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Just bought my first civic and just spent 2600 getting it to pass emissions. Now I find out its pushing coolant out the overflow. Mechanic says I have a blown head. I would just get rid of it but I just put all this money into a new timing belt and water pump. The question is should I rebuild the engine completely(it has 262K miles on it) or buy a used one? How much time and money would it cost to rebuild and would it be worth it. Other option is buying a crate engine and installing it myself. If you have any comments, advice or input I could use some. I know nothing about Honda's but im gonna learn (selling the car is not an option I love it)

 
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Easier to replace a HG (and cheaper) then to pull/install a new engine. I dunno what else may be wrong with your engine though.

 
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Right but arent those engines only suppose to last about 300000 ? if thats the case I dont know how much sense it makes to dump money into one thats only 40,000 away from dying...

 
Rep Power: 204

yeah, tough call. I was just thinking you'd already spent $2600 to pass emissions. If you just wanted to do a cheap fix and drive it then put a HG in.

I believe an engine will last forever if it's properly maintain but to breathe life into one that's been abused for it's first 260K is pretty pointless.

Why didn't the mechanic mention the HG when he did the timing belt and H2O pump? It would have been cheap to do the HG at that time. I'd be careful of your mechanic. I'd clarify if it's the head and why rather then the head gasket.