Thread: D16a7 engine help

I have purchased a 92 civic 5 speed, has a D16a7 engine. the previous owner only 3-4 months ago had a new radiator, head off, planed and tested, new gaskets and it ran very nice. After owning it for 3 days, me son took it for a longer run 1 hr and the temp went in the red and blew the water out the water tank. I waited little while [was still hot] took cap off radiator, filled with a water, left cap off and started it, it blew water out the radiator on idle. I suspected head gasket. Had the mechanic who fixed it look at it again. He says head gasket looks fine, had head crack tested and all looks ok. This has me and him puzzled. Im concerned about spending $$ to put back to gether to find it does it again. Anyone shed some light on this one? Cheers Oliver.

Originally Posted by Horny_Devil

or it was bled incorrectly, and has air in the system

Sounds more like it. My last B16A with a blown head gasket would have a few large blasts come out the cap when starting, but would bubble away quite softly while idling.

I know this guy seems like he is just an old garage hack but he really knows his Honda stuff

Eric The Car Guy - Bleeding the coolant system

Eric The Car Guy - Solving an Overheating Problem

That second link is just over 26 minutes long, so get yourself a snack and a drink first

wow, i wondered about that and a machanic mate of mine told me he had this exact issue. Thank you .

Yes this was expalined to me, I just done understand how the previous owner had run it for 3-4 months with no issue? maybe he had flushed it out prior to selling? thanks its all making sence.

Originally Posted by Kapzlock

Sounds more like it. My last B16A with a blown head gasket would have a few large blasts come out the cap when starting, but would bubble away quite softly while idling.

I know this guy seems like he is just an old garage hack but he really knows his Honda stuff

Eric The Car Guy - Bleeding the coolant system

Eric The Car Guy - Solving an Overheating Problem

That second link is just over 26 minutes long, so get yourself a snack and a drink first

Ok, The head has now been crack tested in which no faults were found, and has been planed and reco guy says there are no problems with head. He has run a straight edge over block and thinks is ok too so we are puzzeled as to why it got hot in the first place. They were keen to put back together but i have taken away as is to investigate a little more. Do you think there may have been an air lock in the system? and if i put back together might be ok if the system is bled properly? Can there be issue with the block? what do i look for? Thanks for your help.