Blown head gasket

Yes. Block it and have a pressure test on it. That will confirm if your head gasket is really broken.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

Please run down this guide and report back.

Does 2.3L 4-Cyl VTEC engine in an Accord LX have oil flow through the head that would show up as an oil leak if the head gasket is blown?

I have been told this engine has a blown head gasket by a commercial chain garage. Not sure how they tested. They said visible inspection and chemical test but this was only a $25.00 general car inspection. Engine seems to start, run and sound good (?), Just not as peppy as when new.

Old upper radiator hose (hot flow to radiator) is expanded like a balloon. (But maybe just old? Will replace hoses along with thermostat and radiator cap). No overheating or smoke in exhaust! I do not see bubbles in coolant, nor is coolant blown out through reservoir. I sampled oil from cold engine via drain plug, no visible coolant in oil. I do see an oil leak somewhere around the valve cover and the oil seals around spark plug tubes seem to have failed.

Next possibly considering a chemical blown gasket/coolant test. I may also do compression and leak down tests, but saw the new 2carpros article on blown head gaskets which mentioned the oil flow through the head and possible oil leak via a blown head gasket. I had not seen this discussed before and I do have a VTEC engine wherein oil pressure is used to adjust the valve timing/lift. (But my understanding is that the VTEC solenoid actuator valve itself is under a separate cover and gasket.

I know I need to do at least a valve adjustment and replace various valve cover seals. Just trying to determine if I need to go that much farther, or maybe just do a head removal and inspection anyway (?).

Thanks.

2001 Honda Accord Ex 2.3L 4 cylinder. I blew a head gasket and had it replaced but now Car starts but won't rev up past 2500 rpm. Was told it was ECM so we tried two different ones and it will only start with the new ones only the original ECM already in car.

Correction only starts with original ECM not the new ones.

The Two ECM parts were used so would they still need to be flashed and if so what does flashing it mean?

And the Cat Converter is not plugged it has good exhaust flow

It's acting like it's not getting the fuel it needs its acting like something is shutting it down.

Ok so basically I need to return the used ECM's that I purchased because they won't work anyway and take my car and get the cat tested done to verify that it's not an exhaust issue and also a fuel pressure check and then if that as well as the timing and compressions are good then I would need to get my original ECM flashed and more than likely this would fix the issue?

No I didn't have a diagnostic done until after the head gasket repair and that's when the person who did the repair noticed these issues which wasn't an issue before the repair so we took it to a shop with updated equipment which at first said it was the timing and once the person working on my car went back and checked the timing and said it was lined up exactly how it was prior to the head gasket work the shop then said that it then has to be the ECM.

Ok I will do that. Thank you so much for all of your help.

Hi.
I recently had my car diagnosed with a blown head gasket. I have been told the cost to repair is nearly $2000. I have also been warned that when doing this kind of work on such an "old" car there can be worse problems that will follow as a result. My choice is to either fix it or retire it. Just looking for some advice. Thanks.