Coolant Issue
So I have a 2005 Civic EX 1.7 VTEC, I bought it off a guy and it had coolant problems with sucking it back in. There was visibly black tarlike stuff in the reservoir and it would never get sucked back in. After several months of trial and error of replacing thermostats, tubing, caps, and burping I concluded its a head gasket leak from the exhaust side. I had a mechanic come out and replace the gasket, he resurfaced the head at a shop because it was warped and he also did a valve job and replaced the timing belt and water pump. Fast forward to a couple weeks later and my temperature gauge spikes up to almost the red line. I pull over an notice there is significant coolant loss caused by a clamp not properly placed on one of the hoses connection to the block in the back. After putting the clamp back on and filling up the radiator along with replacing the cap it doesn't seem like it wants to suck the coolant back in the system; there seems to be air consistently coming in the system and causing the coolant not to be sucked back in the radiator. The reservoir is also under pressure after I try and burp and fill the radiator but I'm curious if thats because I over fill the system. Is the reservoir pressurized? Is this a head gasket again even though it was just replaced and did not red line, it just got close for a minute?
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Joined: Dec 2011
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Likes: 256
From: Midwest. Aiming about mid-chest
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Re: Coolant Issue
It only takes one overheat to ruin all that head gasket work......and guess what yours sounds like....(this can be tested and proven before ripping it all apart)
I wouldn't expect any craigslist mekanic to cover damages caused by their own error either.
An overheat can ruin the radiator where the cap gaskets have to seal too.
Reservoir is NOT pressurized but fluid has to be able to flow in and out of it.
I wouldn't expect any craigslist mekanic to cover damages caused by their own error either.
An overheat can ruin the radiator where the cap gaskets have to seal too.
Reservoir is NOT pressurized but fluid has to be able to flow in and out of it.
Re: Coolant Issue
It only takes one overheat to ruin all that head gasket work......and guess what yours sounds like....(this can be tested and proven before ripping it all apart)
I wouldn't expect any craigslist mekanic to cover damages caused by their own error either.
An overheat can ruin the radiator where the cap gaskets have to seal too.
Reservoir is NOT pressurized but fluid has to be able to flow in and out of it.
I wouldn't expect any craigslist mekanic to cover damages caused by their own error either.
An overheat can ruin the radiator where the cap gaskets have to seal too.
Reservoir is NOT pressurized but fluid has to be able to flow in and out of it.
The symptoms are the same as before, pretty sure it's a head gasket again. I'm having the mechanic come out here to check on it, he's a pretty stand up guy so I think he'd realize the mistake and help fix it again for free or a slight charge, should I be worried about the head? It didn't redline at all and was only for a couple minutes so I'd think the head is good?
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 32,017
Likes: 256
From: Midwest. Aiming about mid-chest
Rep Power: 517 










Re: Coolant Issue
If it is a head gasket again.....The head needs to be sent to a machine shop again to be measured for warpage.
Last edited by ezone; Oct 10, 2017 at 01:58 PM.




