blown head gasket

Hello,

You must start by disconnecting the battery and draining the coolant. Also once the head is off have it remachined so it is flat or the new gasket will fail prematurely. Also change the oil in the engine when the job is complete and remove the timing chain or belt with the water pump as well for w complete job so you can use the car. Here are the instructions and diagrams on how to change the head gasket by removing the cylinder head in the images below. Click to enlarge. Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.

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.

All cylinder heads have oil passages, there is normally only one transfer port through the head gasket and several drain back chambers. if the head was warped enough for an oil leak from the pressure port, you will have oil in the coolant and over heating problems. it is unusual for these head to crack with out being over heated. The chemical head test is normally very conclusive, the chemical used changes color when mixed with exhaust gasses, the test draws gasses from the cooling system and if reactive the head will be cracked or a gasket problem will be present. see if you can watch the test being done, as you can get a false reading if coolant is drawn up into the test chamber. so people do this with out the customer being aware and sell expensive head work when its not required. so get the test done by a recommended repairer, do not be afraid to ask questions. now that you know a few of the details as to what you are looking for hopefully you find a good honest mechanic and you have no problems. feel free to re post if you have any ongoing questions.

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.

thats because the new ones need to be flashed before installing.

take them back. re check your timing before anything. if it is ok, check the cat converter as the coolant on the exhaust may have damaged the cat.

Roy

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.

you need a back pressure gauge for the cat test. feeling the exhaust is not accurate.

used ones will never work as they have been programmed to another vehicle. flashing is an operating system specific for the car. runs about 150 to flash if it needs it.

get a fuel pressure check as well.

make sure the timing and compression are good.

Roy

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?

why are you always going back to the pcm?? did you have this diaged for an issue prior to the repair?? it is the very last item to be concerned with at this point. you are not even close to discussing this possibility

Roy

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.

you need a second opinion here from someone more familiar with these types of repair.

Roy

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

good luck

Is the MIL indicating and have you scanned for trouble codes?

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.

It takes about 8hrs to remove and replace-headgasket about $48.00/labor ranges from $70.00-$130.00-varies with location -its too much-go somewhere else-your shot on the retirement.

Good day.
My Car is Honda Accord '97 VTiS A/T.
- Cylinder head Gasket is newly replaced.
- Drove everyday about 20kilometers and no overheating.
- Radiator is newly overhauled and tried using plain water now as I am observing if radiator has leaks before I put coolant.
The following were observed:
- drove uphill and the temperature rose to a half or a little above the half of the temperature gauge.
- When the engine is cold, I open the radiator cap and tried to start the engine and saw that water is coming out or flowing out of the radiator upon starting or while engine is running.
What could be the problem or what causes the water to come out of the radiator?
- Is it normal for a water to flow out of the radiator when cap is open while engine is running?
Thanks!

Do not run in on plain water. You need to get a concentration of about 50/50. You'll overheat it.

reply is so fast...thank you so much!
how about the concern in the radiator?
thanks...

The water is expanding as it heats up and will push out.
Until the thermostat opens up, the waterpump may push out the water.
Regardless the system needs the antifreeze properties to perform correctly. Check the coolant level when cold and engine off. Top off as needed and just check the level in the reservior. Radiator should remain full. IF the engine gets too hot from just having water, it can cause damage including pooping the new headgasket.

Drain out 3 and a half quarts of the water if you have a 6 cyl or 3 quarts if it is a 4 cyl. This is approximatley half of the systems capacity.

Replace that with straight antifreeze.

thank you again, already followed the 50/50 concentration.

No problem. If there is a leak, it will show, I doubt there though.

was able to encounter a 3hour traffic last night, didnt overheat, i touched the hood and its cold, upon checking the reservoir water is only 1/4, radiator still full, I will try to drive in uphills to test if temperature will still go up... thank you so much...

Cooling systems sometimes seek their own level in the reservior. There may be a marking on the side for where it is suggested to fill it to, but the level may vary.

I have a 1995 Honda Accord (4 cylinder) with 229K miles. After taking my car for a timing belt and water pump replacement, the next day my car overheated. I returned the car to dealership (after having the thought that the water pump was not installed correctly). The mechanic told me that I have a blown head gasket that needs repair. As you can imagine, this is quite costly. So I continued to put coolant from the overflow tank (coolant wouldn't flow from overflow tank back into radiator) into the radiator to prevent overheating. This became a chore, so upon recommendation from another mechanic I replaced my radiator cap. This worked and I have driven the car for over 2K miles with no symptoms (i.e. adding coolant). Is it possible to have a blown head gasket without overheating issues or milky oil? HELP - Am I Being Scammed?! :?: :!:

The head gasket is often a first shot by some mechanics. Obviously there is more time and money in fixing that and then finding out it wasn't bad. If you are worried at all, have a leak down test performed. It is simple, should be rather inexpensive and will tell you all you need to know about the engine, head gasket, etc. You could also have someone check the pressure on the cooling system to see if the radiator and cooling system are performing as they are supposed to. I would purge the system of any air that might be in it. Open carefully the bleeder on the top hose near the block and with the engine running and at normal operating temp let out the steam and air.

My car overheated and cracked the radiator, the shop says I have blown the head gasket. Determination was from the expansion while the car was in idle not a compression check.

Trying to determine if it is worth the repair cost. How can I determine if other damage has been done such as the catalytic converter etc...

Is there any pertinent information I need or questions to ask to help decide if I pay the $1500 repair (replacing the radiator, thermostat, water pump and timing belt at the same time) or put that towards a down payment on a replacement vehicle.

1500 for all that! that is a great great great price for all that work.

but your vehicle is pretty high mileage, convertor wont be shot from that, it may be shot of the o2 sensor gets fouled up from the coolant being burned with the exhaust, causing the exhaust to be rich or lean and burn up the convertor.

I have a 1999 Honda Accord LX 4cylinder 2.3 liter and the oil is getting into the radiator. I had a back yard mechanic replace the head gasket but just the head gasket and the car did great for about 500 miles and it started to do it again. I think that he did not do it right. Also it has a new radiator and there is no crack in the block so that is not it.

there may be a crack in the block that you cannot see.

did your guy replace the head bolts with new ones?? if not, that most likely may be the cause which means it has to come off again and be re done correctly.

Roy

no he used the same old ones....and if that is not it what else could it be

that is it. they are torque to yield bolts and cannot be re used. when you remove the head again, take the time to have a machine shop check it for warpage and cracks.

start there. you need this before going anywhere else.

Roy

ok thank you and one more thing where would I find another head if it was cracked

you could get one at a junk yard but make sure you have it checked before assembly. or you can get a new one from the dealer which is big bucks.
some of the aftermarkets sell re build complete heads for a reasonable amount of money.

check around, they are there.

Roy

Thank You so much this is such a helpful site!

good luck

Roy