1995 overheating - dont know problem

1995 HONDA
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JUDYT
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Ok - so my Honda is having some problems. It's $140k on it. It overheated on a recent trip and it seemed like it was due to lack of coolant and so I added it. After a week the water level is way below the "max" level and is near the "min" level and so I add water. The car doesn't say it's overheating, I took it to the mechanics to see if there was a problem and they ran a diagnostic test and found nothing wrong. He speculates that it could be a gasket/gasket head problem and quoted $ 1K - 2.5K to fix it. Is this really the problem? I saw the other postings about gasket heads and how you should see white smoke, are you supposed to see what smoke all the time? I think I've only seen it once and I thought it was becuase it was cold? (sorry i'm not the most knowledgeable when it comes to cars!) [/quote]
Feb 3, 2006 at 9:12 AM
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JUDYT
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sorry - forgot to add that this is a honda civic... and that i've had to add water for the past two weeks because it fell below the max level... is that normal???
Feb 3, 2006 at 9:14 AM
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CHEVY350GUY
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 109 POSTS
it is possible for a head gasket to leak and not get in the cylinders, which then you would see heavy white smoke. because you are over heating, this could be that the combustion is actually entering the coolant. this sends extremely hot air into the cooling system, and will over heat your car. the best way to test for this is to hook up a no spill funnel. fill the cooling system all the way till the funnel is half full. after the thermostat opens the coolant should stop bubbling. how ever if it continuously bubbles after the thermostate opens the head gasket is most likely blown ,and the continuous bubbles are from the compression.
Feb 3, 2006 at 1:32 PM
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Suggested Repair

Coolant loss over two weeks is not normal. Test for a blown head gasket with a no-spill funnel: fill the cooling system until the funnel is about half full and run the engine until the thermostat opens. Bubbling should stop after the thermostat opens; continuous bubbling indicates combustion gases entering the coolant and a likely blown head gasket.

Conversation Summary

A 1995 Honda Civic owner with about 140,000 miles reported overheating and repeated coolant loss after topping up, requiring water additions for two weeks. A shop diagnostic found nothing definite but speculated a head gasket and quoted a costly repair. The owner had seen white smoke only once, possibly when cold. The expert explained a head gasket can leak combustion into the coolant without constant white exhaust smoke and recommended a no-spill funnel bubble test after the thermostat opens.

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