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Heyo all;
First time here so I'm kinda a noob. Anyways I just got myself a snazy 95 civic dx. It has a major over heating issue. When I drive along at slow speeds I have no problems to speak of. When I get on the free way and drive at high speeds for over a half hour or so, it runs great, BUT when I slow down to less than 5mph after a long fast drive the temperature shoots through the roof within about 2 minutes. Also I noticed when I stopped but kept the engine running after over heating to run out and check the fans, that the second fan next to the radiator fan doesn't turn on despite the heat going up. Of coruse I very quickly turned it off right after checking. Also if I waite several hours to start the engine again it starts up no problem, BUT if I waite only around 10 minutes and start it up again, egines still hot, the engine has big trouble starting and when it does very big plumes of extremely stainky smoke comes out the exhaust. I think its radiator fluid burning becuase it smells nothing like burning oil. Its realy bitter and sticks to the inside of your nose for a good 10 minutes heheh. Also when I have a big plum of smoke event the coolant overflow reseviour gets sucked dry. Well if I stop while over heated and check the overflow, its sucked dry, if a take off too soon, then big smoke, if I waite a long time, the overflow gets filled back up ha;f way, and only a little smoke. I dont know if its the secondary fan not kicking on when I slow down so the engine just goes nuclear at that point. Or maybe becuase I just had to have the valve cover gasket replace that maybe the head gasket is old too and needs replaceing or maybe its the thermostate not telling it, cool my *** now, or maybe water pump, I just got it so I'm still learning about these cars. And I realy hope its not a crack in the block. But somehow its pulling what I think might be radiator fluid into the combustion chambers, I think. Its got about 200k miles on it so not sure where to attack first. Any ideas or advice are greatly appreciated.
Thanks much
Lenny

 
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My first place to check would be the fan fuse. The one fan is for the radiator, and the other is for the A/C condenser. Coolant has a distinct smell. It's sweet smelling. Worst comes to worst, you're looking at a head gasket failure. You should check the radiator cap and thermostat. If they haven't been changed, now would be a good time.

 
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Aye the more i read and watch the more sounds like a blown head gasket wich is big but manageable. Thank youso much for the info. I will be checking the cap fan and thermostate while at it. Keeping the fingers crossed its just the gasket.

 
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Well, if it gets too severe, you could end up warping the block, which isn't cheap.

 
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Fingers are crossed tightly is not that

 
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WElp both fans are ok, and thermostate should be OK because right when the temp goes up the radiator fan kicks on. Radiator cap gasket is nice a rubbery without cracks and such. So theres those things. Next up, head, head gasket, and much finger crossing thats it.

 
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Indeed Lenny, Dont drive it hot. it will warp the head. secondly to see if the head gasket is blown. Take your spark plugs out and look down in there for and water or ect. If there is Fluid on the pistons the head gasket is bad. Good luck.