Rep Power: 0

Help! I am new here and are having two issues with my vehicle. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

My car is 2001 EX sedan has about 140k miles.

One problem has been ongoing since march, I went on a roadtrip and at one point i got caught in a blizzard and had to pull over the side of the road. During my car just idling there it started overheating and ever since that day i have to put in coolant/water in m radiator because it runs out every 2 to 3 weeks. Now makes me think it is a leak because i can put in coolant in it and it will drive just fine without overheating until about 2 weeks later. The only problem is i cant find the leak or anything but i can see it dripping on the inside. Could it be something else? i took it in to a shop and they thought it was the thermostat so i got that replaced already.

second problem just started two days ago, when accelerating the car would start to kinda bounce slightly as if it was struggling to go, it would drive fine after about an hour but everytime i drive now it bounces back and forth while accelerating normally, this is what worries me the most

any help would be appreciated, thank you

 
Rep Power: 358

First place to look for the coolant (besides on the ground) is in the oil. Sometimes you can tell on the dipstick. . Sometimes you have to drain a little out and see if the coolant is mixed into the oil. You might have a head gasket going. . Which is kind of a bummer, although not the end of the world.

If your car has been significantly overheated you may have done engine damage that you won't be able to very accurately diagnose without a leak down test. I would advise you to stop driving it if you can't keep it within normal operating temperature. Hopefully no major damage has occurred.

Is your car blowing any white smoke?

These issues could be related, but it's hard to tell for sure.

 
Rep Power: 366

before posting, always check the stickies that's the reason we stick them on the top :P, so people see them first
https://www.civicforums.com/forums/3...reference.html

 
Rep Power: 312

Yea that sticky pretty well has you covered... if your losing a **** ton of coolant and your car is stumbling chances are coolant is flooding a cylinder(s) and causing the car to misfire... Take it to a shop and get them to check for exhaust gases in the coolant system.... if they find something there your head gasket is toast... If your head gasket is toast be sure to check your head for trueness when getting it replaced.. Generally when you overheat a car the head gasket is the first to go, second is the head will warp or crack... But now you have to figure out why the car initially overheated.

P.S. A leakdown test often misses a failed head gasket...