Rep Power: 0

Ok, so I had a blown HG on my D17a1. I attempted to repair it with a FelPro gasket and a rebuilt Head and it didn't work. In fact, things got worse. It went from simply blowing exhaust into the water system to doing that plus blowing smoke out the exhaust too. So I checked the lash on the valves, checked the block for warping, ect, ect.

Anyway, no matter what I did, couldn't get the damn thing to stop blowing water into the overflow and smoking. So, I decided to get a Honda HG instead. However, after installing it I was still having the exact same issues. I only ran it a couple times for less than ten minutes with the Honda HG on it.

Frustrated and losing work I decided to buy a used D17A for 1100 dollars with only 50k miles (or so they said) and put it in without the VTech solenoid hooked up (figured I could switch the harness and ECU somewhere down the road) and I replaced the Water Outlet with the EGR on it with one without (the one with the EGR was broken and my car didn't have one to begin with). Put a new Timing Belt and Water Pump on, new Radiator cap and Thermostat and turned it on, burped the system and everything seemed to be ok. Took it out and when I got home, full overflow. Waited until morning and still full overflow. No overheating, just full overflow and air sound when I took the radiator cap off.

So I thought maybe the Water Outlet from the old engine was leaking exhaust into the water from the EGR holes in the head. Got a new one from the salvage yard, checked for warping, bought a new gasket for it and put it on. Again burped fine, ran for 30 mins after the Thermostat opened and the fans came on with no bubbles, put the overflow hose in a bucket of water and rev'ed it to 3k with no bubbles or coolant being pushed into it. Took it out driving and, yep full overflow. Let it sit overnight and still full overflow. At this point the Asian Blue antifreeze is also looking very dark.

So, I am left right where I started with another blown HG. I am wondering if I can re use the Honda HG from the other engine as I am kind of running out of cash and really dont have time to wait a week or more for them to ship me another one. In any other circumstance I wouldn't, but I've never had one that had less than 20 mins of use under minimal load. Sorry for the long story getting to the question, just needed to get it off my chest, lol.

 
Rep Power: 222

With how problematic these cars are with head gaskets I wouldn't do that

 
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I had 200k on the old gasket before it blew. Suppose I should count myself lucky there. In fact this is the first engine issue I've had at with the car since that engine went in it. Seems like it's making up for lost time now.

 
Rep Power: 367

a syringe is discarded everytime it is used.
would you be OK to receive a dose using an used syringe?
(after all the issues you had, I guess the natural answer would be no).
Head studs can be reused, i would not try a gasket that have been torqued once (each head/block will have its own ID by now, years from it's pristine condition)

 
Rep Power: 224

Are you sure you're torqueing the head bolts correctly? Cleaning out the oil/coolant from the head bolt holes in the block before putting the head back on?

 
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I used air to blow out the holes. Lightly oiled the bolts before putting them in. Tried both new bolts and the original bolts. Torqued them to 14, 39, 45 foot pounds. Even went to 55 foot pounds eventually. Followed the torque pattern. I've done Head work on a few old American v8s and straight 6s, but this is my first Asian 4 and it's been a nightmare. That's why I just decided to go with a new engine and I am pretty terrified to do this again.

 
Rep Power: 224

Hmm. Sounds like you should have enough experience to do it correctly. It's usually really easy, I've done about 5 head gaskets on these Civics and haven't ever had an issue. You mentioned checking for warping, was that the head, block, or both? I also remember carefully scraping off some black stuff off the top of the cylinder walls (where the mating surface is for the head). I think it was leftover from the old head gasket. I can imagine if that were missed it could cause issues.

 
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Well as far as the head goes I had bought a rebuilt one as the valves were looking pretty rough after 200k on the original one. I had a friend of mine check the block for warping.

Yes I cleaned both the mating surfaces on the rebuilt head and the block with a rag and acetone until they were very clean. Again, my first Asian engine, but I have never had these kinds of issues with a HG replacement. Normally pretty much plug and play.

My running theory currently is that there is something not right with the rebuilt head or there is a bad sleeve or rings in the block. Something I was going to look at after I get this engine running properly. Never really got that deep into engine repair so I dont have much expertise in it. Was hoping just getting a new engine would be a quicker way to get the car going again.

 
Rep Power: 224

One last question. When you were burping the coolant system did you have the front of the car up as high as you could?

 
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Yes I did. I ran it for 30 mins after the Thermostat opened and fans turned on as well and had pretty much no bubbles. 2 or 3 times I would get one little bubble right before the fans came on.

Just discovered this while I was tearing the engine down. It the EGR intake port on the Head. The engine came with a EGR but my old engine didn't have one. I replaced the Water Outlet with one that has no EGR. There was oil there and I cleaned it out. The intake ports are all dry. I dont have any experience with EGRs on this motor so I am wondering if this is normal or a problem.

 
Rep Power: 224

Some have EGR and some do not, I don't think we ever truly figured out which do. You did the correct thing though, swap the non-EGR parts onto the replacement engine.

 
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Yeah I'm just concerned with that oil in there. Not sure if it belongs there or not and can't seem to find any info on it. I'm wondering if it's coming from the VTech solenoid, but it's not active so I dont know.

 
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So definitely a bad HG. I decided to not reuse the Honda HG from the other motor. However I had this Vincos one from a gasket set I had lying around and it looks identical to the Honda one at you can see. It weighs .03 grams more, I think because those rivets on the outside are a tad bigger. The coating appears to be the same thickness also. So I think I am gonna give it a go. My luck's got to change at some point, yeah? Lol!

 
Rep Power: 224

We will always recommend a Honda genuine head gasket. Hopefully it works out for you.

 
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Unfortunately the local Honda dealer ship wants 150 dollars which is madness and last time I had one shipped it took 10 days and I need this car running now. So I'll get one ordered and have it waiting if this one fails and hope for the best. Been a rough few months.

 
Rep Power: 224

I'm sorry to hear that, hopefully things get better soon.

The last few I have bought were from Amazon (part number 12251-PLC-004). Would take a week to get but the price is $53.

 
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I couldn't find one on Amazon, I ordered it from Honds parts now for 70 with shipping. Still, a far cry from 150. Of course this is the same dealership that told me I needed camber bolts for my strut tower that were already on there when I took it in for a alignment.....