1986 Honda CRX owerheating and bubbles in water

RUDOLFCRX

MEMBER
1986 HONDA CRX
4 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
180,000 MILES

I have a honda crx, zc1 with pgmfi, 1.6 16v. Problem with cooling the engine > when I drive the car under 2000rpm, everything works fine, but when I drive a little faster, the engine cooling is not working well. And after few miles the throtle is going up and down between 1000 and 2500 rpm. I stoped the engine, wait till its cooled (must wait becouse ther is a huge pressure in radiator), I turn on the engine, get of the radiator cap, and then, slowley, bubbles are coming up. When all bubbles are out, I put a coolant water back that is missing, and than everything is ok again, till I not drive faster than 2000rpm. The termostat, radiator cap and the head gasket are changed, and there is no oli in water, just pressure and bubbles. What could be the problem?

6 Replies

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,815 POSTS

Hi rudolfcrx,

If bleeding had been done correctly and the problem persists, you have a problem with the head gasket.

If overheating was the cause for you to replace the head gasket, then you need to check the block surface. This is an open deck aluminium block and quite often the block surface warps and replacement of the gasket only reduces the problem but does not rectify.

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Wednesday, February 11th, 2009 AT 2:40 PM

RUDOLFCRX

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But the head was at hydrotest, and it shows that everything is ok. So I have air bubbles in water and pressure. The reserve coolant botle is not working propertly, it leaks. I have cut it out from cooling system to make sure that is not the problem. No other way to get air in?

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Wednesday, February 11th, 2009 AT 2:53 PM

KHLOW2008

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It is the engine block and not cylinder head. Quite often it is neglected when making head gasket changes. It could be warped or uneven at the rims between the cylinders.

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Wednesday, February 11th, 2009 AT 3:19 PM

RUDOLFCRX

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Ok, but how can I check that? Is there some way to check it without get out the engine or get of the head? Some cheap solutions or adviceme
nts?

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Wednesday, February 11th, 2009 AT 3:34 PM

RUDOLFCRX

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Ok, but how can I check that? Is there some way to check it without get out the engine or get of the head? Some cheap solutions or adviceme
nts?[/Quote:bf30ff0c0a]

and I see now that the radiator is wet at some places, its leaking probably. Could this bee a problem or it is just an afterefect of too big pressure in cooling system?