1994 Honda Del Sol Overheat with a leak coming from under t

Tiny
DAHL
  • MEMBER
  • 1994 HONDA DEL SOL
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 136,000 MILES
Hi, My 94 Civic Del Sol has been overheating during regular day to day driving (ie. In traffic, driving arround town, at red lights.) I added more coolant to the radiator to replace the lost coolant and each time I drive coolant leaks out from underneath the cap, I looked at the radiator cap and the rubber sealer looks to be in good condition. At the neck of the radiator right below where the cap screws in there is a small recession that looks almost like a piece of an o ring is missing but then there is a small hole that looks as if it goes to the line that feeds into the top of the resovoir. So im not sure if a sealer is missing or not. I let the engine run for a bit and the coolant defnitely leaks from under the radiator cap. I've heard a couple of different theories about what it might be. It could be that I just needed to bleed the coolant properly, Ive also heard that it could also be that my head gasket needs to be replaced. Or is it that I just need a new radiator cap and or radiator? I got a new Radiator cap to replace the old one that was broken and the same fluid leaked from underneath on the way home.
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Saturday, June 27th, 2009 AT 6:07 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
Hi dahl,

Thank you for the donation.

Is the reserve tank running low as well? If yes, you do not have any gasket problem, just a leaking one.

If the leak is between the cap and radiator neck, it is a sealig problem and since you have replaced the cap, the fault should lie with the radiator neck. The top rim of the neck and inner rim of should be flat with no indents.

You mentioned a small recession, if it is a ring on top of the base and the recession is on it, the neck is bad.

Whatever theories that that you have heard, the answer is " NO coolant should be leaking at radiator cap under any circumstances "
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Saturday, June 27th, 2009 AT 7:36 PM
Tiny
DAHL
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  • 3 POSTS
Thank you for the advice, I was wondering about that gasket on the neck of the radiator. It looks like theres half a gasket there inbetween the inner lip and outer rim of the neck of the radiator. Just to make sure, there is supposed to be a whole round gasket in there and not a piece with a "missing section" in it right?
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Saturday, June 27th, 2009 AT 7:50 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
Sorry for the delay in replying. Notification seems to be late.

Inside the radiator neck there should be nothing moveable in it. If you have anything inside there, remove it, it should be from the old radiator cap. For the radiator cap, gasket should be all round for sealing. Any missing part would cause leakages.
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Sunday, June 28th, 2009 AT 11:02 AM

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