Hey guys, obviously this isn't my car. But here goes:
A week ago, my friend's Civic overheated, and he found a bunch of water all over the engine bay. After that, he replaced the radiator, thinking that was the problem. However, that didn't fix things. Currently, coolant is coming out of the top of the overflow tank and the radiator is losing coolant. If that doesn't make sense to you, I can't help, because those are his words.
He's pretty well mechanically inclined, and he thinks it's a headgasket leak. My guess is that he's probably right, but I was hoping for a second opinion that wasn't so dire.
Any thoughts?
Clogged/broken thermostat?
He doesn't sound very mechanically inclined to me. The first thing he should have checked was the radiator cap.
If he really think it's the headgasket, he should try testing it before he just tears the engine apart.
http://www.amazon.com/UVIEW-560000-Combustion-Leak-Tester/dp/B000NPDL76
Quote from: NACar on March 06, 2008, 05:49:21 PM
He doesn't sound very mechanically inclined to me. The first thing he should have checked was the radiator cap.
Well,
he's a year from an ME degree. And I believe he checked the radiator cap before replacing the radiator.
Quote from: thecarnut on March 06, 2008, 05:44:39 PM
Clogged/broken thermostat?
Yeah, sounds like something is holding up the flow of coolant
Quote from: Raza link=topic=13761.msg767092#msg767092 date=1204851342
Well, he's a year from an ME degree. And I believe he checked the radiator cap before replacing the radiator.
Well, ME's are stupid. That is the only logical explanation for why he replaced the radiator.
Quote from: Danish on March 06, 2008, 05:58:25 PM
Yeah, sounds like something is holding up the flow of coolant
That is irrelevant. The thermostats open and close all the time.
Did he get the correct pressure cap for the system, and was the cooling system properly bled?
Quote from: NACar on March 06, 2008, 06:01:22 PM
That is irrelevant. The thermostats open and close all the time.
I mean what if it is stuck in the closed position?
I agree, he should get it pressure tested - that will help with a conclusion (it will at least prove or disprove his headgasket thought).
Quote from: Danish on March 06, 2008, 06:01:49 PM
I mean what if it is stuck in the closed position?
It would overheat very quickly.
[heroic last stand]
Raza didn't say anything about overheating!
[/heroic last stand]
Quote from: Danish on March 06, 2008, 06:10:02 PM
[heroic last stand]
Raza didn't say anything about overheating!
[/heroic last stand]
:tounge:
Read all six or whatever pages of this:
http://www.woodyg.com/fairlane/finfo/coolingsystem1.html
Then get back to me if you have any questions
Quote from: NACar on March 06, 2008, 06:04:53 PM
It would overheat very quickly.
"A week ago, my friend's Civic overheated,"
I win.
Quote from: thecarnut on March 06, 2008, 06:16:02 PM
"A week ago, my friend's Civic overheated,"
I win.
Oh snap I read too fast!
"Currently, coolant is coming out of the top of the overflow tank and the radiator is losing coolant."
Is this when the car is started cold? After it warms up?
At this time the headgasket would be the last thing I'd be thinking of. Its not impossible but that wouldn't usually manifest in an external coolant leak.
Based on that description it sounds like something has plugged or severely restricted coolant flow through the engine.
Quote from: thecarnut on March 06, 2008, 06:26:39 PM
n00b
I like how Raza (who fills up the Garage with nonsense advice) gets his own thread hijacked with nonsense :lol:
Quote from: Danish on March 06, 2008, 06:28:10 PM
I like how Raza (who fills up the Garage with nonsense advice) gets his own thread hijacked with nonsense :lol:
:lol:
Could be a bad head gasket - the loss comes from coolant dumping into the combustion chamber and getting burned, and coolant dumping into the overflow tank happens when the car overheats (which happens when the system can't hold pressure a la bad head gasket).
He should probably take it to a pro - replacing parts without a diagnosis is not a good idea.
Quote from: GoCougs on March 06, 2008, 07:34:05 PM
Could be a bad head gasket - the loss comes from coolant dumping into the combustion chamber and getting burned, and coolant dumping into the overflow tank happens when the car overheats (which happens when the system can't hold pressure a la bad head gasket).
He should probably take it to a pro - replacing parts without a diagnosis is not a good idea.
That is why I suggested a combustion leak test kit - but you could probably get a diagnosis for the same price.
Quote from: Danish on March 06, 2008, 06:01:49 PM
I mean what if it is stuck in the closed position?
Water would spin around and around in the block and neever reach the radiator.
I agree with the head gasket idea, but he needs to try bleeding his cooling system first and make sure he's not just overheating from a low coolant level situation. Then he needs to make sure it isn't leaking from anywhere other than his overflow tank when it overheats. At that point make sure all of the other lines are hot, to ensure good flow through the system.
Other than that I have no other ideas.
Thanks guys, I really appreciate the help. I'll tell him what you guys are saying when he gets off work tomorrow.
Quote from: VTEC_Inside on March 06, 2008, 06:27:13 PM
"Currently, coolant is coming out of the top of the overflow tank and the radiator is losing coolant."
Is this when the car is started cold? After it warms up?
At this time the headgasket would be the last thing I'd be thinking of. Its not impossible but that wouldn't usually manifest in an external coolant leak.
Based on that description it sounds like something has plugged or severely restricted coolant flow through the engine.
Compression can leak into the cooling system with bad headgaskets and force coolant out of the overflow.
Quote from: SVT32V on March 13, 2008, 11:27:48 AM
Compression can leak into the cooling system with bad headgaskets and force coolant out of the overflow.
I am aware of that, but by the same token, coolant could also be pulled into the combustion chambers and manifest as a lingering white sweet smelling smoke out the tailpipe.
I think a compression and leakdown test is in order to try and rule out the headgasket. Then do the same for the cooling system.
It's after the car has been driven for a while, so I'm assuming on a warm engine; too warm, as he's overheating.