Hi, all

I handed down my '98 Civic to my daughter. The car runs ok, but has 205,000 miles on it and its age is starting to show. It got a new timing belt and water pump (second set of replacements) a year ago, and she has recently replaced the exhaust system from end to end. Yesterday the head gasket blew. Question is, with 205K miles on the car, is it worth replacing the gasket, or is it time for a new Civic?
All opinions, rants, etc. welcome.
Thanks -
Doug

 

welcome to the forum. 98 civic can go for a long time and is paid off. to replace an engine with a good used, you can get an engine for about 650.00 + have it installed for 500-800, an run that for another 200k. I would keep it and change the engine.

 

Thanks - hadn't thought of replacing the engine. We'll look into it.

 

look into ebay and see if you might be able to find a local salvage yard that carries Honda engines, or near by state and have it shipped into a local shop you may decide to use to change the engine. make sure you check out the reviews for the shop. if you find a good shop you are comfortable with, tell them you're idea's and what is needed when you order the engine.

 

I want to try and fix a Honda head gasket without removing the head.
Those engines use a steel shim head gasket that is rather tough.
My thought is to pull the valve cover and remove one head bolt.
Go to your good bolt store and buy hardened machine washers that will double the thickness of the original washer on all head bolts. Mine had 10 head bolts.
The new additional washer should be at least 1/8" thick and up to 1/4".
Shoot some Brake Clean down the head bolt hole and then blow it out with compressed air with a long hose to get to the bottom of the block.
When dry, put two drops of oil on the threads, one drop lubing the two washers, and screw back into the block. Torque to 35 ft/lbs..
Do all head bolts the same way.
When all have been shimmed, then torque the head to the usual 49 ft/lbs in the normal circular torque order. (I cheat and use 50 ft/lbs.
Fire it up and see what happens.
One could again re-torque the head with the engine warm. Re-torque was a must years ago and can still be done with no damage.

My theory is the head loses it's clamping force, probably due to bolt stretch and the gasket compressing, which allows compression to leak by the gasket.
The compression gets into the cooling system and the geyser erupts out the radiator.

I have yet to try this but other than a few bucks for hardened washers and some time, it may be worth a try.
The Honda head bolts are very hard spring grade steel and when new, they are only a few thousandths from bottoming in the block.
Due to end of the bolt being close to bottoming, the washer is needed to insure it is clamping and not bottoming.
One could cut 1/4" from the threaded end of the head bolt too to get the same result. Your call.
If you try this, I want a reply as to how this turned out?

 

original post was 01may17 over 2 years ago, i don't believe he has waited this long to fix the engine,

 

Results of tightening the head bolts will depend upon the extent of the damage on the head gasket
Cause if the gasket is actually ripped or torn open then doubtful that clamping down tighter with fix that