Blown Head Gasket?

[trendz]

I just got an engine swap on my 99 civic ex(cdn si) and got a JDM GSR engine. I have been having coolant loss for a while now, at first it was leaking from the radiator hose so I got that tightened up. However, the coolant is still consistently going down. The engine never overheats though, from idle to WOT the engine is always steady on normal operating temperature. I know the coolant in the plastic goes up and down depending on the temperature of the engine, but just 2 days ago I filled up the container to max and now it's way below minimum. Where is this coolant going? I check the radiator every morning before I start it and it's always full, I dont see any leaks, nor bubbles in my oil, nor green tint on my spark plugs and no white smoke from the muffler. I dont' smell any sweet smell or antifreeze odor either. Although there is a a sharp whistling sound when I hit the gas. And I dont' really notice any power loss either.

I got the engine compression tested and leakdown and was top shape when first got it, it still runs great but losing coolant.

Should I be worried about a blown head gasket? What steps could I do myself to determine the problem? Compression test and what else? I was thinking that maybe my stock radiator (which is almost 7 years old - civic ex) is not cutting it with the integra B18c in there. Should I get a new one? The engine has roughly 60,000 km to 80,000 km on it. Water pump problem?? I'm confused. Help please!!

[Turbob20EG]

Does the coolant in "container" bubble? Not from heat but from air exiting through it?

A bigger radiator couldn't hurt either way. I replaced my stock one with oem integra one. I not sure how big it is on your model but on my '93 the stock on is tiny.

~side not my termanology has gone to crap lately

[trendz]

Never checked, do I have to rev the engine to see this?

yeah the stock radiator is not that big.

[Hybrid_Coupe]

well im on a stock radiator and i dont have any problems...i would doubt its the head gasket...look around im willing to bet you have a coolant leak somwhere.

although...when you put the motor in, did you purge the cooling system properly and completely?

[tonyroll]

If there was no coolant in that motor when you dropped it in you probably didn't fill it enough. If you can't see any leaks, smell it or see it burning thats probably it. Someone chime in if they know how much coolant a civic should hold.

[trendz]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Resistance98EX @ Apr 27 2006, 11:52 AM) [snapback]101141[/snapback]</div>

well im on a stock radiator and i dont have any problems...i would doubt its the head gasket...look around im willing to bet you have a coolant leak somwhere.

although...when you put the motor in, did you purge the cooling system properly and completely?
[/b]

No i didn't , that was the next thing I was going to do... shoulda done that in the beginning huh?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tonyroll @ Apr 27 2006, 12:06 PM) [snapback]101142[/snapback]</div>

If there was no coolant in that motor when you dropped it in you probably didn't fill it enough. If you can't see any leaks, smell it or see it burning thats probably it. Someone chime in if they know how much coolant a civic should hold.
[/b]

So is the best thing to do is flush the coolant system and fill it back again?


So guys, besides a possible leak, are talking bout an air bubble problem here? So in that case, please correct me if I'm wrong guys, I would have to run the engine without the radiator cap to let the air pocket escape...??


Thanks for all the help so far, was worried about the head gasket possibility.

[Hybrid_Coupe]

yes that is what you need to do...run it with the radiator cap off till the fan cyles on and off about 3 or 4 times, make sure the heater is on(if you have a heater core.) the gsr motor is the hardest motor to purge all the air out of...make sure you keep adding water as needed to keep the radiator full

[trendz]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Resistance98EX @ Apr 27 2006, 01:02 PM) [snapback]101147[/snapback]</div>

yes that is what you need to do...run it with the radiator cap off till the fan cyles on and off about 3 or 4 times, make sure the heater is on(if you have a heater core.) the gsr motor is the hardest motor to purge all the air out of...make sure you keep adding water as needed to keep the radiator full
[/b]

I'll try that tonight!!

Thanks.

by the way Resistance, what are you running in that thing man? 620whp!! Next thing I gotta learn is a good turbo setup.

Cheers!

[Turbob20EG]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Resistance98EX @ Apr 27 2006, 10:52 AM) [snapback]101141[/snapback]</div>

well im on a stock radiator and i dont have any problems...i would doubt its the head gasket...look around im willing to bet you have a coolant leak somwhere.

although...when you put the motor in, did you purge the cooling system properly and completely? [/b]

I was just meaning it couldn't hurt. I forgot where got it but I got aftermarket one in my collection of honda parts and it nearly twice as thick, looks 200% better, and wasn't too pricey.



I thinking it b/c was not purged.....

[trendz]

Well, it turned out I had a tiny puncture on one of the hoses behind the engine, under the intake manifold.

It would spew out coolant because of the pressure, so I'm glad it's just a leak.

I'll purge the system anyway to make sure too.

Thanks again guys!