1989 Honda Civic incomplete symptoms

23,400 MILES • 4 CYL • FWD • MANUAL
Avatar
MELINDA.APPLES
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
hello! I'm actually not sure if my car is a 4 or 6 cylinder...but here's the problem.
about a week ago, I thought I smelled burning anti-freeze -- it smelled like dry-ice, and the friend I was driving with said it was probably anti-freeze. There was white smoke coming off the engine when we stopped driving, and the engine was very hot, and still warm 2 hours later when I had to drive home.

I checked my coolant level and saw that it was low, so I put more in.

About 4 days later, I noticed the smell again, but this time there wasn't any smoke on the engine, and it wasn't as hot as it had been, though I'd driven for longer.
Apr 20, 2009 at 1:08 PM
Avatar
KHLOW2008
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 41,812 POSTS
Hi melinda.apples,

Civic are only equipped with 4 cylinders.

You should keep track of the coolant. Seems there is some leaking or overheating issue. Get a pressure test done to check for leakage. Check if the radiator fans are working.
While driving keep an eye on the temperature gauge.
May 3, 2009 at 3:27 AM
Add a reply
Join 2CarPros for free, one of the most advanced car repair communities on the internet. From first-time drivers to seasoned mechanics, everyone is welcome to reply, share details, and get better answers. You can add a temporary image or video first; uploads are limited to 20 MB.

Frequently Asked Problems for This Vehicle