine all back together and i am still having the same problem. I am getting coolant on the top off #2 & #3 pistons. I am ready to blow up the car, PLEASE HELP. ANY IDEAS

 

did they check for cracks in the head?

 

Yes. The head was pressure tested and it was good. The block was pressure tested and it was good. Head and block were decked. The oil and coolant never mixed and i had no coolant on the pistons until i sent out the head to the machine shop.

 

What about checking any other entry points for coolant leaks. I'm not too familiar with B-series but check to see if the coolant that passes through the throttle body isn't leaking by. #2 and #3 pistons would catch the coolant first. I may be totally out there but I'm trying to think outside the box since you may have disturbed so many things in your engine bay.




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Are you installing the head gasket upside down by any chance?

 

Is that possible?

 

Yes, I've seen it more than just a handful of times. Even though the head gaskets have "up" stamped into them, people still put them on upside down.

 

Finally fixed the problem. It was the coolant that goes through the throttle body. i by-passed the throttle body and the problem is gone. Finally the car runs great. Thank you everyone for the input.


Now time for the Skunk2 pro series ITM
and the Skunk2 Alpha series 70mm throttle body

 

No problem at all. Good luck.


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