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I have been reading these threads for answers and figured I'd add to the pile.

I've a 1985 S1500.

Temp gauge can run higher than normal in traffic and sometimes on the highway too. It'll go up just below half way on the temp gauge.

last winter it did puke out white smoke once (on start up), I did not get out and investigate the smell of that smoke. Starting the car each morning is a throttle baby-sitting event (otherwise she dies) until it gets a bit warm, then she runs and idles fine.

I have replaced the thermostat and radiator cap (both new Honda parts), Firestone power flushed the radiator, I pulled and cleaned the overflow tank. That overflow tank had nasty cream colored pudding like gooey crap in the bottom third of the tank. The hose into the overflow tank was covered in the crap. I cleaned it all out. It did not appear to clog the hose though. I noticed that the hose in the reservoir tank would let air into the system so I replaced it with a good fitting hose cut to the bottom of the tank.

I used a A-Zone Block Tester (Combustion gas leak tester) in the radiator and have had no real conclusive results. As I squeeze and release the suction bulb thing there is a vacum in the radiator that keeps the air from easily going thru the tester. Works great right off the tail pipe, just proves the fluid works...

After all this I am keeping a close eye on the overflow tank. I never really understood that it would actually suck radiator fluid back into the radiator during the cooling process. Nice to see with my own eyes.

So for the past 3 days it has been adding to the reservoir on the drives and then it would suck that fluid back into the radiator while the car is cooling down (ignition off in the driveway). This morning the fluid was at the same level as last night. This leads me to wonder I've an air leak some where and the air went back into the system instead of the radiator fluid. I'm also not convinced that the head gasket is good.

Any thoughts?



Oh yeah the fan and the switch seem work fine.