bled coolant sys. bubbles keep on “BLOWN H. Gasket

[Billy Rodney]

I am troubleshooting my G.F.’s 99 Honda Civic 1.6L. It idles rough when it reaches Normal Op. Temp. I started with tune up. Then went on to check pcv valve…good. I started bleeding the coolant system as you showed me in your video, by the way excellent info. and no rigging in all your videos, when it reached temp.and the thermo. opened the coolant recirculated as it should, it kept letting out small bubbles and smells like burnt exhaust……BLOWN HEAD GASKET????? I am gonna get an adapter for my pressure tester today to be sure. Wouldn’t that for sure be the reason for rough idle at normal op. temp., because the heat expands the crack and allows exhaust fumes into the coolant system. It runs fine when on the throttle, So it must be small, and no steam out the tail pipe. No water in oil. This would also confuse the IAC valve right? Also, how serious? I have changed plenty of head gaskets in the past but they were major. Will it progressively get worst? She told me the mechanic she used on her last vehicle used something in the coolant,I’m thinking Bars Stop Leak or something like it, Isn’t that just like using duct tape on a radiator hose- might or might not work, It will reoccur. Suggestions? I probably already know what you guys on here will say, which is what I was taught, Change the HEAD GASKET!!!! Thanks for any input

Topic

[Austin]

You should do an induction cleaning on the injectors, its easy and nothing has to be disassembled, except for a vacuum line. I wouldn’t bother with pulling the injectors and cleaning them by hand. If you have a leak in the cap seal, the cap needs to be replaced. If you have an expansion tank then this could be your entire problem. If it’s only a reservoir then its not a big deal. Cleaning the IAC will NOT change how many ohms are read.

[Billy Rodney]

Well I installed a new thermostat, cleaned the IAC valve,and cleaned the throttle body. I rented a block test from Auto Zone for just under 30 bucks. Right away I noticed a difference in the idle,it was running smoother than ever. Like I said before the throttle body and IAC were slap full of carbon build-up. They are now spotless. The engine got up to temp with ac on full blast the engine was running perfectly. I ran the block test and the fluid stayed blue. Woo Hoo. The bubbles appear to be gone as well. I am gonna say that the old thermostat was opening too late so the coolant was getting to boiling point before thermostat had fully opened. That was causing the bubbles in the system.The IAC was carboned up and not working properly. Next weekend I am gonna change the timing belt. Thanks for all the input………………. BILLYsobx from Eastern NC

[Billy Rodney]

New problem….. Went shopping and the car ran great. Pick-up was noticeably better. After going a few places, started car and the idle was surging, plus check engine light was on. The surge was the exact same surge as when I disconnected IAC while engine was running. Not the same idle issue that started all of this. I jumped the blue test conn. under dash. Only one flash, Haynes manual says O2 sensor, Your codes do not have only one number, What do I do? Auto Zone didn’t have T.B.-Int. manifold paper gasket so I ordered it,gonna pick it up today,I reused the old one which I know is a NO-NO. Also they do not carry the IAC rubber gasket, so I cleaned and put a tiny bit of oil on the old to soften it up, and reused it,also a NO-NO. Could that be my whole problem?

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