1991 Honda Civic Won't Start

1991 HONDA CIVIC
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JEASTWOOD85
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Any help on the matter would be great. My wife's '91 Honda Civic EX 130,000 mi won't start. I went out this weekend to take a look (not a car guy didn't know where to start). The battery was dead so I charged it with mine, starter sounded like it was trying but car wouldn't turn over. Also checked fluids while I was out there and her oil level was really quite a bit higher than it should be and it looked as though she may have oil in her radiator. She said she was driving on the highway and it just died on her, and wouldn't start after that. I've read some other posts about a plunger on the clutch so I'll check that out, just wondering what else to check while I'm out there again. Thanks for anything.
Jun 27, 2006 at 9:20 PM
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BRUCE HUNT
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First of all, why was the battery dead? You should determine that issue. Next, check the level of the oil again and note if there is a creamy white color to the oil. Has the car been running hot? How did you determine that there was oil in the engine coolant? I would pull out the spark plugs and see what they look like. Note each plug and the cylinder they came out of. You should be looking for the deposits on the plugs to see if they are black and oily. If they are gray or a slight brown then that is good.

Did you get a check engine light to come on?
Jun 28, 2006 at 8:02 AM
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LIKETHISSITE
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what does it mean when you find white and creamy oil?
thanks
Jul 4, 2006 at 3:10 AM
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BRUCE HUNT
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This oil is mixed with water. Overtime it will seperate, but within the engine it gets a good whipping and the mixture that results is the white creamy substance.

So what would that mean? The coolant is getting into the engine oil. The most usual method is by the head gasket leaking, but there are other methods as well.
Jul 5, 2006 at 4:36 AM

Suggested Repair

Find why the battery went dead, recheck the oil for a white creamy appearance, and inspect each spark plug for oily deposits. Creamy oil means coolant is mixing with the oil, most often from a leaking head gasket, so confirm that before further repairs.

Conversation Summary

A 1991 Honda Civic EX with about 130,000 miles died on the highway and would not restart. After charging a dead battery, the starter cranked but the engine would not turn over; the oil level was high and oil appeared to be in the radiator. The expert advised determining the battery drain, checking for creamy oil and overheating, inspecting the spark plugs by cylinder, and noting any check-engine light. Creamy oil indicates coolant mixed into the oil, usually from a leaking head gasket, though other causes are possible.

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