Overheating Honda Civic '96

Hi! I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice.

96' Honda Civic: It over heats and has no heat in the heater! It only
over heats when idling at a stop. While driving it cools down but
there is still no heat. Also she has white smoke come out of her
exhaust when she first starts it. Blown headgasket maybe?

Things I have done:

I replaced the thermostat which was actually broken inside. The metal
had torn off on one side so I replaced it. Now that it is replaced the
car has heat for arund 30 seconds and then goes to a mediocre
tempreture that is not hot at all. Before there was no initial heat.

It didnt seem to fix anything though. The upper radiator hose gets
hot. The fans come on. I dont feel much of anything in the lower
radiator hose.

Should I check the coolant for 50/50 mix? Weak Water Pump???

I would take it to the dealer but I have no trust in my local dealer.

 

Take it to a radiator shop. Sounds like your radiator may be plugged. Any
service shop could fix it for you so why take it to a dealer.

 

(Justin Shafer) spake unto the masses in

Sure sounds like it. Your symptoms sound like poor circulation due to low
coolant.

Is your reservoir suddenly getting fuller than you thought it should have
been?

Take it in for a pressure test (NOT a "compression" test). The pressure
test will confirm or disprove the blown head gasket theory.

 

Wow maybe thats why I dont feel any heat on the lower radiator hose?

I still wonder about the head gasket being blown. Sometimes she gets a sh*t
load of white smoke out of her exhaust.
Her oil is fine but I can smell a sort of sweet smell. Like maybe the
coolant is being dumped into the exhaust.

Could it be a head gasket with all that white smoke??? I wouldnt be
surprised if it was a clogged radiator and head gasket...

 

I would say take it in for both a compression and cylinder leakdown
test. (While listening for air in the radiator) I'm going with the
head gasket theory.

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It's gonna be tough to listen for air in the rad with the engine turning
over. A "compression test" will tell you nothing.

What you're looking for is BUBBLES in the coolant.

 

Wow I am going to do all of these things... I bet its a blown head gasket
because of the white smoke that happens when I fill the cooling system up.

I looked in the helms manual on hopw to replace a head gasket and its
definently some work but I think with a toque wrench and some gasket sealer
I could do it. I am gonna find out how much a shop can do this for.

You dudes are smart and made me a little smarter. Cool! Thanks

 

Get the pressure test anyway, just in case it's something silly like an old
rad cap.

And get this done ASAP. Don't drive the car any more than absolutely
necessary, in order to prevent possible further damage if the gasket is in
fact leaking.

You don't use gasket sealer when changing a head gasket. They go on dry.

A wise choice.