'98 Civic Issue

[Tangocpt]

Hello everyone, first time site user.

I have a '98 Civic Ex 1.6L with a D16Y8 Model engine. Recently my Thermostat went out and had to be replaced (that was maybe 2 weeks ago). Just yesterday I was heading to ths store and the car started spurting coolent again and over heating. after a road side repair I took it the the nearist Orilly's auto and got new hose to replace the one that was bad. After refilling the radiator with a mix of coolany and water I took off again. After maybe two miles the engin temp guage started going way above normal almost to red line. After slowly driving home (8 Miles) the car was still doing the over heating but getting as high as befor. The way I got it home was just giving it a little push in gear then releasing the clutch to coast, during this thime the engin temp would jump and drop based on eigher coasting or not.

I am looking for ideas as to what may be wrong so I can get it running normaly again. Any questions please ask and I will answer to the best of my ability. Oh also, I am around the 4th or 5th owner of the car so I can't tell you everything because the last two owners didnt even know everything that had been done the the car.

 

[UCCRacing]

So first thing is, if your car EVER Over Heats... PULL over and let it cool until it is below 200 or the middle of the gauge... Driving slow or not, your car gets that hot, stuff starts to melt.....

As far as what to do, did you burp the system? So when the engine is cool open the radiator, fill it with water/coolant and then there are 2 ways either cap again and run it for a bit, then cool it to take the cap off and add more... or you can just leave the cap off with a pan below and let the car just idle... This will allow the thermostat to open 10-15 min and let coolant fill the system, keep the radiator almost full during this time... it will burp and overflow some... But only if the car starts SHOOTING coolant out is there an issue... if thats the case you have either a clogged hose/radiator or thermostat. Although the thermostat was replaced it could of been installed backwards...

Good luck

 

[Tangocpt]

After the inital spew of coolant and the engin temp guage going up I was on the side of the road for about 15 min just trying to patch up the hose and at the Orileys for maybe an hour pulling off and replacing the hose, is that long enough for to let it cool? The guage went back to just below the middle of the guage but went back up but never at the white line just befor the red one even after i had replaced the hose.
Didnt think to "Burp" the radiator, I'll go do that then post back.

 

[sinister06civic]

I feel like after two weeks running fine that the coolant system was flushed of air pockets,if the initial problem with the thermostat caused an over heating then it's a good possibillity that the head gasket is bad and that would explain the nasty over heating now..of course this is just a diagnosis sight unseeen but you may need to look deeper

 

[UCCRacing]

I feel like after two weeks running fine that the coolant system was flushed of air pockets,if the initial problem with the thermostat caused an over heating then it's a good possibillity that the head gasket is bad and that would explain the nasty over heating now..of course this is just a diagnosis sight unseeen but you may need to look deeper

Good Point....

So this is easy to check for... Look at your coolant when you open the radiator... If that was the case it would be green with brown or hazy color... You Also when you pull the dip stick is it milky? Or have that "antifreeze reflection" on it... basically a head gasket will cause coolant and oil to go into each others area's causing problems...

And yes you have to burp it every time you do drain it for say a hose or thermostat... I learned the hard way lol... But yes it has to get rid of that air otherwise it won't do its job...

 

[Tangocpt]

Just finished with the "Burp", will see how its going in a bit. The Oil doesn't have a milky look or the reflection you mentioned but the radiator does seem to have a little oil in it. Is the gasket a seperate thing I could buy if needed or is it apart of the head it self? I ask because I got extar part when I bought the car. Ill post pictures of it sence Im not really sure if its a head assembly or not.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn32/Tango49_VoW/P5140040.jpg
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn32/Tango49_VoW/P5140039.jpg

 

[Tangocpt]

Just got back from a test run, does not seem to be having an issue right now. Was going between 0-70 mph roughly over 5-6 miles and the temp guage never went over around 1/3. If I have any other issues I'll just post sere sence this could act as a record of what has been done/checked already. Thanks for the help guys.

 

[UCCRacing]

No problem at all... First of all thanks for the detailed info. It does help! A lot of people post

"My car overheats" and then don't post again for a week....

Glad it seems fixed...

Make sure to check it over the next couple of days/week and make sure she stays full.. ** always check when it is cool

Check your oil make sure its not milky and keep an eye on it... Plus it helps to make sure your not low

 

[XpL0d3r]

Definitely keep an eye on it for a while... overheating is not fun.

 

[UCCRacing]

Just finished with the "Burp", will see how its going in a bit. The Oil doesn't have a milky look or the reflection you mentioned but the radiator does seem to have a little oil in it. Is the gasket a seperate thing I could buy if needed or is it apart of the head it self? I ask because I got extar part when I bought the car. Ill post pictures of it sence Im not really sure if its a head assembly or not.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn32/Tango49_VoW/P5140040.jpg
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn32/Tango49_VoW/P5140039.jpg

Just a heads up when you post pics use the xxxxx[img] link so that they post like below :)

To your point, that is your head and Valve Cover. I would take it to a head shop, have them look at it and just inspect it and see if the head needs to be milled (the underside of the head where it bolts to the engine block can be machined to be 100% true flat) if it needs to be milled it is usually 40 bucks or so, and the inspection 40 bucks... Usually a rebuild on that head is about 200 bucks... But having them check it out before installing it (if need be) is you know what you have and if anything needs replaced....
[IMG]http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p112/underconstructioncrew/Engine-1.jpg

Now as far as what your talking about, I would check the oil after you drive, because the oil is mixed and if you check it after it sits then it is separated again.... Smell the oil, see if it smells Sweet like the antifreeze? If it does then you may have a blown head gasket....

You can also after the car is hot, take the Oil Cap off, see if it has water/antifreeze on it... Imagine a lid on over your food boiling, and the lid gets wet, same idea, if coolant is in your oil it will do the same thing and you can see it on your oil cap....

The coolant color should be green, but if it is a head gasket then it will be green with brown ting to it or brown oil sitting on it.. just like when you pore oil into water... But when hot it will mix.. So just keep an eye on it....

I hope this helps.. If you get that head up to par, buy Valve Cover Gasket, OEM or Cometic Head Gasket, OEM Timing Belt, OEM Water Pump and tension pulley... Piece it together and then have a shop do the head gasket and timing belt all at once your car will be like new and only be around 400 bucks... maybe 500.

But stick with OEM on these parts as they are VITAL... If the timing belt snaps your screwed... It can break a lot of stuff... So just a heads up (no pun intended lol)