Symptoms of a blown head gasket???

[5inchfatlip]

Hopefully mine isnt..but heres the quick scenario...
Sometimg is causing too much pressure in my cooling system to where it is pushing it out the blow off hose in the back of the coolant bottle (its a Dali one)..it happens while driving so it drips and drips and the win pushes it towards the back of the car..

so we lifted the car and everything was covered in coolnat, dried but there..no leaks, seems to only happen when the car is running..the coolant smell is pretty strong..plus there is coolant on the TOP of the muffler that suggests maybe its coming out of the exhaust manifold(headers)

Is there a head gasket for each side of the engine?

also- the car runs fine, doesnt overheat, not loosing too much water or oil...thanks..

 

[aaronb]

Often with a blown head gasket, you'll see foamy oil.

Your coolant overflow problems could be caused by overfilling.

I've also heard of people having faulty caps on their dali coolant bottle.

 

[5inchfatlip]

we checked that too, and it seemed okay..I know for sure it wasnt overfilling since I just checked the coolant level before I started smelling coolant...

funny thing- just replaced the cap with a new one from NAPA- maybe I should try another one. theyre only $4...?

 

[true]

Originally posted by 5inchfatlip:

funny thing- just replaced the cap with a new one from NAPA- maybe I should try another one. theyre only $4...?

Did this only start happening since you replaced the cap? What is the lb rating on the cap? I got a custom built racing radiator and it came with a 21lb cap. I started smelling coolant..noticed ALL of my coolant lines were leaking...it was pretty obvious since all the lines were wet..that was no coincidence. I put my older 13lb cap on the new radiator and hasn't leaked a drop since.

If you are burning coolant most likely you will see white smoke coming out of the exhaust. When a head gasket is blown the exhaust is usually smoking like a fogger.

Also check on the bottom side of your oil cap to see if there is any white residue. Look to see if there is any coolant/water in your oil too. If your headgasket is blown, there's a very good chance of oil and coolant mixing so that would be pretty obvious. I would say your new cap is over pressurizing your system.


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jack of all trades, master of some.

 

[ACR_Motorsports]

Spend $60-$75 for a new OEM coolant bottle and OEM cap, do not use the NAPA cap. The chamber design of the OEM bottle is much better than the aftermarket bottles, which may not contain or relieve the pressure properly. If you cannot stand the sight of a white oem bottle, paint it black.

Originally posted by 5inchfatlip:
we checked that too, and it seemed okay..I know for sure it wasnt overfilling since I just checked the coolant level before I started smelling coolant...

funny thing- just replaced the cap with a new one from NAPA- maybe I should try another one. theyre only $4...?

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www.acrmotorsports.com / 949-929-8973

[This message has been edited by ACR_Motorsports (edited 06 October 2002).]

 

[NSX 3.0]

Same thing happened to me when I put my tank on. Make sure you bleed the system and dont over fill the tank I filled mine up 3/4 full and went to a track event and it shot out the back hose. So all I did was take the level down to just under half the tank and it seems to be fine now. Another NSX owner was having the same problem at the track this weekend but I havent heard yet what his problem was.


Steven 91 Blk/Ivory

 

[wildrice]

I had my OEM coolant bottle painted flat black by a body shop and had the cap painted formula red and it looks 10x's better than the Dali piece of .......

At a total cost of about a third of the Dali price!!

[This message has been edited by wildrice (edited 06 October 2002).]

 

[5inchfatlip]

thanks for all the replies- the cap is the Honda Non-vented 16lb one, I drove the car at least a good 100miles before this started happening...or I just didnt pay attention...

The one thing I'm worried about is this really statrted after a quick nitrous run I did last week...so which is why I'm kinda worried.

I think it is time to replace the dali bottle...I'll try anything else!

 

[Craig]

Leonard, your oil doesn't look like a vanilla shake does it?

 

[ScienceofSpeed]

The Dali bottle cap is defective, common problem. Replace it with a quality Stant cap that you can find at many auto parts stores.

Regards,
-- Chris

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Revolutionize your NSX with ScienceofSpeed
www.ScienceofSpeed.com | [email protected] | 877-863-4520

 

[5inchfatlip]

Nope- my oil looks ok but I did find a couple small bubbles on the cap itself...

I'm getting rid of the DALI bottle today, and Larry says I may of lifted the heads...

WOW- this raceaflais god thingy really exists!!! I'll do anything to make it to WSIR on Wed...

 

[nsxxtreme]

Originally posted by ACR_Motorsports:
Spend $60-$75 for a new OEM coolant bottle and OEM cap, do not use the NAPA cap. The chamber design of the OEM bottle is much better than the aftermarket bottles, which may not contain or relieve the pressure properly. If you cannot stand the sight of a white oem bottle, paint it black.

Is this all the OEM coolant bottle cost. I noticed mine leaking the other day, I'm not sure what caused it. I cleaned it up and it hasn't leaked since. I still plan to replace it. The design seems stupid to me glueing to halves together. Of course it's going to leak eventually.

 

[sjs]

Originally posted by 5inchfatlip:
Nope- my oil looks ok but I did find a couple small bubbles on the cap itself...

The place to look for coolant in your oil in the bottom side of the filler cap, not the dip stick. If it looks even a little milky then you may have problems. Either way, any competent shop should be able to pressure test your cooling system.