AZmike
09-02-2003, 10:03 PM
I recently bought a 1986 Prelude Si (A20A3) and on the trip home I managed to get the engine close enough to overheating that I needed to stop four times. I found the coolant a nice rusty color with little copper colored particles floating around in it. Anyway, since then I have flushed the system with water several times and replaced the radiator. Once I was satisifed that everything seemed to be working well I went ahead and added some cooling system deposit remover, went for a drive, and let it sit as recommended.
The next time I stated it up several hours later I had a constant output of whitish smoke (I think it was white, it was getting dark). I let it run for a minute or two and it didn't seem to get any better. I realize that water from the cooling system is getting into the combustion chamber. I guess my deposit remover pulled loose the bit of leak-stop that was keeping the coolant out of the engine.
What I wanted to know is how likely replacing the head gasket is to fixing the problem? How often is a cracked head or block the cause of this problem? I've already run a rather thorough search and didn't turn anything up. I'm trying to figure out what supplies (like another head) to get before tackling the job this weekend. Any advice is appreciated. Sorry about the essay-length post.
The next time I stated it up several hours later I had a constant output of whitish smoke (I think it was white, it was getting dark). I let it run for a minute or two and it didn't seem to get any better. I realize that water from the cooling system is getting into the combustion chamber. I guess my deposit remover pulled loose the bit of leak-stop that was keeping the coolant out of the engine.
What I wanted to know is how likely replacing the head gasket is to fixing the problem? How often is a cracked head or block the cause of this problem? I've already run a rather thorough search and didn't turn anything up. I'm trying to figure out what supplies (like another head) to get before tackling the job this weekend. Any advice is appreciated. Sorry about the essay-length post.