'92 Civic Overheating - Blown Head Gasket? Experts HELP!
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'92 Civic Overheating - Blown Head Gasket? Experts HELP!
OK, so here's my situation. My girlfriend's '92 Civic DX (1.5 liter w/ 140k) has been over heating. She took it to her dad, he changed the thermostat, didn't help.
She took it to the shop, they thought maybe cracked head, or cracked block. I guess Honda blocks are made of Aluminum, from what they told me (not sure)
I thought maybe a blown head gasket? I couldn't see a leak, or find one, but there is coolant around the engine bay, so it has got to be spraying from somewhere, the cap is on tight. She says that the level is staying full of coolant, but the shop said it's burning it up. I assumed that if the block was cracked, she would be burning oil? Am I right in my assumption? One of the times she started it up while I was looking for leaks a very small, light bit of steam/smoke came from underneath the airbox area, but that's all the smoke I've ever seen from it.
The car will start, and run, no noises and drive fine, but after 20 minutes it will heat up, not smoke, but the gauge will go right up to Hot, so she shuts it down before any further damage could occur. It's been like this for a week or two.
I have swapped engines in FWD cars, and have rebuilt V8s, but have no experience with Honda motors, or any coolant issues, so I need your guy's expertice here. Any advice or comments would be appreciated!
Matt
She took it to the shop, they thought maybe cracked head, or cracked block. I guess Honda blocks are made of Aluminum, from what they told me (not sure)
I thought maybe a blown head gasket? I couldn't see a leak, or find one, but there is coolant around the engine bay, so it has got to be spraying from somewhere, the cap is on tight. She says that the level is staying full of coolant, but the shop said it's burning it up. I assumed that if the block was cracked, she would be burning oil? Am I right in my assumption? One of the times she started it up while I was looking for leaks a very small, light bit of steam/smoke came from underneath the airbox area, but that's all the smoke I've ever seen from it.
The car will start, and run, no noises and drive fine, but after 20 minutes it will heat up, not smoke, but the gauge will go right up to Hot, so she shuts it down before any further damage could occur. It's been like this for a week or two.
I have swapped engines in FWD cars, and have rebuilt V8s, but have no experience with Honda motors, or any coolant issues, so I need your guy's expertice here. Any advice or comments would be appreciated!
Matt
Last edited by HabitCKy; Feb 28, 2003 at 08:56 PM.
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you have air in the system there is a bleeder valve on the thermo housing all you have to do is let the car warm up and slowly let it drain the air via. the valve just a little at a time not all at once or you will have coolent everywhere this hapens with hondas from time to time but no big'y
hopr that help
art
hopr that help
art
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try the thermostat. Is the fan coming on when the motor heats up.
Take the radiator cap off and start the car. A bad headgasket will cause water to shoot out the radiator. A mildly blown headgasket might not, so this will only tell if it is completely blown.
Take the radiator cap off and start the car. A bad headgasket will cause water to shoot out the radiator. A mildly blown headgasket might not, so this will only tell if it is completely blown.
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Don't bother giving me "rep", I won't return it and I think it is stupid.
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does the car overheat when u r driving or just when u idle.
if it does while your driving u can rule out a fan prob.
i would say water pump but you said it takes 20 min. to over heat
it usually dosnt take that long if the pump is bad.
your best bet is to clean the engine off start it up let it idle and keep your eye out far a leak. hope this helps
if it does while your driving u can rule out a fan prob.
i would say water pump but you said it takes 20 min. to over heat
it usually dosnt take that long if the pump is bad.
your best bet is to clean the engine off start it up let it idle and keep your eye out far a leak. hope this helps
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Take the thermo out completly, this will make sure the thermo isn't bad. If that doesn't work, try water pump. Also possible the radiator cap is leaking, if the seal is bad on the cap the radiator will over heat. (This is comming from a friend of mine, Im not sure).
Be sure the fan is comming on, open the engine bay and rev the motor steady to 2Krpm for 30 seconds, the fan should come on. If it doesn't there's a problem with the fan.
Be sure the fan is comming on, open the engine bay and rev the motor steady to 2Krpm for 30 seconds, the fan should come on. If it doesn't there's a problem with the fan.
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if u checked the fan, thermostat, radiator, and the whole piping system for leaks then is most likely a headgasket.
when a headgasket is blown compresion is leaking out of the cylinder into the waterjackets in the block causing excess pressure to be forced into the cooling system. this will result in the radiator cap being forced open and coolant usually being forced to boil out of the reservoir. another result of this is since the coolant is being forced out there will slowly become less and less coolant in the system causing it to overheat the motor eventually. the car will usually idle and run fine and sometimes not even smoke, but in most cases all is solved with a new headgasket. goodluck
when a headgasket is blown compresion is leaking out of the cylinder into the waterjackets in the block causing excess pressure to be forced into the cooling system. this will result in the radiator cap being forced open and coolant usually being forced to boil out of the reservoir. another result of this is since the coolant is being forced out there will slowly become less and less coolant in the system causing it to overheat the motor eventually. the car will usually idle and run fine and sometimes not even smoke, but in most cases all is solved with a new headgasket. goodluck
