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Hey Guys,
Two summers ago I posted a problem I had with my 2002 Civic EX. I was experiencing odd and random hesitation with no CELs. Felt like the exhaust system was clogged. Did all kinds of random tests, put in a test pipe, replaced a fuel filter, comp test, all but a leak down test which would have told me what I later learned the hard way. Coolant started spewing out on the coldest day of the year and lost heat: Head gasket has failed. Which is a very common failure on these d17 engines, or so I read.
I have been driving the car for about 16K miles, two winters and a summer. Lately I think the problem has gotten worse because it sounds like a lot of exhaust is getting out from under the hood through the coolant bottle/rad.My question is this. Given that the coolant IS NOT mixing with oil, and the engine has never overheated on me, is there any other damage I need to look out for when I eventually get around to pulling the head? I’m worried about scoring from the heat on the head and or block, more so on the block because that can not be easily milled. I’ve gotta drive the car for another 2.5 months as it is until I will get a chance to tear it all down. It runs ok as long as it isn’t TOO Cold or Too warm of day, seems to be a sweet spot. Also Is not returing the same kind of MPG I have come to expect from this car.
Not planning on rebuilding the top end, as that may be the tipping point for me for whether or not I want to continue driving and owning this car. I’m thinking the thermostat, rad cap should be replaced as a precaution at this point. Wondering if the exhaust gasses could have damaged anything else such as the rad/ hoses.
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You could try a third-world solution, just crank down on the head bolts another 10 to 25% of torque. I did this on a VW Rabbit that started overheating at the most inconvenient time, the coldest days of the year. Not a good time to do a head job. So I got out the big old torque wrench and tightened the head bolts to like 15% over spec, and the car ran perfectly for another 2 years, until a front spring broke, again in January, and I decided, that was it.
If it’s an aluminum block, maybe try nar the lower end, say 10 to 16%. With an iron block you can probably go to 25% with no worries.
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