Radiator Tank Split - Wife ran it until it lost power – How Bad?

[marklj]

My wife called yesterday and said she was diving on the interstate with the cruise control on and it “began to lose power”. Then she noticed the temperature gauge was way up. When I went to check it on the side of the road, no coolant was visible in the radiator. Tried to crank it and it spins like it has no compression. Had it towed back to the house.

Filled the radiator to see where the coolant leak was and found the upper tank had developed a crack. Pulled all the sparkplugs and found the porcelain was cracked on the number 2 cylinder. Spun the engine over and water seems to be coming from cylinders 2 and 3. I opened the petcock and drained the water out. Spun the engine over some more to clear the water out. I then liberally sprayed WD-40 in the cylinders and then spun it over some more to spread the WD-40 around and hope to prevent any rust from forming. Screwed the sparkplugs back in and pushed it into the garage where it will be sitting for a while.

My wife now knows the importance of keeping an eye on the temperature gauge now. If only she had caught it before the damage was done… :banghead:

This is a real shame as it is an ’88 Accord DX manual with only 125,000 miles on it and was running smooth and strong before. Anyway, the question I have is how bad is it? Obviously the head gasket has failed and at the minimum I’m looking at pulling the head, having it machined, and install it back with fresh gaskets. But could there be more damage? I’m wondering if the cylinder head could be cracked or maybe worst case scenario that the pistons are scuffed, cylinder walls cracked, etc. I figure the only way to know for sure is to pull the head off and see. But I was wondering if some other 3geezers have had the same thing happen to them? If so, what damage did you ultimately find? If there is a strong chance the pistons and block is damaged, then I’ll look at replacing the engine versus wasting time pulling the existing one apart. Feedback is appreciated. Thanks.

[forrest89sei]

Head Gasket, Yes
Warped Head, Maybe have it checked
other then that you should be fine

[lostforawhile]

ouch!! I always wondered why a big red light for overheating couldn't be installed in cars, theres one for oil pressure,why not temp?

[ghettogeddy]

ouch!! I always wondered why a big red light for overheating couldn't be installed in cars, theres one for oil pressure,why not temp?

really
cause most the tie im not looking at the dash but trying to pay attention to dumb ass drivers

so ill look done and the needle is pinned to the top im like wtf

[Demon1024]

like a light that illuminates the whole cluster red when it goes to high. i like it. being oldest of 8 and having kids drive my cars i think i found something new to mess with

As far as the engines go. these are some tough sumbiotches man. as long as it was just starting to lose power and didn't just DIE on the road you should be o.k. with headwork/gasket

[Civic Accord Honda]

samething was worng with my dx its a headgasket and have the head checked to make sure its not warped

[w261w261]

If the head isn't warped too badly, I'd try this for a quick fix rather than start tearing things apart. A couple of years ago, I had an '85 Volvo that my son let get low on coolant, then complained that it was "steaming." He had warped the head a bit, which lifted off the gasket (I presume), allowing the pressure to pump through the cooling system as soon as the car warmed up. This old V6 was not going to have any work done to it, so I bought a can of Moroso ceramic leak fixer and it worked perfectly. You just have to completely, and I mean *completely*, purge all the antifreeze out of the system. Costs less than 20 bucks I believe.

http://www.moroso.com/catalog/categorydisplay.asp?catcode=22005

[Civic Accord Honda]

If the head isn't warped too badly, I'd try this for a quick fix rather than start tearing things apart. A couple of years ago, I had an '85 Volvo that my son let get low on coolant, then complained that it was "steaming." He had warped the head a bit, which lifted off the gasket (I presume), allowing the pressure to pump through the cooling system as soon as the car warmed up. This old V6 was not going to have any work done to it, so I bought a can of Moroso ceramic leak fixer and it worked perfectly. You just have to completely, and I mean *completely*, purge all the antifreeze out of the system. Costs less than 20 bucks I believe.

http://www.moroso.com/catalog/categorydisplay.asp?catcode=22005
yeah i used some of that barsleak block seal stoped the leak but now after a few months and after blowing a radiator hose i notice a slight drip of coolant from the muffler but no other symptoms yet lol

[marklj]

If the head isn't warped too badly, I'd try this for a quick fix rather than start tearing things apart. A couple of years ago, I had an '85 Volvo that my son let get low on coolant, then complained that it was "steaming." He had warped the head a bit, which lifted off the gasket (I presume), allowing the pressure to pump through the cooling system as soon as the car warmed up. This old V6 was not going to have any work done to it, so I bought a can of Moroso ceramic leak fixer and it worked perfectly. You just have to completely, and I mean *completely*, purge all the antifreeze out of the system. Costs less than 20 bucks I believe.

http://www.moroso.com/catalog/categorydisplay.asp?catcode=22005

I did this for my son's Altima. White smoke out the exhaust and bubbling in the coolant recovery tank. It worked long enough for them to get it to a dealer and trade in. But my 3G spins over like it has no compression at all, so in this case it would probably be a waste of time and money:sad2:

[Civic Accord Honda]

it sounds just like this rite?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zq5GmplkrBo

[marklj]

Thanks for all the feedback. It would seem that chances are that the block, pistons, etc are OK. At least it was running synthetic oil so the oil didn’t ‘coke up’ under the extreme heat. I’ll be pulling the head after we save some money up. No sense in pulling the top of the engine apart and having parts lie around for several months waiting for the funds and then forgetting how everything goes back together. I’ll update this thread with then end results. Thanks again. :bow:

[marklj]

it sounds just like this rite?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zq5GmplkrBo

Yea... that's pretty much the sound of it. Mine spins over a little faster like it has lost another cylinder more. :sad2:

[Civic Accord Honda]

