cooling problem

[Honda_Lady]

ok I am hoping that my worst fear is not true with what is wrong with this car but I will explain what it is doing.

Yesterday I had to take a 72 mile trip (one way) down to Leesburg, FL and back home so that my mom would be able to continue to work. On the way down it was fine because it was very early, the heat hadn't gotten to it yet. What it is doing is pushing the coolant from the radiator into the reservoir but it won't pull it back into the radiator when it needs it. I have been having to add water to it like crazy today and I am wondering if there might be a possibility that the headgasket is blown between the combustion chamber and the coolant chamber forcing combustion into the cooling system to push it into the reservoir. Today I drove for a while with the radiator cap OFF to see if it still pushed it into the reservoir (or just overflow) and if it would still overheat. Now I didn't give it a chance to overheat at all because I can't afford to replace this engine (or to take it off the road long enough to replace the headgasket)

If this is what is wrong with it, how long will it take for it to get worse? what are other possibilities? what else could I do to temp fix it because I was planning on throwing a JY engine in it asap anyway and then rebuilding this one?

ANY input at all would be very helpful. thank you so much.

[Jarrett]

Overheating is one of those things that can be gradual or sudden. Because the consequences can be so severe I would treat it as if the outcome was going to be sudden and looming at any moment. An overheated engine can mean a cooked engine. Think of a blown headgasket like a fuse blowing. It's one of the best outcomes to an overheat condition. Worse than that is spun bearings that can seize your rotating assembly when oil gets so hot that it breaks down chemically and no longer does its job. This is worsened if the oil is already old and dirty.

Replacing a headgasket is somewhat time consuming but it can be done in a day. The hardest part about it is getting the intake manifold bolts off. Everything else is extremely straightforward an easily accessible.

[Honda_Lady]

Thank you Jarrett. I guess I should see if maybe I can raise an engine fund with the help of some friends (the engine is already pretty close to being shot anyway)

[andrew22888]

If your really can't fix it properly at the moment and your throwing a new engine in it anyways. Go get a bottle of blue devil follow the instructions EXACTLY to the t. My parents have been driving there dodge shadow with it in there for 80,000 miles and they had a cracked head they have drove to Florida and back lol. And we live in Missouri.

[Honda_Lady]

ok, thank you andrew. question, would I be able to clean it out of there? (because I wanted to rebuild the engine and have a spare. I would have to bore the cylinders and put sleeves in)

[andrew22888]

Yes you would it is not even noticeable in the engine some say they have little white residue in there. But that's normally people that don't follow the directions exactly right get the yellow liable one its like 50 bucks a bottle here in mo. Oh and if it doesn't work can them and they will authorize the store to give u the money back 100 percent money back guarantee although I have only seen that needed once and that was a 1 inch crack in a head lol. But it will work watch YouTube videos cars smoke like crazy and it still works.

[cloudasc]

I would avoid the use of an additive or 'fix in a bottle', unless its a last resort and you plan on scrapping the engine in the long term. My headgasket only caused isssues with the a/c running and when ambient temp was above 90*F. If you have working a/c don't use it until the issue is fixed. A new Stone/Ishino headgasket set isn't that expensive (I got mine for $150), its the labor that causes the high price tag to repair. What else about your motor makes you think its 'close to being shot'?

[Honda_Lady]

Yes you would it is not even noticeable in the engine some say they have little white residue in there. But that's normally people that don't follow the directions exactly right get the yellow liable one its like 50 bucks a bottle here in mo. Oh and if it doesn't work can them and they will authorize the store to give u the money back 100 percent money back guarantee although I have only seen that needed once and that was a 1 inch crack in a head lol. But it will work watch YouTube videos cars smoke like crazy and it still works.

ok thanks Andrew. I have a friend at honda who gave me about half a bottle (quart size) I will be sure to follow the directions exactly

I would avoid the use of an additive or 'fix in a bottle', unless its a last resort and you plan on scrapping the engine in the long term. My headgasket only caused issues with the a/c running and when ambient temp was above 90*F. If you have working a/c don't use it until the issue is fixed. A new Stone/Ishino head gasket set isn't that expensive (I got mine for $150), its the labor that causes the high price tag to repair. What else about your motor makes you think its 'close to being shot'?

thank you Cloud. being in Florida in the summer, it is rarely below 90*F the A/C hasn't worked in 4 years. I can get an engine for $10 less from a junkyard and have my friend from Honda put it in for me.

I never have liked putting additives in my engine and I may not end up rebuilding this engine depending on how much work it truly will be in the end. I may end up down the road getting another junkyard engine and rebuild that one instead of this one. I really have no idea the kind of damage there is. I do know that I go through atleast a quart of oil a week. when the car was given to me she said that she thought the mechanic told her the piston rings were bad but that was far too huge (and to pricey) a job for me to get done so I always knew I was going to have to end up replacing the engine anyway. I imagine by this point in time, the cylinders are pretty worn down because of bad piston rings and the neglect and age of the engine.

[92cb7pnw]

I noticed that you said you have continued to put water in the cooling system, what ultimately could be happening is you have too much water and not enough antifreeze causing the water to boil out. Try draining your cooling system and get a bottle of antifreeze pour all of it in your radiator than proceed to burping your car and than filling with water and see if that helps.


Hopefully you haven't used that additive yet.

[andrew22888]

Your welcome. Normally I wouldn't put additives in my engine I just rebuild them lol. What's funny is I'm actually in the middle of doing my head gasket now cause the same issue you are having. But now I have a intestinal infection so I'm laying around super sick avoiding doing anything lol.

[Honda_Lady]

92cb7pnw- no I haven't used it yet but I can't afford another bottle of antifreeze/coolant (already bought one this week and put half of it in today) I was already planning a swap very soon so if I have to junk this engine when I swap, so be it. Thank you for the tip though. I am out of options (and money) this week.

andrew- I hope you feel better soon

[andrew22888]

Thanks honda lady I keep looking out the window wanting to finish but I can't. Let us know if the blue devil worked.

[Honda_Lady]

ok I will let you know. gotta let the car cool off some first before starting on the flush and then hopefully I can get it cooled off completely in a timely manner to put the blue devil in there and that it works.

[cloudasc]

I noticed that you said you have continued to put water in the cooling system, what ultimately could be happening is you have too much water and not enough antifreeze causing the water to boil out. Try draining your cooling system and get a bottle of antifreeze pour all of it in your radiator than proceed to burping your car and than filling with water and see if that helps.


Hopefully you haven't used that additive yet.

Water has a better thermal transfer than pure antifreeze, and better circulation properties, so having a little more water than coolant could be beneficial. What alters the boiling point of the mix primarily is the amount of pressure your cooling system can handle, eg radiator cap rating. The antifreeze is there to prevent the water from freezing below 32*F, and act as a rust and build up inhibitor for the water, the fact it can raise the boiling point a little is the least important reason for it being there.

Also you should only use distilled (mineral free water), and not tap water.

[Fleetw00d]

Replacing a headgasket is somewhat time consuming but it can be done in a day. The hardest part about it is getting the intake manifold bolts off. Everything else is extremely straightforward an easily accessible.

On one of mine, I left the intake attached to the head (just replaced the gasket, no head work done). If you want to change the intake gasket, wait until the head is off the engine.