Hard to tell if it's the head gasket...:(

I got a 91 CRX Si 1.6 SOHC. Since I had it, the intake manifold radiator bypass hose sprung a leak and it over heated. I was on a road and I saw the Temp gauge spiking, that's when I drove into a parking lot and shut it off to call a tow truck. I replaced hose and flushed the radiator since then. But now it seems to smoke very lightly white. And it is burning the anti-freeze up. I filled the radiator and filled the over-flow tank. Every 2 weeks about the overflow tank will be empty, but there is a mix of oil and anti-freeze left over. I poped the radiator cap and noticed oil in it right away. Today when I checked my resivor it was empty except for a clump of oil/antifreeze in the bottom. We I tried some of that sealer stuff and it didn't seem to do anything. It runs fine and doesn't seem like there is any loss in performance. It's always burned oil a little, but now burning anti-freeze also. The really strange thing is that my oil is coming out clean. There isn't a trace of anti-freeze in my oil but yet theres oil in the radiator. I am thinking of having it taken to my friends dad's garage cause he does this stuff on the side. He'll be able to tell if it's the gasket or if the head warped. But before I do that is there any way to tell? I heard they make stuff you run through you radiator and if it comes out a different color your head gasket is shot. Any ideas or advice is welcomed.

Thanks, Jim

You could run a compression test or use a tester that picks up C02 in the anit-freeze. Easiest way to tell, remove the head.

http://www.binghamtonlife.com/manual/2gsm/cylinder_head_valve_train.htm

definetly sounds like a blown head gasket to me, your in luck though 4th and 5th gens are the easiest to rebuild......



gunnmen01

Sounds like the first signs of headgasket failure. If you are in fact seeing white smoke out of the tail pipe then there is a very small coolant leak occuring. You will not be able to notice coolant and oil mixing when you drain the oil because the small amount of coolant has burned. If you keep driving it, in a few weeks you will notice more white smoke and by then most of the coolant just goes in to your pistons. If you have absolutely checked every passage from your radiator to the block for leaks or problems, then replace the headgasket. I've done it for my Del Sol and CRX and have experienced all the symptoms. It is not that hard to do. Just get the factory gaskets. Let me know if you want some tips on how to replace the gasket.