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Hello my name is Pete and this is my first post. This is a little long with history of my Honda wagon engine overhaul and current cylinder head leak issue. If anyone has some recommendations on parts and or procedures to prevent this from happening in the future.
Here’s a little history on my 1997 Honda Accord Wagon EX with F22b2 4 cyl, V-Tec engine, automatic transmission. I rebuilt the engine 100,000 miles ago, as I got the car from a neighbor that overheated the engine pretty good. The block and head were taken to a machine shop and reworked with no issues. Then I rebuilt it using OEM parts and gaskets, head bolts.
Recently I have been losing coolant and I have not found any external leaks anywhere. After driving 25 miles or so then parking for while at the store and then starting the car it sputters and misses sometimes, not ever time after is sits for a little while. Then a lot of white smoke (moisture, steam I suspect as it clears out after driving home). I pulled the spark plugs and notice wet cylinders on #2, #3. I did a cold engine, dry cylinder compression test, with #1 cyl @ 200, #2 190, #3 190, #4 200. I’m also seeing small bubbles in radiator even after ensuring the bleed screw was free of air.
I’m pretty certain I have a leaking head gasket or cracked head.
What I don’t get is that the engine hasn’t over heated, both cooling fans work when the A/C is on, which is ran most of the time when the car is driven. The temperature gauge is working. Right now with the outside air temp at 59 degrees F. The engine is hot but doesn’t kick on the radiator cooling fan with the A/C off, and the temp gauge is below the middle mark where it usually reads when the engine is hot. I do notice a small amount of movement on the temp gauge from its normal position.
The engine runs fine but it’s not right and I suspect the cylinder head is warped slightly. I have been using Honda head gaskets from Majestic Honda, is there a better head gasket? (Felpro Perma-torque MLS 9958PT1, Victor Reinz Head gasket, 54216, and what about Victor Reinz GS33407 Head bolts, on the market?
If anyone has any advice on parts, procedures, or any other test to prevent future failure let me know.
I’m also using Honda Accord V-Tec engine shop Manual, using a three step torque sequence up to 72.3 ft lbs torque on cylinder head bolts, and a beam style torque wrench from Sears.Thanks for reading and for any advise in advance.
Pete
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