Okay My ls/vtec is overheating in a matter of minutes after I start it. Even when I'm on the freeway just cruising it still gets maxed out on the temp.
I know for a fact its not the fan, i have it hooked to ignition power. Where should I start? Thermostat, or waterpump is what I'm thinking but there is no sound like I've heard there was when you waterpump goes out. Any ideas and steps to take to narrow it down are appreciated.

 

take your radiator cap off and check to see if you see any traces of coolant in there. LS/VTEC's are notorious for having headgasket issues. Did you replace the gakset w/ a new VTEC gasket, have the block decked and the head milled?? What about re-using head studs?? They're really sensitive to these kinds of things. My old LS/VTEC had mad over heating problems.

 

Do a compression check. That will tell you if the head gasket is bad. It could also be a cracked head. If the gasket is bad, take the head to a shop and have it magnafluxed and resurfaced.

 

I'm pretty sure that its not the headgasket cause it's not smoking, losing fluid, or running poorly at all. I'm just not sure if there's any coolant flowing or not.

 

You need a cylinder leak down test not compression. It will show a leaking headgasket, a compression test will show weak compression only. Also ls/vtecs use NON-vtec headgaskets. Im leaning on the blown headgasket idea too. It would only take a few minutes to overheat if hot *** combustion gasses were escaping into the cooling system.

It took 3 weeks for my friends blown headgasket to finally reveal itself. And was the culprit to his overheating problem.

 

Oh yeah, der... my slip up. non-VTEC head gasket.

 

I am currently having Headgasket problems with my LS/VTEC. I have used one stock type headgasket, and 2 cometic LS/VTEC gaskets. All blew.

the funny thing is that the stock type gasket lasted like 2K miles. The Cometic gaskets blew in a matter of 10 minutes of being driven.

After talking with my motor builder, he stated that Cometic gaskets do not seal very well. He has seen a Cometic gasket blow on a stock motor.

So I am going back to having a Factory Gasket opened up to fit an 85mm bore. it seems that it has worked the best so far.

Anyone else know of a better gasket, or a fix to the LS/VTEC overheating problems with blowing headgaskets... Please let me know. I am really starting to doubt the Imfamous LS/VTEC set up. I haven't even been able to drive the car hard yet. and it's really starting to **** me off!!!!

 

check the thermostat

the easiest way is to take it out and put it into a pot of boiling water if it opens it is good

to check the water pump, check for pressure on the top hose and make sure it gets hot.

 

Check your deck and head. If you overheat this much its bound to have warped something. Also, why not just use a crv headgasket and leave it. If you keep messing with it you'll make it weak. Whats is one mm diff. in diameter gonna hurt? Nothing.

I have a question about your engine. Who built it? You know that you have to removed one of the brass rivets on the stock headgasket right.

 

did you drill the copper rivets out of the head? That will give you much better sealing.