Timeline for Can one detect coolant leak due to blown head gasked by visual inspection of pistons/spark plugs?
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
10 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 29, 2021 at 0:00 | history | tweeted | twitter.com/StackMechanics/status/1453874220631478272 | ||
| Oct 28, 2021 at 23:30 | comment | added | IanC | It does look like something is odd with piston 2: it has more corrosion on the spark plugs and carbonization on the piston, but that's not enough to say for sure it's the head gasket. It could be it is and the leak is right at the piston 2, but it also could be some other thing like something with the fuel injector causing this carbonization. As HandyHowie asked, are you noticing the coolant level dropping? | |
| Oct 28, 2021 at 23:02 | history | bumped | CommunityBot | This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed. | |
| Sep 28, 2021 at 22:41 | answer | added | stretch | timeline score: 1 | |
| Sep 28, 2021 at 16:37 | comment | added | F Dryer | A damaged head gasket usually results in lots of steam out the exhaust pipe as I suffered head gasket failures in a Ford 3.0 V6 twice. The second time coolant leaked into a cylinder, it created hydrolock, preventing the starter from cranking the engine. My coolant didn't show color changes while other vehicles may show a chocolate milk shake as combustion is forced into the cooling system. Did you check for a worn out leaking water pump? Rocking the pump pulley should not allow side play. Coolant stains are a clue to a worn pump. | |
| Sep 28, 2021 at 10:04 | comment | added | jwh20 | I've had a head gasket leak a could of times and in both cases the #1 symptom was unexplained loss of coolant. I could sometimes smell coolant in the exhaust. But when I pulled the head there was one piston that was completely clean of carbon buildup. Clean like it was a new engine. I'm not seeing that here although I suspect that the leakage rate may impact the cleaning ability. | |
| Sep 28, 2021 at 9:38 | comment | added | Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2♦ | It is VERY common for the D17a engines in 2001-2005 Civics to have head gasket issues. This is usually due to people not using the blue Honda type coolant, but replacing it with "common" green coolant. With that said, though, when I pulled the head on my 2001 Civic a few years ago, there was a definite difference with piston #2, as it was clean while the rest looked like what yours do. Mine would overheat, but only if I didn't keep up with the coolant. As long as I replaced what was getting drank by the engine, it ran just fine. | |
| Sep 28, 2021 at 8:22 | comment | added | HandyHowie | Have you checked the coolant level? | |
| Sep 28, 2021 at 1:19 | history | edited | CuriousPaul | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
added 4 characters in body
|
| Sep 28, 2021 at 1:08 | history | asked | CuriousPaul | CC BY-SA 4.0 |