Car overheating noticed my car was leaking anti-freeze

Tiny
ALPHATEAMBOSS
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 HONDA CIVIC
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 151,000 MILES
At the beginning of the year, I noticed my car was leaking anti-freeze. It turned out to be a loose clamp. A couple days later the car started to overheat--turns out the thermostat needed to be replaced. It runs fine at this point

About a month later the car starts to overheat again, this time the radiator cap is replaced. The car runs fine again.

Another month passes, the car starts to overheat again. I take it to the dealer. The coolant is low and there is air in the line and is bled. The car runs fine again.

A couple weeks later, I notice some dried antifreeze on the oil pan. Water pump needs to be replaced.

Now a month later, the car overheats again. I take it back to the dealer again. Air in the lines again.

Continually, the car passes all sorts of pressure and block tests. Coolant looks good. Oil looks good. The dealer is hesitant to say the shop who replaced the radiator cap and the water pump did a shoddy job on pressurizing the system, but also admits there is no evidence of a head gasket problem.

I would welcome any thoughts.
Tuesday, June 8th, 2010 AT 11:21 AM

1 Reply

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good morning,

The first thing I would do is to have a leak-down test done on all the cylinders. You have the symptoms of a failed head gasket.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-overheating-or-running-hot

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/radiator-pressure-test

They remove the plugs and insert shop air into each cylinder and watch for air bubbles in the radiator. That will confirm whether it is good or bad.

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

Roy

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Saturday, December 25th, 2021 AT 7:14 AM

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