Overheating problem?

Tiny
DOMINIK1234
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 HONDA CIVIC
  • 1.7L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 170,009 MILES
Hello, my car listed above SI, is overheating and circulating air bubbles in the radiator, when I try to blead the radiator. I have changed the thermostat, fan switch, head gasket and put in 100% coolant in I really don’t understand what the issue could be because there is no leaks under the car.
Friday, August 18th, 2023 AT 9:15 AM

19 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Hi,

Does this happen if you are driving at highway speeds, or does it only overheat when you are in stop-and-go traffic? The bubbles you see in the radiator have me a bit concerned, but before I jump to conclusions, I need to know if it is overheating at highway speeds.

If it doesn't overheat at highway speeds, pay attention to see if the cooling fans turn on when you are in traffic.

If it overheats at highway speeds, you may still have an issue with the head gasket. There could be compressed air getting into the cooling system causing the bubbles you mentioned. Take a look at this link:

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

Let me know.

Take care,

joe
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Friday, August 18th, 2023 AT 10:28 PM
Tiny
DOMINIK1234
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Well, it does it does raise its temperature while driving, but once I floor it and the vtec kicks in it cools down to normal temperature straight away.
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Saturday, August 19th, 2023 AT 1:03 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Hi,

It cools down when you floor it? I would think the opposite would happen. Don't laugh, but does the heater work? If it doesn't, we may have an air blockage. It's a theory, but what you mentioned is the opposite of what I would suspect.

Let me know.

Joe
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Saturday, August 19th, 2023 AT 8:05 PM
Tiny
DOMINIK1234
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  • 13 POSTS
When the car in overheating the heater doesn't work but otherwise it works just fine. What do you mean an air blockage?
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Sunday, August 20th, 2023 AT 3:44 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
You either have an air blockage (trapped air in the cooling system), not enough coolant in the system, or a head gasket that is pumping air into the cooling system and preventing the coolant from circulating properly. The heater should work when it is overheating just the same. Actually, the heat should be hotter than normal.

How was the system bled when you filled the coolant?

Let me know.

Joe
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+1
Sunday, August 20th, 2023 AT 7:01 PM
Tiny
DOMINIK1234
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
Thank you, Joe. I tried to position the radiator higher than the engine by parking the car on a steep hill. Then I let the car idle and topped it up with fluid until all the big air bubbles were gone. However, even after the large air bubbles disappeared, there were still some small ones that remained. These small bubbles persist no matter how long I let the car idle. I know it's not the head gasket because I replaced it four months ago, and the car was running fine until recently. How would you suggest getting an air blockage free?
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Monday, August 21st, 2023 AT 2:54 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Hi,

What you did sounds like it should work. The only thing you didn't mention was the heater should also be on high while it is being filled and running.

If this continues to happen, I'm recommending checking engine compression to see if there is a leak. I realize the head gasket is only 4 months old, but anything is possible. If you are constantly getting air bubbles in the coolant, that is the only place it would come from. You could also do a chemical test to see if there are exhaust gasses present.

When you looked through the head gasket link above, did you see the bubbles indicating a problem? Is that what you are seeing?

Let me know.

Joe
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Monday, August 21st, 2023 AT 7:34 PM
Tiny
DOMINIK1234
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
Today, I was driving my car, and the temperature gauge went up. So, I turned on the heater because I didn't want my car to overheat, and I wanted to get home. After I turned on the heater, it was blowing cool air, and the temperature kept going up. After a minute, the heater started blowing hot air, and the engine temperature went down. This repeated itself until I got home. By the time I was home, the gauge was in the red, and I shut my car off. So, I turned on the car to accessory mode to see if the fans would turn on and cool the engine down, but the fans would not turn on. I lifted the hood and discovered that I did indeed overheat because there was fluid all over the place. However, it didn't seem like it was overheating at the moment.
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Friday, August 25th, 2023 AT 12:40 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Hi,

The idea that you lost heat while it got hot and then had heat when it started to cool tells me there is an air block or very low coolant. Are you certain the coolant is full in the radiator?

Let me know.

Joe
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Friday, August 25th, 2023 AT 7:31 PM
Tiny
DOMINIK1234
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  • 13 POSTS
I'm certain the car has coolant and it's not low. How do I take care of the trapped air?
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Saturday, August 26th, 2023 AT 2:24 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Heater on full heat, rev the engine to 2500 RPM for 30 seconds, several times to allow any trapped air to escape. See if that changes anything.

Let me know.

Take care,

Joe
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Saturday, August 26th, 2023 AT 9:59 PM
Tiny
DOMINIK1234
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
Hey, I have a question. If I changed the head gasket, do I need to get the head re-torqued after 6 months or something like that?
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Monday, September 18th, 2023 AT 1:14 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Hi,

As far as the torque goes, no that doesn't need to be done. As long as you follow the torque sequence and tighten the head bolts in the three-step process, it will be fine. See pic below.

Let me know if this helps or if you have other questions.

Take care,

Joe
Image (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
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Monday, September 18th, 2023 AT 1:35 PM
Tiny
DOMINIK1234
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
Do you think my problem could be because the bolts aren't torqued enough or I need to re torque the head?
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Monday, September 18th, 2023 AT 2:24 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Hi,

If you did torque the cylinder head bolts to the proper specifications, no, I don't think that needs to be done. Plus, if there was an issue related to the head gasket, there would be other symptoms.

If you have a chance, take a look at the link above that explains how to determine a head gasket issue.

Let me know.

Joe
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Monday, September 18th, 2023 AT 8:34 PM
Tiny
DOMINIK1234
  • MEMBER
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Is there a difference in between a head gaskets on D17A2 with Vtec and without Vtec?
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Tuesday, October 10th, 2023 AT 2:14 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Hi,

The two engine blocks are the same, so even though the head is designed differently, it should be the same gasket and interchangeable. Otherwise, the engine block would need to be designed differently.

Let me know what I can do to help.

Joe
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Tuesday, October 10th, 2023 AT 7:24 PM
Tiny
DOMINIK1234
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
What’s your experience and opinion with fel pro head gasket on a D17A2 engine?
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Wednesday, October 11th, 2023 AT 8:22 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Hi,

Fel Pro is one of the most commonly used gaskets. There shouldn't have been an issue with the gasket, but anything is possible.

Let me know if I can help in any way.

Take care,

Joe
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Wednesday, October 11th, 2023 AT 7:10 PM

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