Head Gasket Replacement on '91 Honda Civic

Step 7 Inspection

1) Look at the tops of the pistons. In my case, one cylinder was obviously cleaner than the others. This is apparently caused by antifreeze getting into the cylinder and cleaning the surfaces off. Even the top of the piston was scrubbed clean. So, I focused by attention on this cylinder's walls as well as the gasket around it.

If the piston top is clean but has topped out within the cylinder, you'll need to rotate the engine such that it bottoms out and exposes the cylinder walls. If the car is in gear, you should be able to rotate the wheel manually. Otherwise, remove the driver-side wheel and use the breaker bar to turn the crankcase pulley, like instructed in the manual.

2) Run clean finger within the walls and feel around for cracks and such...If you feel anything, you might as well stop right there. This instructable is now officially useless to you.

3) Carefully inspect the head gasket. In my case, there was a small crack/gap between the cylinder and coolant channel.

Comments

[markey1979]

Antifreeze came in from the cylinder head. When you removed the cylinder head, the residual coolant deposited in the cylinders. This is very normal. Alternately, after removing the exhaust manifold you can drain the block and head of coolant by removing the rather large plug in the block behind the exhaust manifold, but I would not risk damaging it due to its age!!

Civic's, like yours, sometimes crack cylinder heads, but usually its just the head gasket. An easy identifier is when the car is overheating, and ESPECIALLY white smoke, then its the head gasket. When the head CRACKS, the first indication will be oil mixing in the cooling system, I.E. evidence in the radiator