Rep Power: 0

So I was looking for a cheap ride I get to work and back easy, but Instead I get a ride with a blown head gasket, took it in for a oil change right after i bought it and they diagnosed it the blown head gasket. I drove it back home after trying to put some cheap hg sealant in the radiator I bought at pep boys (probably a bad idea). It started to over heat regardless when I would try to drive it anywhere, and eventually lost enough power to the point where the engine is putting and It wont accelerate enough to move.

I figure I either have to take it in for a costly 2000 fix or do it myself, I just wasnt sure if the fact that it lost such a large amount of power ment that something else could be damaged now.

If someone who has more no how then me could clear up a good decision at this point, because Im lost! Ive also been told purchasing a new engine would be my next best bet, but I didnt want to downgrade from my DOHC vtech if a rebuild is possible at this point.

 
Rep Power: 0

depending on where you live, look at your local pennysaver. theres a place by my house that replaces headgaskets (well on a 95 civic at least) for 500. you could also just swap your engine for about 1400 bucks. Or, if your mechanically inclined, DIY with a haynes manual or something.

 
Rep Power: 285

Swapping the engine will be more expensive, since it's an em1.

There's a lot of labour involved and that's what makes it expensive, if you go slow pay attention to details you could do it yourself and cut the cost of the repair in half. It's not that hard.

 
Rep Power: 0

I actually do have a chilton and a haynes i ordered online, I just wanted to make sure that it sounded like just the HG was blown before i took my car apart.

It does have like 154000 on it. Anything else i should bother changing to be safe since im gonna be taking the engine apart? i know the timing belt probably needs changing. Im kinda a new DIY guy.

 
Rep Power: 0

hmmm well on my civic i once thought i had a blown headgasket i had all the symptoms (i.e. coolant loss, power loss, white smoke) turns out the headgasket was fine i just had a warped head. well, thats what i understood from the mechanic anyway, didnt speak english very well.

Anyway, I would still recommend you shopping around engine rebuilding shops in your area. Unfortunately i dont think anyone can say for sure your HG is blown besides a mechanic. You could possibly have a warped head that needs resurfacing since your car overheated.


In conclusion, thats advice coming from a complete car noob, but hey, im trying to help.

 
Rep Power: 285

We all start out new at some point

The headgasket on your car was likely blown, which is what warped the head. If the headgasket isn't blown, then the heat required to warp the head wouldn't be present.

You can reliably confirm that a head gasket is blown using two methods.

1. test strips
2. a gas analyzer

Both test for elevated hydro carbons in the coolant in the radiator, which will appear when oil from the engine mixes with coolant at the head gasket leak.

I'd do everything while your down there.

Water pump, tensioner, timing belt, possibly cps sensor as well. Make sure you replace the head studs, it's really only safe to torque them one time so the original ones can't be reused.