Coolant Leak

My '90 civic has been overheating. The coolant always gets low after driving it and it blows a little bit of white smoke. Not much though. I keep filling up the coolant and its gone shortly after. I only live a couple miles from work so i can make it there and back with no problems. The car starts just fine every time. I have noticed that the bleeder bolt is leaking coolant. Is it even possible for that bolt to drain my entire radiator. If i let the car sit, the coolant level doesn't go down. I sure as hell hope its not a head gasket (seems like too much trouble).

I'm going to try a compression check. Maybe i'll also put in a new rad and hoses. Should i also get a new header and gasket? Any ideas?

have you checked your oil to see if theres any coolant in there, id check that first, and look for any leakage underneath the car like before you get in it.........i i know if your block gets too hot it could warp your header and gaskets.......i would keep driving to a minimal if any at all!

if you wants try some bars leaks, its a good radiator sealer and its only like 3 bucks for a bottle. Just take off your cap and pour the bottle in, then fill it up the rest of the way with antifreeze. DO NOT POUR IT INTO THE OVERFLOW RESERVOUR bc it will be useless.

sounds like a bad head gasket to me. if u r blowing white smoke, that's steam, as in coolant has gotten into the cylinders and was turned into steam and blown out the exhaust. happened to my bro's 93 civic. a hot block would not warp the header. the head would warp before the header would, and if u warped a header, u'd have completely destroyed the motor first. aside from that, no coolant goes thru a header wutsoever, unless it went thru the cylinder first. a bad header would have nuthin to do w/ a coolant leak. coolant coming out the bleeder valve, sounds like it isn't tightened all the way.

try tightening the bleeder screw and checking for leaks..... but it sounds to me like a blown head gasket....


gunnmen01

the bleeder bolt has a hole through the middle of it and coolant is coming from the hole. i haven't found any other leaks. I'll start with the oil, I need a new oil pan gasket anyways. Thanks for the help. I'll let yall know what i find.

the bleeder bolt has a hole through the middle of it and coolant is coming from the hole. i haven't found any other leaks. I'll start with the oil, I need a new oil pan gasket anyways. Thanks for the help. I'll let yall know what i find.
I have the same problem with my car. How do you check if there is coolant in the oil? Thanks.

Fix the obvious leak, see if still leaks or burns. If it does, do a compression test and possibly a pressure test on the cooling system.

To check for coolant in the oil you can drain the oil, check the dipstick, or open oil filler cap. When there's coolant the oil turn white.