Engine heating

hi guys ,

I just bought a Honda civic Dx 1994 having 170,000 k miles on it. 2 days
back i found out that when the car is idling the temperature gauge for
engine heat rises above the half way going towards hot, when i start
driving again the temperature gauge returns back to below halfway mark.
Also turning the A/c aggrevates the above problem. I went to the HOnda
dealer mechanic, and he is saying the head gasket has a crack and needs
to be fixed, he is charging 1000 dollars for it.
I want to check with u guys if any of u had problem like this before.
Also i dont think head gasket is cracked because it would cause the temp
to rise even when i am driving.

 

check for the simple stuff first - dead insects in the radiator have the
exact same symptoms. also check the fan still operates, the coolant
level, replace the thermostat with a new honda one if it's never been
done before, check the timing... if it still does it after that, have a
leak-down test done by a competent mechanic. the one you spoke with
before sounds suspect.

 

Thanks for ur suggestions i will check those things u have stated, do u
think it can be really the head gasket.

 

Check the compression (or have it checked).

If you have good compression then the odds are *very* good that you have
a good head gasket.

If you have bad compression it might mean a problem with one or more of
the following:

head gasket
valves
rings

I'd expect a bad head gasket to also cause one or more of the following:

water in the oil
oil in the water
exhaust gas forcing the coolant to leak out of the coolant overflow

Overheating at idle could simply be a cooling system issue:

fan not working
reduced radiador function (ie: bugs in radiator)

 

Possible, but I doubt it. Head gasket problems, especially those related to
overheating, tend to get a lot worse when the engine is under load - that
is, when driving. The higher combustion chamber pressures force more
combustion gasses into the coolant. If you want to do a quick test, remove
the radiator cap when the engine is cool. Start the engine, pinch closed the
tube that goes to the coolant reservoir, and put the palm of your hand over
the radiator cap opening. If you feel either a pulsation or a steady rise in
pressure on your palm immediately, that's bad news. If not, you can bet the
head gasket (or a cracked head) is not causing your overheating.

My main thoughts are just the sort of things Jim mentioned - things related
to either coolant flow or air flow.

Mike

 

I'd suspect head gasket issues. My '93 did this too, the only way to help
alleviate it was to drive with the heat full on. Luckily mine occured when
it was still fairly cold outside. check the colour of your rad fluid too.
if it looks sludgy or off colour in the resevoir tank, suspect that oil is
leaking through the gasket.

 

Without checking,that mechanic is telling you a bunch of BS;it could be
only a bad thermostat.
That is what happened with my 94 Integra(same symptoms),and a new TS fixed
it.

I would not go back to that mechanic.

 

hi,
Thanks for ur responses, i would take the car to a different mechanic and
check for the thermostat and radiator.

 

hi guys ,
I filled the coolant today morning untill the radiator was filled
completely, and i think the car is not showing any of the above
problems.I will still keep a watch for day or two.

I am really thankful to all the members who gave me suggestions yesterday
, it really helped me to know a lot about my car.