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I read some threads already, but didn't see something specifically like this happen to anyone:

2004 Automatic Honda Civic Coupe LX

I was driving to someone's house the other day to deliver a pizza, I left my car on, I was parked on an incline with my car facing down (i don't believe the ac/heater was on), went to the front door, came back to leave and there was some, not a lot of white smoke coming out from under the hood. I immediately turned the car off, I noticed there was some coolant spilled on the road(about 15-inch diameter spot). I think the temperature was high. I put the car in neutral and took it down to the leveled area of the street. At that point the ground had a tiny 2-inch diameter spot of coolant.
30-45 minutes later I added 2 cups of water to the coolant reservoir and drove it back to work, the temperature was below the halfway mark. After 3 hours or so later I added 2 more cups of water and drove it home. Has not smoked since.
I have drove it twice since then, refilling the coolant with water and took the radiator cap off and added some there. The temperature was below the halfway mark, but it looked like it got up there from cold pretty fast. I also noticed that the radiator neck has some gray sludge around the spring.

By the way, before all this happened, maybe a month or 2 ago a part was recently changed out that looks like a "spinning top," I don't remember the name, but it was changed out by a mechanic because my check engine light came on.


Any assistance is appreciated! Thanks

 
Rep Power: 518

Well first off, I moved this to its own thread.

The steam and overflowing overflow bottle makes me want to test for a blown head gasket.

Then, the white goo in the radiator neck probably got there from boiling antifreeze off. That's a serious overheat in my book.

Now, what started all this? Was it already low on coolant? Was it a leak? Was it a head gasket blown? Was it a fan problem?



Do the radiator fans work?
Do they both come on when you run the AC?
Do they not come on when the coolant gauge shows hot?

How much did you have to add to the radiator? A cup? A half gallon?

 
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The steam and overflowing overflow bottle makes me want to test for a blown head gasket.

-I didn't see anything overflow, but maybe it happened before this.

Then, the white goo in the radiator neck probably got there from boiling antifreeze off. That's a serious overheat in my book.

-I want to say that happened to the radiator neck before the "white smoke" day. I just noticed it today.

Now, what started all this? Was it already low on coolant? Was it a leak? Was it a head gasket blown? Was it a fan problem?

-Not sure what started this, but the white smoke happened right after i left my car running in park for maybe 5-10 minutes, although i had been driving it before that without problems. Possibly already low on coolant. Tried to find leak today, but didnt see anything leaking after a minute after pouring about 24 oz of water into the coolant reservoir. The exhaust wasn't leaking or having smoke coming out of it. Oil looked normal, it was above the second dot on the stick.

Do the radiator fans work?

-They didn't turn on after i turned the car on, haven't had the chance to check them after the car has been running for more than 10minutes but both fans turned on after i turned the ac on, i just tried it. I also noticed the water started to sputter out under the cylinder position sensor? Not sure if it was coming out of the wires under it or the wires themselves or if i'm even naming the right part(i tried to look up diagram lol) The wires look like they're covered with some hose that looks sort of like a telephone cord fused together and some electrical tape(i think)

Do they both come on when you run the AC?

-yes

Do they not come on when the coolant gauge shows hot?

- I haven\t seen the gauge go passed the half way mark, since that one part was changed out.

How much did you have to add to the radiator? A cup? A half gallon?

-I added about a cup of water. That was the only time since that happened. Should I add water to both the coolant and the radiator?
Thanks for replying!!

 
Rep Power: 518

Got a pic so we can see what you see?



Radiator is supposed to stay completely full to the top at all times (as long as the system is working correctly).

The white reservoir has low and high level marks on the side, but they can be damn hard to see sometimes. Go for a little less than halfway full if you can't find the marks.

Ok so they are able to work....
Next you need to see if they will come on when the coolant temperature switch tells them to come on. It's on the thermostat housing, jumper the two wires (paper clip) with the key on to see if the fans run that way.

I'm guessing this (fans not running) was the start of the problem, and hope no other damage happened when it overheated.

It doesn't seem to take much to blow a head gasket in these cars, and they don't do the things most people look for when they blow.




Also, use 50/50 antifreeze or Honda type 2 coolant (comes premixed). Water boils too easy and causes other problems like corrosion.

 
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standing in front of the car

 
Rep Power: 518

Looks like where antifreeze would spray when the reservoir overflows with force...... There should be a small vent hole in the side of the reservoir cap, it was probably aimed where the mess is when it overheated.
Sometimes they will soak the battery, sometimes they soak the fan shroud. All depends on where the hole was aimed.


At least I HOPE that's what happened and there isn't really a leak coming from that area of the engine. You'd need to investigate more to find out.

 
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-I'm really new at this haha, I have a mechanic, but prefer to learn.

-I read about this...I already filled it to the top, I must have forgotten...I haven't driven it today.


-I saw that online too! But I didn't think a paper clip would suffice for a jumper wire(I even looked up how to make one). Paperclip is so much easier, also watched a video how to.

-Hmm I just remembered what part got switched out, the thermostat.


-I think I used Prestone 50/50 before the water, didn't want to leak antifreeze. Ya I think I read something about using distilled water. Or should I use the antifreeze?

 
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red lines are where i saw the water coming out, i only had a flash light though

 
Rep Power: 518

If the reservoir is overfilled, it will make a big ol mess when the engine warms up. There must be room for expansion as the liquid in the engine and radiator heat up.

How's the radiator cap? Will it hold correct pressure?

It sure will work, it's a low current application.

Paperclips are my favorite electrical test tools, and are available at every salesmans desk in the front half of the building.

MAAAAAYBE the temp sensor was left unplugged??



Since you've already been adding plain water.......Once this problem is corrected, I'd dump it and refill with the proper stuff, or add straight antifreeeze to approximate a 50/50 mix (use a tester) and change it every couple years.

Remember, it's not only anti-freeze, it's also anti-boil.

 
Rep Power: 518

I just see wet wiring and a ATF cooler line. The only thing that has antifreeeze nearby is the radiator hoses and the reservoir. I suppose a radiator hose could be spraying like from a pinhole, but you should probably notice if it is pissing a stream of fluid out when it's hot and under pressure.

lower radiator hose: That clamp looks a bit low, like it needs moved up because it's sitting on the barb. Maybe?




EDIT: I can see the fan temp switch next to that hose in the stat housing. It looks connected, but that's where to use the paper clip jumper.