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Blown head gasket

Tiny
ALEXANDRIA
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1997 HONDA ACCORD
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 104,390 MILES
Good day.
My Car is Honda Accord '97 VTiS A/T.
- Cylinder head Gasket is newly replaced.
- Drove everyday about 20kilometers and no overheating.
- Radiator is newly overhauled and tried using plain water now as I am observing if radiator has leaks before I put coolant.
The following were observed:
- drove uphill and the temperature rose to a half or a little above the half of the temperature gauge.
- When the engine is cold, I open the radiator cap and tried to start the engine and saw that water is coming out or flowing out of the radiator upon starting or while engine is running.
What could be the problem or what causes the water to come out of the radiator?
- Is it normal for a water to flow out of the radiator when cap is open while engine is running?
Thanks!
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Wednesday, February 13th, 2019 AT 12:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
Do not run in on plain water. You need to get a concentration of about 50/50. You'll overheat it.
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Wednesday, February 13th, 2019 AT 12:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ALEXANDRIA
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Reply is so fast. Thank you so much!
How about the concern in the radiator?
Thanks.
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Wednesday, February 13th, 2019 AT 12:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
The water is expanding as it heats up and will push out.
Until the thermostat opens up, the waterpump may push out the water.
Regardless the system needs the antifreeze properties to perform correctly. Check the coolant level when cold and engine off. Top off as needed and just check the level in the reservior. Radiator should remain full. IF the engine gets too hot from just having water, it can cause damage including pooping the new headgasket.

Drain out 3 and a half quarts of the water if you have a 6 cyl or 3 quarts if it is a 4 cyl. This is approximatley half of the systems capacity.

Replace that with straight antifreeze.
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Wednesday, February 13th, 2019 AT 12:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ALEXANDRIA
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Thank you again, already followed the 50/50 concentration.
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Wednesday, February 13th, 2019 AT 12:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
No problem. If there is a leak, it will show, I doubt there though.
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Wednesday, February 13th, 2019 AT 12:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ALEXANDRIA
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Was able to encounter a 3hour traffic last night, didnt overheat, I touched the hood and its cold, upon checking the reservoir water is only 1/4, radiator still full, I will try to drive in uphills to test if temperature will still go up. Thank you so much.
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Wednesday, February 13th, 2019 AT 12:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
Cooling systems sometimes seek their own level in the reservior. There may be a marking on the side for where it is suggested to fill it to, but the level may vary.
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Wednesday, February 13th, 2019 AT 12:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CTD7320
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • HONDA ACCORD
I have a 1995 Honda Accord (4 cylinder) with 229K miles. After taking my car for a timing belt and water pump replacement, the next day my car overheated. I returned the car to dealership (after having the thought that the water pump was not installed correctly). The mechanic told me that I have a blown head gasket that needs repair. As you can imagine, this is quite costly. So I continued to put coolant from the overflow tank (coolant wouldn't flow from overflow tank back into radiator) into the radiator to prevent overheating. This became a chore, so upon recommendation from another mechanic I replaced my radiator cap. This worked and I have driven the car for over 2K miles with no symptoms (i.E. Adding coolant). Is it possible to have a blown head gasket without overheating issues or milky oil? HELP - Am I Being Scammed! : :
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Wednesday, February 13th, 2019 AT 12:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BRUCE HUNT
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,754 POSTS
The head gasket is often a first shot by some mechanics. Obviously there is more time and money in fixing that and then finding out it wasn't bad. If you are worried at all, have a leak down test performed. It is simple, should be rather inexpensive and will tell you all you need to know about the engine, head gasket, etc. You could also have someone check the pressure on the cooling system to see if the radiator and cooling system are performing as they are supposed to. I would purge the system of any air that might be in it. Open carefully the bleeder on the top hose near the block and with the engine running and at normal operating temp let out the steam and air.
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Wednesday, February 13th, 2019 AT 12:15 PM (Merged)
Tiny
REEFSIDE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1996 HONDA ACCORD
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 160,000 MILES
My car overheated and cracked the radiator, the shop says I have blown the head gasket. Determination was from the expansion while the car was in idle not a compression check.

Trying to determine if it is worth the repair cost. How can I determine if other damage has been done such as the catalytic converter etc.

Is there any pertinent information I need or questions to ask to help decide if I pay the $1500 repair (replacing the radiator, thermostat, water pump and timing belt at the same time) or put that towards a down payment on a replacement vehicle.
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Wednesday, February 13th, 2019 AT 12:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BLACKOP555
  • MECHANIC
  • 10,371 POSTS
1500 for all that! That is a great great great price for all that work.

But your vehicle is pretty high mileage, convertor wont be shot from that, it may be shot of the o2 sensor gets fouled up from the coolant being burned with the exhaust, causing the exhaust to be rich or lean and burn up the convertor.
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Wednesday, February 13th, 2019 AT 12:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MILTONASHLEY25
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
  • 1999 HONDA ACCORD
I have a 1999 Honda Accord LX 4cylinder 2.3 liter and the oil is getting into the radiator. I had a back yard mechanic replace the head gasket but just the head gasket and the car did great for about 500 miles and it started to do it again. I think that he did not do it right. Also it has a new radiator and there is no crack in the block so that is not it.
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Wednesday, February 13th, 2019 AT 12:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
There may be a crack in the block that you cannot see.

Did your guy replace the head bolts with new ones? If not, that most likely may be the cause which means it has to come off again and be re done correctly.

Roy
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Wednesday, February 13th, 2019 AT 12:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MILTONASHLEY25
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
No he used the same old ones. And if that is not it what else could it be
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Wednesday, February 13th, 2019 AT 12:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
That is it. They are torque to yield bolts and cannot be re used. When you remove the head again, take the time to have a machine shop check it for warpage and cracks.

Start there. You need this before going anywhere else.

Roy
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Wednesday, February 13th, 2019 AT 12:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MILTONASHLEY25
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Ok thank you and one more thing where would I find another head if it was cracked
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Wednesday, February 13th, 2019 AT 12:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
You could get one at a junk yard but make sure you have it checked before assembly. Or you can get a new one from the dealer which is big bucks.
Some of the aftermarkets sell re build complete heads for a reasonable amount of money.

Check around, they are there.

Roy
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Wednesday, February 13th, 2019 AT 12:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MILTONASHLEY25
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Thank You so much this is such a helpful site!
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Wednesday, February 13th, 2019 AT 12:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good luck

Roy
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Wednesday, February 13th, 2019 AT 12:16 PM (Merged)

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