Strange cooling problem...


Don't you have to change the coolant for the test to be accurate?

Egg in the radiator..... Lol
 
I've never before and condemned a few head gaskets hahaha. I'm half tempted to drain the rad fill it up and chuck a couple of k seals in it!
 
I'd just do it peoperly rob, seriously isn't that much work once you get into it.
You've got enough decent lads up there to help you if needs be aswell, although if you've got like a hairline in something the kseal might find it and seal it for a while?...
 
I know mate I will do it right or I won't sleep at night but knowing my luck I'll take the head off and find a big ass crack in a liner. If I didn't have bad luck I wouldn't have any luck at all
 
robthedoc said:
I know mate I will do it right or I won't sleep at night but knowing my luck I'll take the head off and find a big ass crack in a liner. If I didn't have bad luck I wouldn't have any luck at all
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Me and you both brother!

I've seen/owned a b18c block that had multiple hairline cracks in the liner and one large one that went all the way through to the coolant gallery.
I highly doubt that's your issue though.
81.5mm piston? Leaves plenty of liner left and your machine work was done properly by the sounds of it.

Aonghus says he's seen cometic headgaskets go multiple times so it's highly likely that's your issue and all this is over thinking it and causing unnecessary headaches.
 
Before you pull the head off just check your head bolts are still torqued to spec.
If you're using good bolts it's unlikely to be a problem with them but worth a quick try
 
You're most of the way into the change by then anyway although it doesn't hurt to try I suppose.
Some people say to re torque them after like a week but I've never done that with any head bolt or stud so assumed it was Interweb bollox.
Worth a shot I guess.
 
jesse888 said:
You're most of the way into the change by then anyway although it doesn't hurt to try I suppose.
Some people say to re torque them after like a week but I've never done that with any head bolt or stud so assumed it was Interweb bollox.
Worth a shot I guess.
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That's more of a back in the old days thing, on pushrod type engines where the head bolts are exposed or easily accessible with out removing cams etc.

I had a set of cheap stretch bolts come loose or over stretch on me before, just torqued them all down and it lasted a few years with no issues
 
Ah right, makes sense really. A lot of old techniques get passed down nowadays when they aren't really relavent it seems.
I think robs using arp headstuds but still any things worth a shot isn't it, you've got to undo them to change the gasket...
 
Yeah it's worth testing. Shouldn't be a problem if using the arp bolts or even Honda bolts as they are proper bolts anyway, unlike most manufacturers shitty stretch bolts!

I think I would rather replace the gasket anyway even if it was just loose bolts. Any deposits left over from blow bye could cause issues
 
Agreed I'd swap it anyway, just makes sense doesn't it.

By the sounds of it it's not going to be blatantly obvious the gasket is the issue even when he gets it off, almost a hit and hope situation really.
 
So the level in the bottle went down again before I left the garage. Car had cooled right down. Rad was full to the neck. emptied some of the coolant out the bottle so it was on the min line and then did 15 miles and temp was as stable as it's ever been. Wasn't going hard but following a mate (girl lol) in a b18c ek and noising up an ep2 for a couple miles. Haven't checked the level yet but I'm confused with this. It would be so much easier if the gasket just shat itself completely. Shouldn't tempt feit lol. Wonder if it'll make it home.
 
Just driven round the city centre a couple times and hit the motorway and then the back roads on the way home. Temp stable. No overheat warning. Level up half an inch in the bottle but if it's went back down in the morning I'm thinking the gasket is fine. Cap was making some weird noises. Think I might of been right?
 
when my rad cap went it was losing coolant but you could see where it was spraying out and leaving a residue from the coolant.
Mainly noticeable on the compressor housing as mines polished.
 
Well it may now be dead. Something has gone. Car cut out at about 40mph. Wouldn't start sounded like belt had snapped or zero compression. Coolant out the exhaust. It started this morning and sounds like bottom end is gone. Hydro locked possibly. @jesse888 whats involved in a stroking a b16b?
 
Ahh man that's bullshit!
So will it start now? Or you started it this morning and then it cut out later today?

It's a simple swap of b18c crank,rods and Pistons into a b16b block.
I take it you plan to reuse your forged bits?
 
I left it where it died last night mate. Went back to it this morning and it started but sounds a lot like the death rattle. Turned it off straight away so not to make matters worse. I'll need to tear it down and see what's went wrong and what can be saved. Trying to get it recovered just now.
 
Yeah that sound is very distinctive isn't it!
Hopefully you've saved the crank/rods and it'll be a simple rebuild job.
Sucks ass though!
How many miles you got on it?
 
Tbf i was probably pushing my luck. Knew it wasn't right. That'll teach me. Probably about 1800 ish mate. It's been down fairly well. Hopefully have an idea where I am with it this time tomorrow.
 
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