Hi & help!

My 92 Civic HB had a head replaced 1 1/2 years ago, new radiator/cap, heater runs nice & warm, no cab leaks, but i'm losing coolant weekly. (like 1/2 gallon!) The mechanic sez maybe a bad heater core, but the heater runs nice like I said, and no inside leaks. No white blow in the tailpipe either. Runs cool, runs great.

Crankcase shows clean oil, & no hose leakage. I do, however, smell a faint whiff of coolant when I run the heater, but then I carry coolant in the back seat (have to!).

What can I get him to try to end the misery of the mystery. I hate the guessing game! Thanx fellas...

Start by pressure testing the cooling system.

Hey thanks for the suggest.

Unfortunately, the mechanic refused to do the test (?) stating it wouldn't really tell him anything. Huh.... Said he couldn't see anything underneath outwardly leaking, car on & car off.

No one else available this close to Thanksgiving. Drat.

I bought another overflow tank in case mine was leaking (he spotted moisture on mine). $5 at the junkyard.

Now, in case it's the head gasket AGAIN, what can I put in the CX, radiator or crankcase, to forestall disaster until this mess of holidays is over?

Thanks again.

Well, no offense to your mechanic, but the notion that a pressure tester won't tell him anything is complete BS. That having been said. Have you checked your water pump?
I can't begin to count how many civics I have found with leaking water pumps. There is a weep hole that dumps coolant when the internal seal fails its located next to where the upper alternator bracket bolts to the block, I highly recommend looking there first before pulling out the dashboard.

put a clean piece of card board under the engine and start your car see if you see any drips of antifreeze if you do then theres your leak. also since you smell coolant check under the dash and see if its all wet by the heater core or your rug.

thanx fellas............i ended up replacing the overflow. and ran some professional (auto shop recommended) stop leak through the system: no loss at all now.

I was feeling a little drippage under the old overflow, could be it was that simple? Doubtful but the stop leak has certainly arrested things for the time being.

:smokin:

Good to hear you got it fixed. Probably was the bottle if there was moisture or coolant around the bottle. As for the stop leak me myself i try to stay away from it if possable cause sometimes does more damage than good could clog up the radiator and heater core.

Hi again fellas,

Took a trip to SC & the CX's thermostat went NUTS, finally pegged. Stopped, opened the hood, touched the rad cap oddly coolish?? tweaked it to burp it and the whole shootin' match gysered in my face, scalding me. Totally stupid I know. Thought maybe since it was cool: no coolant....dumb...

Am healing ok now, but I think it IS the head gasket which is maddening cos I had it replaced 1 1/2 years ago & I don't drive it rough at all, original engine, keep fluids up to level always.

My Q: if it is the gasket, that's one thing, but if it's a cracked or warped head, where online can I look to find one? Honda dealer wants $1000 w/out labor! None to be found in junkyards here, small town USA. (Greeneville TN)

Advice?? Also what should be the time & ballpark $$ for this? I don't have an alternate car.........................thx! (took 2 weeks last time)

:2cents: My cousin-in-law needed a head gasket job on his fifth-gen Civic, and by the looks of things while in there, the last owner screwed up the job quite recently.