D15b7 Overheating

D15, D16, D17 and Mini-Me swaps
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D15b7 Overheating

By Boods
- Thu Feb 03, 2011 1:19 pm #236817 Hey guys,

Havn't been on here in a while, various problems with moving and what not, car's still a mess... Now I've got starting to get it back on track, it's gone and started running really hot.

The engine is idling at around 500-600 and seems to bew bogging down when i accellerate. The temperature guage is jumping about from about mid range to the top. It doesn't seem to be any perticular trigger as it's not running hot when pushing it a bit [6k RPM odd full throttle etc].

I've checked for oil + rad leaks, the rad is using a tiny bit of water but it's not leaking, and i've got some 10w40 in atm.

Hoping it's not a head gasket going, but i have been noticing some white smoke from the back end.

Not sure what to do as it's not something i can dedicate too much time too.... what else should i be looking for? Any help or suggestions are welcome!
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By teal_dx
- Thu Feb 03, 2011 2:14 pm #236825 look for traces of oil in your coolant (light oil film on surface) and any traces of coolant in your oil (thick milky gunk)

Also try doing a compression test :thumb:

By Boods
- Thu Feb 03, 2011 2:47 pm #236827 Cheers teal :) I was suspecting it to be the Head gasket due to the smoke so I'm going to check the compression & also check both the oil & Coolant. I seem to recall the Coolant itself being slightly milky. The inside of the coolant resevoir has a slight brownish "mud" almost in it, quite thin and watery but I'm not sure what it is.

On a scale of 1-10 how challenging is a head gasket change? I've heard around 6 or 7/10
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By eg84dr
- Thu Feb 03, 2011 9:02 pm #236899 doing a head gasket is very easy and the diy helps a bunch
iv done three head gaskets/ head swaps and the biggest and most important part is resufacing the head
i used to sat f it and not resurface the head but after doing two head gaskets and having to do them again when the head warped i realized shaving the head is very important
its pretty cheap and it s a good insurance plan

By Boods
- Fri Feb 04, 2011 11:40 am #237039 Done some checks. Topped up the coolant, filling the over-flow resevior, noticed some brownish substance in there, kind of look brown and black. Topped up the oil as well. didn't notice any traces of oil in the coolant or vice versa. Still runas hot after a while.

Small bit of white smoke when it's cold, and the revs are still jumping.

Assuming the revs jumping is the Idle air control valve, apparently could be cleaned. Will get this checked once i've got the engine checked out.

Thinking that it might be rad fan or the thermostat, havnt had a chance to check due to work though.. it's only city use it's been used on and only recently it's been over-heating on and i've not had any other problems before. Thinking it could mean the HG might be on the way out though.

Might be the IAC means it's been not getting enough air and running too rich as well?
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By Honda4life
- Fri Feb 04, 2011 11:48 am #237040 I just had the same problem on my d16z6 before I ended up rebuilding it. Start small and look at your thermostat because it could be either stuck or faulty. Also don't forget to check your coolant hoses. Don't forget to burp your coolant when put new coolant in so that you can get rid of the air pockets. Good luck.
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By Honda4life
- Fri Feb 04, 2011 11:49 am #237041 Also check your water pump

By Boods
- Fri Feb 04, 2011 1:26 pm #237044 Quick update,

Checked the coolant level, coolant resevoir and then refilled it. Also topped up the oil and had a snoop around. Seems the fan isn't working, so will need to get that sorted, and the revs still bounce.

Has anyone got details on how to clean the IAC controller, where it is, and how i clean it? I read a thread on a british forum but it wasn't very explaining and I know you guys are the best at making things understandable :)

By AutoXCivic
- Fri Feb 04, 2011 3:26 pm #237055 For the jumping revs you might also try tightening down the FITV. I know my car had trouble idling when that got a little loose.
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