Yea... that's pretty much the sound of it. Mine spins over a little faster like it has lost another cylinder more. :sad2:
heres what it looked like when i got the head off if it helps
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff103/Dark_Accord/1987-Honda-Accord-DX/head-gasket-repair/head%20off/th_e9993788.jpg (http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff103/Dark_Accord/1987-Honda-Accord-DX/head-gasket-repair/head%20off/e9993788.jpg)
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff103/Dark_Accord/1987-Honda-Accord-DX/head-gasket-repair/head%20off/th_cf7a8e71.jpg (http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff103/Dark_Accord/1987-Honda-Accord-DX/head-gasket-repair/head%20off/cf7a8e71.jpg)
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff103/Dark_Accord/1987-Honda-Accord-DX/head-gasket-repair/head%20off/th_bab32c77.jpg (http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff103/Dark_Accord/1987-Honda-Accord-DX/head-gasket-repair/head%20off/bab32c77.jpg)
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff103/Dark_Accord/1987-Honda-Accord-DX/head-gasket-repair/head%20off/th_8e365ea4.jpg (http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff103/Dark_Accord/1987-Honda-Accord-DX/head-gasket-repair/head%20off/8e365ea4.jpg)
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff103/Dark_Accord/1987-Honda-Accord-DX/head-gasket-repair/head%20off/th_2bbf21cc.jpg (http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff103/Dark_Accord/1987-Honda-Accord-DX/head-gasket-repair/head%20off/2bbf21cc.jpg)
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff103/Dark_Accord/1987-Honda-Accord-DX/head-gasket-repair/head%20off/th_e2666474.jpg (http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff103/Dark_Accord/1987-Honda-Accord-DX/head-gasket-repair/head%20off/e2666474.jpg)
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff103/Dark_Accord/1987-Honda-Accord-DX/head-gasket-repair/head%20off/th_237d4296.jpg (http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff103/Dark_Accord/1987-Honda-Accord-DX/head-gasket-repair/head%20off/237d4296.jpg)
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff103/Dark_Accord/1987-Honda-Accord-DX/head-gasket-repair/head%20off/th_9478c1b5.jpg (http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff103/Dark_Accord/1987-Honda-Accord-DX/head-gasket-repair/head%20off/9478c1b5.jpg)
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff103/Dark_Accord/1987-Honda-Accord-DX/head-gasket-repair/head%20off/th_18e20833.jpg (http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff103/Dark_Accord/1987-Honda-Accord-DX/head-gasket-repair/head%20off/18e20833.jpg)

[marklj]

So yours went back together and ran OK after an overheat and blown head gasket?

[Civic Accord Honda]

So yours went back together and ran OK after an overheat and blown head gasket?
i never finished the car but everything appeared to be in good shape never got around to taking the head in to get checked i kept the engine and head tho so i can give it a top end rebuild and stick it in my other 3gee that has a bad compression leak and burns oil

but yeah alot of members on here have had a blown head gasket and most the time they can get away with just getting the head checked (and re suffaced if needed) and a new gasket set

[OldSkoolA20accord]

whats with the top tank cracking? did the same to me.

[marklj]

whats with the top tank cracking? did the same to me.

Mine was on the back side of the upper tank. A diagonal split about 3 inches on the drivers side. :dunno:

[2oodoor]

im guessing the water pump may have been leaking or some {other gradual leak } and the cracked tank was just another result of it running hot.
With that low mileage on the block it should be ok. You may need a used head in case that one cracked, sounds like it ran balls out hot.
I was told Dorman has new oem style heads for other Hondas, not sure if this one is available or not.

I found the first diagram interesting, the oil orifice
http://www.ramscylinderheads.com/honda.htm

there is a misprint, their B20A3 is an A20 me thinks

[russiankid]

While you're at it, replace the timing belt, timing belt tensioner, and water pump. You don't want to repair the head and then have it overheat again or a timing belt snapping.

[88Accord-DX]

One of the worst things I've seen running the engine to extreme hot conditions until it quits, is the piston rings loose their expansion rate.
Seems like the you might just need the head checked, valves reseated & head resurfaced, & new head gasket. Would be a good time to replace the timing belt & water pump along with anything else that breaks pulling the head off. Good luck.

[Dr_Snooz]

im guessing the water pump may have been leaking or some {other gradual leak } and the cracked tank was just another result of it running hot.
With that low mileage on the block it should be ok. You may need a used head in case that one cracked, sounds like it ran balls out hot.
I was told Dorman has new oem style heads for other Hondas, not sure if this one is available or not.

I found the first diagram interesting, the oil orifice
http://www.ramscylinderheads.com/honda.htm

there is a misprint, their B20A3 is an A20 me thinks


Wow. That's awesome. Thanks for sharing!

[lostforawhile]

Wow. That's awesome. Thanks for sharing!I thought everyone knew about the oil orifice already,honda discovered it was to small and never said anything, you drill it to .125 which is 1/8 of an inch.

[2oodoor]

I thought everyone knew about the oil orifice already,honda discovered it was to small and never said anything, you drill it to .125 which is 1/8 of an inch.

No, I dont think anybody gives it any attention honestly. I actually started a thread about it a long time ago to ask.

[Dr_Snooz]

I thought everyone knew about the oil orifice already,honda discovered it was to small and never said anything, you drill it to .125 which is 1/8 of an inch.

Actually, I was more excited about the source for new heads. Parts are getting hard to find for our cars.

[Demon1024]

Damn it i just put that head on there! i was checking that thing out too

[marklj]

(moved to new thread)

[VIPER1988]

dont remember what i looked it up for or what brand it was. but i got a radiator that was copper core w/ brass tanks. fit the same mounts just had to get a different size cap. will try to find receipt so i can tell what brand and what i looked up to find it.