1998 Honda Accord Oil in Coolant

1998 HONDA ACCORD
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DICKYDID
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My vehicle (with 109,000 miles on it) over heated and I found excessive amounts of oil in the cooling system. I sought the advice of two auto mechanics and they both felt it was a bad head gasket. I've been a shade tree mechanic for years, and felt I could handle the job with the right repair info. I purchased the repair manual published by Honda Motor Co. and procceeded to do the job. I thought I had suceeded and patted myself on the back but soon realized I had the same problem again on a smaller scale. The only things I can say that I didn't do by the book were (1) I used an aftermarket gasket set instead of genuine Honda parts and (2) I did not have the head planed ( the head appeared to be within the allowable warpage limits of .002 inch ). Did I do a bad job or could the problem be caused by something other than a head gasket. I'm not sure how long the oil had been accumulating in the system before it over heated the first time I discovered it. Any insight on this will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!
Dec 1, 2006 at 6:46 AM
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STRAILER
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Anytime the cyilnder head is off the car for a blown head gasket you should have it surfaced. Is your car a automatic trans?.. sometimes the cooler in the radiator can leak causing the same problem. If all checks our ok you could have a cracked block or head. :cry:
Dec 1, 2006 at 7:19 AM
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DICKYDID
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[quote:1f275b8fe1="2CarPro Ken"]Anytime the cyilnder head is off the car for a blown head gasket you should have it surfaced. Is your car a automatic trans?.. sometimes the cooler in the radiator can leak causing the same problem. If all checks our ok you could have a cracked block or head. :cry:[/quote:1f275b8fe1]

I did check the automatic transmission coolant line and it was o.k. Now I don't know whether to do another tear down and have the head resurfaced or what!! What do you think?
Dec 1, 2006 at 7:41 AM
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STRAILER
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If there is coolant in the oil we have to do something, remove the cylinder head and have presure checked, if ok and the head gaket is ok, the block could be cracked.
Dec 1, 2006 at 7:52 AM
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DICKYDID
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[quote:0f9bc78004="2CarPro Ken"]If there is coolant in the oil we have to do something, remove the cylinder head and have presure checked, if ok and the head gasket is ok, the block could be cracked.[/quote:0f9bc78004]

Actually, the oil is in the coolant. Does this make a difference? If I need to have a pressure check, do I have to take the head to a garage to have that done?
Dec 1, 2006 at 1:22 PM
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BRUCE HUNT
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Pull the head off and take it in to an auto shop to have it checked for cracks and warpage. The once the head is back put on the new head gasket.
Dec 1, 2006 at 3:36 PM
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DICKYDID
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[quote:05bf57d093="Bruce Hunt"]Pull the head off and take it in to an auto shop to have it checked for cracks and warpage. The once the head is back put on the new head gasket.[/quote:05bf57d093]

Thanks for the advice. I'll let you know how I make out.
Dec 2, 2006 at 11:21 PM

Suggested Repair

Remove the cylinder head and have a machine shop pressure-check it for cracks and check warpage, then resurface it if needed. Install a new head gasket. The transmission cooler line was already checked and found okay; if the head checks out, a cracked block remains possible.

Conversation Summary

A 1998 Honda Accord with about 109,000 miles overheated and had oil in the coolant. Two mechanics suspected a head gasket. The owner replaced it with an aftermarket gasket and did not resurface the head because measured warpage was within 0.002 inch, but oil returned to the coolant on a smaller scale. The owner confirmed the automatic transmission cooler line was okay. Experts advised removing the head for crack and warpage checks and installing a new gasket, noting a cracked head or block if those checks pass.

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