I have a 1999 Honda Accord Automatic Transmisson. My car over heated for the first time the other day...I pulled over as soon as I noticed the temp needle almost at H. I popped the hood and there was a slit in the upper radiator hose where coolant spewed through. After letting the motor cool down I replaced the upper radiator hose and then preceded to add coolant to make it home. As I poured the coolant into the radiator and let it settle down I notice it was a darkish kinda brown.....what is this?

Some people say I blew a head gasket....?
Some people say that my radiator is busted and the tramission fluid is mixing with the coolant side....?

Could it be either? Any advice?

Thanks!
Catherine

 

sounds like a head gasket, is there white smoke coming out the exhaust?

 

Yeah I'd say it was the HG too. Oil mixing with the fluid.

 

I would say it might just be rust in the system. Usually a popped HG would make it look like pancake batter. At least thats what i've seen in my travels.

 

A blown headgasket very rarely lets oil into the antifreeze. If it's just a little brown but not milky looking it's probably just old antifreeze. If it has a milky look to it something is getting into it.

 

There is no white smoke at all. The car drives fine except for the over heating of course...there's no knocking or anything. I checked to see if the radiator was busted and it's not. If a headgasket blows shouldn't there be water in my oil? b/c there is no water in my oil....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Preludesi0080 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> If a headgasket blows shouldn't there be water in my oil? b/c there is no water in my oil....</TD></TR></TABLE>
Not usually unless they are really bad. I wouldn't expect your accord to have a blown head gasket, they're pretty durable. It's possible though.