- Sun Feb 17, 2008 6:15 pm
#42631
My sedan has been using coolant since i bought it. it doesn;t leak any coolant any where. the head gasket is good to the best of my knowledge. but the coolant doesn't seem to be circulating at all when i heat up the engine and check the radiator. i get good heat some times but it might take longer than usual. the fan never runs allthough the relay, fuses and plugs are fine. the thermostat was supposedly replaced. what could it be????????
- Mon Feb 18, 2008 2:08 am
#42697
well thanks 11 views and not even a sugestion. Bought some flush today going to do that tomarow then going to replace the thermostat and gasket, water outlet gasket, and install a new coolant temp sensor.
- Mon Feb 18, 2008 2:48 am
#42700
...8 hours later, when many gurus have not had a chance to log on.
Patience is a virtue.
Patience is a virtue.
- Mon Feb 18, 2008 3:55 am
#42708
Does the temp gauge ever go up past 1/2 way?
Do you ever pop your hood after driving and find the overflow tank is full?
Does your coolant have a fine oily like film on the surface?
like this:
Those things would indicate a leaking/blown headgasket. You won't always have the white smoke from the tail pipe, but it will still consume coolant.
Do you ever pop your hood after driving and find the overflow tank is full?
Does your coolant have a fine oily like film on the surface?
like this:

Those things would indicate a leaking/blown headgasket. You won't always have the white smoke from the tail pipe, but it will still consume coolant.
Do Not PM me your technical questions. Post them in the forum!
My 1992 SOHC Turbo Hatch
My Youtube Channel: 6th Gear Garage

My 1992 SOHC Turbo Hatch
My Youtube Channel: 6th Gear Garage
- Mon Feb 18, 2008 5:00 am
#42724
a bit filmy yes, and when i take the cap of the radiator coolant poors into the over flow and air comes out of the radiator, the temp did go above half last night, but why would the heat be so intermitant as is the smell. and why are the fans running?
- Mon Feb 18, 2008 5:13 am
#42727
i'm betting on your head gasket then.
leaking or blown HG can push air from the combustion chamber into the coolant passage, creating high pressure and forcing the coolant out through the overflow. then you get air pockets in the coolant system which can cause overheating at times. the film comes from oil/fuel entering the coolant passage from the combustion chamber.
I had this and my HG was cracked between #2 and #3 cyls.
Another time the HG was not cracked at all and it was happening, probably not properly torqued
the fans are running because your ECU is telling them to turn on because the temp is overheating, although when I had similar problems, the fan would only kick on for a min or so.
Apexracing wrote:a bit filmy yes, and when i take the cap of the radiator coolant poors into the over flow and air comes out of the radiator, the temp did go above half last night, but why would the heat be so intermitant as is the smell. and why are the fans running?
i'm betting on your head gasket then.
leaking or blown HG can push air from the combustion chamber into the coolant passage, creating high pressure and forcing the coolant out through the overflow. then you get air pockets in the coolant system which can cause overheating at times. the film comes from oil/fuel entering the coolant passage from the combustion chamber.
I had this and my HG was cracked between #2 and #3 cyls.
Another time the HG was not cracked at all and it was happening, probably not properly torqued

the fans are running because your ECU is telling them to turn on because the temp is overheating, although when I had similar problems, the fan would only kick on for a min or so.
Do Not PM me your technical questions. Post them in the forum!
My 1992 SOHC Turbo Hatch
My Youtube Channel: 6th Gear Garage

My 1992 SOHC Turbo Hatch
My Youtube Channel: 6th Gear Garage
- Mon Feb 18, 2008 5:19 am
#42730
sorry i meant the fans arnt running even after i drive an hour or so. And how much do you think it would cost to have it replaced.
- Mon Feb 18, 2008 5:20 am
#42732
try hooking it up straight to the battery and see if it comes on, maybe the fan is bad?
Do Not PM me your technical questions. Post them in the forum!
My 1992 SOHC Turbo Hatch
My Youtube Channel: 6th Gear Garage

My 1992 SOHC Turbo Hatch
My Youtube Channel: 6th Gear Garage
- Mon Feb 18, 2008 5:24 am
#42737
have the head gasket replaced i meant ya i'll check the fans.
- Wed Feb 20, 2008 4:56 pm
#43149
fans work, tryed flushing the radiator didn't make a differance. i purchased a gasket set and the head bolts. so i'm going to try to change it this weekend or the next. hopefully all goes well. if i can find me a camera i'll do a diy on the headgasket change.
- Wed Feb 20, 2008 4:59 pm
#43150
those are the exact things that i have
along with sputtering and misfiring when fired up sometimes, which is the engine trying to clear out the coolant and burn it off
Remember when Civics were cool ? Yea me neither
teal_dx wrote:Does the temp gauge ever go up past 1/2 way?
Do you ever pop your hood after driving and find the overflow tank is full?
Does your coolant have a fine oily like film on the surface?
like this:
Those things would indicate a leaking/blown headgasket. You won't always have the white smoke from the tail pipe, but it will still consume coolant.
those are the exact things that i have

along with sputtering and misfiring when fired up sometimes, which is the engine trying to clear out the coolant and burn it off

Remember when Civics were cool ? Yea me neither
- Wed Feb 20, 2008 5:03 pm
#43151
mine run's absoulutly perfect but i'm not taking any chances.
- Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:39 pm
#43172
if it's not overheating then it is very minor. maybe leaking somewhere else like the thermostat or a seal someplace. I'd keep an eye on your coolant level until the problem gets worse and you can pin point it.
Do Not PM me your technical questions. Post them in the forum!
My 1992 SOHC Turbo Hatch
My Youtube Channel: 6th Gear Garage

My 1992 SOHC Turbo Hatch
My Youtube Channel: 6th Gear Garage
- Wed Feb 20, 2008 8:48 pm
#43178
The gasket set i ordered includes almost every gasket imaginable. so i'm going to do all of the water gaskets, the valve cover gasket/ sparkplug tube gaskets. intake/exaust manifold and the head gasket. the coolant just doesn't seem to be flowing and the hoses seem to not have alot of coolant in them and the coolant in the radiator and lower hose never seems to get hot so idk what the problem is but i already got the gaskets coming so we will see. IS a graphite head gasket any good? let me know what you guys think.
- Wed Feb 20, 2008 10:58 pm
#43221
quick question related to this topic. what is the order for removal and intallation of the head bolts and what tourqe ftlb should i tighten them too many thanks guys.