overheating, oil in plug tubes

I have a 97 honda passport (4x4 v6) with 108k on it. The engine is losing coolant somewhere (no visible leaks) and about every 150 miles i have to refill the radiator (1/2-3/4 gallons worth) to keep it from overheating. I brought it into the local shop, but no results. I also noticed that the #1 plug had oil around the top of it. looking at other posts i thought maybe valve seals, but woiuld that have any relationship to the coolant loss?
Thanks for any help/advice
Michael

The oil in the spark plug tubes is unrelated to the coolant loss. When you buy new valve cover gaskets, the kit includes the rubber seals for the plug tubes.

The slow coolant loss is probably a small crack in one of the heads. My neighbor has a Jeep that was slowly loosing coolant out the tailpipe, barely noticible, pulled the head and there was a tiny crack i the head on number 3 cylinder.

search here.

There have been a couple of posts recently about leak towards the back of the block.

The slow coolant loss is probably a small crack in one of the heads. My neighbor has a Jeep that was slowly loosing coolant out the tailpipe, barely noticible, pulled the head and there was a tiny crack i the head on number 3 cylinder.


Nah, I don't believe that; not with only 108K miles, not unless the truck hasn't been taken care of, i.e. regular radiator flushes every 25-30K at most or if the truck has constantly been driven hard.

These 3.2L V6's are hardy engines, and I can't see a head cracking at 108K miles, personally. Jeeps, yes, but I hope for Mcgriffith80's sake that it's not the head.

So, was this ever resolved? I am not having these issues, but just in case. After all, own a 97 Rodeo myself.


Nah, I don't believe that; not with only 108K miles, not unless the truck hasn't been taken care of, i.e. regular radiator flushes every 25-30K at most or if the truck has constantly been driven hard.

These 3.2L V6's are hardy engines, and I can't see a head cracking at 108K miles, personally. Jeeps, yes, but I hope for Mcgriffith80's sake that it's not the head.

Still not resolved. I pulled all the plugs to see if i could find any evidence of leaking that way but they all looked normal and there doesn't seem to be any coolant in the oil. still looking though so far nothing, and my mechanic couldn't find a leek either. Very strange, very much a pain

What else could it be but a combustion chamber leak? :eek7: Cracked head or blown head gasket. Could be very small and not noticable in the exhaust. Pull your spark plugs and compare them (noting which cylinder they came from). The one that looks different from the others is where the leak is.

2eyefishclaw :

Quote:
there are two pipes under the intake they each have an o-ring on one end they dry rot and start leaking over the years espically if somone has recently been around them (have your valve cover gaskets recently been replaced)

I have noticed my gas mileage has gone down as well. I am going with the cracked head (milky film on underside of the oil cap). The shop quoted me at 1400 for it. what other damage will i cause if i continue to run it like this while i save up some cash?

BTW has anyone ever used the "glass" type or other type of fix leak with any sucess? I know it's a temp fix, but seems better than nothing at this point

They sell a special dye for radiators (they have one for oil as well), when applied would leave a trail if you wear yellow glasses or under a black light....look into that....

I have noticed my gas mileage has gone down as well. I am going with the cracked head (milky film on underside of the oil cap). The shop quoted me at 1400 for it. what other damage will i cause if i continue to run it like this while i save up some cash?


Do NOT be driving that truck if it has JUST a cracked head gasket; if you do, you could be looking at replacing the whole top-end, not just the gasket.

I'd like to know more on the history of this truck. Are you the original owner? If you are, out of curiousity, how often was regular maintenance performed?

I just find 108K miles WAY too soon for a blown head gasket on these 3.2L engines - but it can happen, especially if it was ever ran low on antifreeze or without the proper mixture.

I was not the original owner. I have had the truck maybe 8 months and put about 8-10K on it. I flushed and refilled the radiator when i bought it. I think the lastowners only got work done when something was broken, but that is just an impression i got, there was not much of a history on it. I bought the uv dye for radiator so i will give that a shot (I like to hope that the worst is not the case) and see if it's leaking out the back and evaporating on the tailpipe, but i know that all the sings are pointing me to engine trouble.

My 97 3.2L with 181K started running hot a week or so ago and the radiator was low. Added water but could not see a leak. I also had to add coolant every 200 or so miles, but could not see a leak anywhere. Turns out that my water pump was going out and it only "leaked" while driving. Have you checked the water pump and thermostat?