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Hi guys, hopefully you can provide some good advice for me. I will be brief.
2002 Honda Civic LX sedan, no bells or whistles. 223K miles. Original owner.
February 2019, approx. 187K miles: busted my radiator while crossing a grass median (was going slow, but curb on the other side was high and the car bottomed out...long story); car overheated; I didn't notice this right away (sure wish there was an audible alarm for temps, since they have them for seatbelts and lights on!!!); replaced radiator;
October 2020; approx. 204K miles: car started sounding horrible; mechanic suspected timing belt tensioner; I changed timing belt + tensioner, water pump, valve cover gasket, spark plugs, coolant flush; afterwards, engine sounded brand spanking new!
9/3/2021 approx. 210K miles: car went into limp mode, code was crank position sensor, engine temps also fluctuated. Mechanic found that my passenger side cooling fan was broken (felt like an idiot for not noticing this myself); changed crank position sensor and installed new cooling fan. Around this same time, also replaced alternator belt and power steering belt (can't remember why, maybe car was squealing).
9/26/2021 210,490 miles: limp mode again; codes 1361 and 1362, also P0336. Had to install two different crank position sensors in order for car to work a while
3/4/2022 214,250 miles: limp mode again, crank position sensor code. This time, I replaced it with Denso brand and the car ran fine. Still had weird temperature issues. Took it to mechanic and he said my radiator was damn near empty and he suspects a blown head gasket. Told me I could periodically keep adding coolant, but he wasn't sure how long the car will last.
4/12/2022: alternator died; had mechanic replace it because I rounded out a bolt and I was f'ing sick of working on this car
So, ever since March 2022, I have been adding distilled water to the radiator every morning. I probably add 4 ounces or so, depending how long I've driven the prior day. My usual commute to work is 42 miles round trip. I just use distilled water because I live in south Florida (no freezing down here). Every time I come home from work and park in the garage, I smell the sweet smell of coolant (even though I've been adding just distilled water for weeks). One day couple weeks ago, I decided not to add water in the morning...and that evening I left the car running for 10-15 min while I ran in the store with the a/c on (kid did not want to come inside the store with me). When I got back to the car, it entered limp mode. When I got home, it smelled very bad (like a faint burning smell). I popped the hood and the picture I attached shows the metal portion where the O2 sensor (I think) plugs into was glowing hot. This has not happened again, since I put water in there every morning religiously. The car now has 223K miles. The car is hard to crank if it is warm, but cranks just fine in the morning and when I leave from work.
What would you guys do? I've never replaced a head gasket and my buddy told me that's even more involved than replacing the entire engine (gotta get head machined, etc.). Also, it sounds like a $2K job. I don't want to buy a new car these days because the stealerships are charging over MSRP. My clutch is very weak; it's not slipping yet, but it feels like it's bound to start slipping any day (seems to only engage when the pedal is practically all the way up), so if I get the head gasket replaced, I might as well get the clutch replaced (two jobs I've never done). I was going to try that additive they sell that supposedly seals head gasket leaks...you pour it in the radiator then run the engine for a while, but that seems fishy to me. I forgot to mention, I tried one of those leak tests where you put the air lock on the radiator and see if the liquid turns color. I did the test and it turned color a little bit, but not as dark (blue? green? I forgot) as the instructions indicated it should get. What would you guys do? Just keep adding water every day and pray it lasts until new car prices come back to Earth? Try the stop-leak additive? Bite the bullet and pay to get the head gasket and clutch replaced? Also forgot to mention that the honest mechanic that I know told me he's replaced head gaskets on these models before and has seen them blow again in 20K miles!!!
Is the coolant reservoir over filled and over flowing occasionally? That along with the radiator low is usually the indicators of a failed head gasket. These usually don't fail regular head gasket tests. Link below has more info. If just the radiator is low, that would usually be just a coolant leak.
The head gasket can go bad again if not done well. Head needs to go to a machine shop to check for warpage. Block surface needs thoroughly cleaned. Head bolts need properly torqued. Honda genuine head gasket should be used.
You could pull the engine/trans and do the clutch and head gasket outside the car. Not really any easier than doing them separate.
Thanks for the reply. The coolant reservoir is filled to the maximum. Should I suck some of that out with a turkey baster so that it's at the proper level? I've been driving this car as if it literally will die any second. I figured if there was too much coolant (at this point, distilled water) in the system, the radiator cap would allow pressure release. How long do you think the car will keep going if I just continue to top off the radiator every morning?
If by maximum you mean the "MAX" line on the reservoir, probably a coolant leak. If by maximum you mean it's basically overflowing out the top, likely head gasket.
