Why is my car running hot and losing coolant

DISPAXHO

MEMBER
1998 HONDA CIVIC
218,000 MILES

I have a 1998 honda civic. The car is losing coolant. It has been pressure tested, no external leaks, block tested. No combustion gasses in the radiator, there is no water in the oil, no smoke out of the tailpipe and today while I was driving to work it hiccuped. Like it just missed for a half a second. The check engine light flashed and then it was like nothing happened. I had the timing belt and water pump replaced 3 months ago. I used to keep just water in the radiator. My car will sometimes run hotter than normal. Like when you are in city traffic. But when I rev up the engine it cools right back down.I have never let the car overheat. Help!

3 Replies

MHPAUTOS

EXPERT

If you are using coolant it MUST be a leak external or internal, you must get this looked at again to determin where the coolant leak is, how much do you have to add when it gets low?

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Tuesday, September 20th, 2011 AT 10:09 PM

DISPAXHO

MEMBER

I have to fill the resevoir about once a week. This car has 217,000 miles on it and I need it to last for at least another 100,000. One thing I didn't mention is that the exhaust manifold is cracked right where the O2 sensor plugs in. But I didn't think that would have anything to do with it? I was looking at the resevoir and I noticed that there were some drips on the splash guard underneath the car and also what looked like drips under the lower radiator hose where it plugs in to the radiator. It seems to me that 2 mechanics looking at this and pressure testing it would notice a leak in this area. The car runs like it always has which is fine. I checked the spark plugs as well and there is no unusual fouling on them. I've been thinking about changing out the radiator, associated hoses, thermostat and getting a new resvoir.I'm stumped. I hate to have the head gasket changed and it isn't the problem. Or it happens again. That is a very expensive fix. The first shop couldn't figure out what was the problem was. Everything checked normal. The second shop said it was the head gasket but there were none of the associated symptoms except for it losing coolant. Thanks for your help. Being a woman I sometimes wonder if I am being sold a bunch of melarky by the shops I have been to. Thanks again.