Hi all,

I bought a 1997 Civic HX last week and believe the head gasket needs to be replaced. I got 39mpg on my first tank, and the car doesn't appear to lack power, so I'm pretty sure (not certain) that there isn't a block/compression issue. The symptoms are smoke from the engine compartment at stoplights, and oil residue on a good amount of the block...not from the valve cover gasket tho...all clean around there. There is oil on the passenger side of the engine below the coolant inlet around to the starter and all down that side of the engine. Its crusty and looks to have been there for a while.

The last head i did was on an MG some 20 years ago. That was a PITA, but it was an MG...enough said. I understand the basic process, but am interested in hearing from somebody who can tell me what costs to expect and if I should just do the gasket, or more at the same time. The car has 180,000 miles.

The CE is on, and is throwing 3 codes per autozone...p0420, p1259, and p0401.

I've read a number of posts about the EGR issue, so I know I'll be cleaning the valve and ports at the same time I do the HG. That is the code P0401.

The info Autozone gave me said that the P0420 could be anything from an air leak to a bad cat.

Lastly, the P1259 according to Autozone is related to the VTEC and can be anything from a blocked oil passage to a short circuit.

I'm curious if anybody sees a pattern that is typical that perhaps can suggest that the HG and EGR cleaning might clear the codes entirely, or if there is probably something else going on as well.

With the exception of the smoke, the car drives wonderfully. Great suspension, brakes, mpg, smooth engine, no sputtering etc. Occasionally it will idle a little low, but I have also seen talk about cleaning the idle control assembly on the back of the intake manifold if I remember correctly? also something I figure I can get done while doing the HG.

Thanks for any suggestions/help.

JP

 

Clean old oil from the engine and post pictures from areas you first see fresh oil appear. I don't believe the head gasket is blown. My guess is that you have an engine oil leak from either the disctributor O-ring or the VTEC solenoid. Given the VTEC code, start there and also clean the screen.

Definitely clean the EGR passages and port. These tend to get blocked and can cause a lot of problems.

P0420 likely indicates the cat is bad ($$$), but I hope the cause is actually an exhaust leak. Good luck there.

I wish that I had an HX. If anyone wishes to give me one, please let me know.

 

I agree with Ron, check the distributor o-ring and the Vtec solenoid gasket. The o-ring cost around a buck and gasket (spoon filter) for the solenoid is around 15 dollars. I have a HX and EGR passages does clogged up everywhere around the intake manifold.

Link for the EGR clean up. http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/egr-fix/index.html

 

Hey guys,

Thanks for all the advice. I was looking for that link. Ran across a broken one once, and was dying to see the breakdown. Many thanks.

I'm off to throw some degreaser on the block and see what comes to the surface. I don't expect to figure anything out tonite, but I hope to have more to report this weekend. The commute from Jax to Gainesville is pretty time consuming during the week. I have filled the tank 5 times now in the week and a half I have had her. I'm getting anywhere between
36-39mpg. I hope that by the time I get everything cleaned up and back to spec maybe I can squeeze a little more out of her.

I searched for the HX strictly for the mpg. Ron, is there another reason you're looking for one ?

I'll leave an update as soon as I know something or have more questions.

Thanks again,
JP

 

Nah, like you, I'm just impressed with the high mpg potential.

 

Welp, off to bed, but had a chance to take a look around the engine a little tonite. Its a bloody mess. damn near the whole passenger's side of the engine and trans are covered in oil...and I thought I saw a couple of drips while it was running. They appeared to be coming from the vacinity of the VTEC selenoid. Still, too dirty to really be sure, but those were my initial observations while it was running and holding a light in there as best I could. I'll clean it saturday and see if I can't narrow it down some. I figure doing the EGR cleaning will get me right where I need to be to clean up around there real well.

 

Be sure to replace the gasket(spoon filter) when you pull off the VTEC solenoid. They get flat and leak.

 

ok, well, I cleaned off the block and ran the car for a few minutes (all it took) when I found fresh oil trails running down the block again. I'm pretty sure there are two issues. One, I could wipe away and see a trail start all over again on the top side of the VTEC solenoid where it has the three screws holding the top on. It would then run down the solenoid and down the back of the block. It was pretty minimal, but defininately worth addressing. Second, there was a really good size stream starting somewhere below the distributor and running to the front of the block where it mates with the trans. It is pouring straight down the front right where the engine ID is. Now, I know that the Distributor O-Ring is a concern. but I can't get up under there to see if it is really coming from the distributor or not. I don't feel like I've accomplished a whole lot today yet, but I do feel like I'm headed in the right direction. Thanks for the advice. I'm going to go look up some instructions for removing the distributor and checking there.

 

The oil you see below the distributor is likely due to a bad O-ring, though you should rule out a leaking valve cover gasket.

 

3 bolts hold it on take bolts off and dizzy pulls right out take a razor blade and cut the old O'ring off and just slip a new one on. try to get a Oring that fits really tight if you get one to big it will just get pinched when you try to put dizzy back in. here is a pic of my dizzy with a new oring. the new oring is orange