Rep Power: 0

I have a 2003 Honda Civic lx that overheated lastnight. My sister drove it home and watched the temp gauge go into the read, the check engine lights went on and eventually died. This morning I went to it and it started with a whining noise coming from the serpentine belt area.

Question 1 what is the whine noise? Probably bad waterpump?

Question 2: I did a compression test and it read cylinder 1: 160psi 2. 160psi 3. 160psi 4. 175psi. Does this look like theres a blown head gasket?

I believe the overheating problem has something to do with the radiator leaking bc theres alot of coolant under that area. Also there is no coolant in the oil. I just checked and there is no milkyness to it so Im praying no head gasket problem.
Any input would be awsome. Thanks

 
Rep Power: 519

Whine? I don't hear anything. You sure it ain't your sister whining that the appliance (car) quit running?

Fill the radiator and see where it comes out at.
Look for the source of the leak... O_o

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That engine will usually hit 200+psi if you had all the plugs out and crank until the gauge stops climbing.

You could try a wet compression test, but I can tell you to expect compromised rings if the engine was run hot enough to quit. It will probably use oil faster than it used to, someone needs to check that **** once in a while.

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IF the radiator isn't pouring coolant on the ground:
Put all the plugs back in.
Fill the radiator to the top.
Leave the radiator cap off.

Crank it up and tell us what happens.
Geyser? Bad.


OR
You could also do this while doing the compression check---all sparkplugs out:
leave the radiator cap off
Fill rad to the top
Watch for signs of the coolant level rising with each cranking session....
This might identify a head gasket breach AND you would know which cylinders were affected.

OR
Stick the funnel (below) in the neck,
fill the radiator
run the engine and see if there is consistent burping of air bubbles that doesn't ever stop... (This is an easy one, all I have to do is stare at it for a while.) (I may even jumper the radiator fan to run constantly to keep the coolant temps stablized, especially if there is only water in the radiator..)
This is conclusive and almost always gives results if the normal HG failure is present.
(Normal failure = combustion gases ---> cooling system)

Depends on how bad the damage is, too. If the head gasket is only slightly leaking, the first two might not show any results.
These work great when damage is severe though.

If no results from any of those, then I apply shop air pressure to the cylinders and watch for any change in coolant level. This method has not failed me yet, and beats the block-check tools IMO. It tells me WHICH cylinder(s) are breached too.

Also, I use a funnel on the neck of the radiator, it makes any changes in coolant level much easier to notice. This is the funnel, made to fit on a radiator: http://www.amazon.com/Lisle-24610-Sp.../dp/B001A4EAV0

After any overheat situation, I expect to see the center cylinders leak due to the head warping and lifting in the center.
That gives me some indication of just how much damage there may be, and indicates how much the driver understands cars.


HTH