Cracked block or bad head gasket? Oil in radiator.

[spayordie]

Well my wife just rolled the last car so I need to get a new one (New car, that is...keepin' this model and make of wife). My buddy has a great deal on an untitled 91 Civic which runs good but has lots of oil in the radiator, and very little oil in the oil pan, with maybe some coolant in the oil pan. I'll have about five days to work on this thing over thanksgiving and then have to drive it back home 600 miles, hopefully running. Any good way to tell if it's a head gasket or a cracked block?
Mark

[91civicDXdude]

Most likely, its a blown headgasket. the next culprit would be a cracked head. the head will go a long time before the block will.

the only real way to tell would be to remove the head and check it out.

If you can get the car for cheap, do so, and in a hurry, as civics and CRX's bring a premium these days, so long as the body is in good shape.

A D series SOHC head can be found for very little, as you dont have to be picky, any one will do. If its just the head gasket, you're looking at 20-30 dollars.

good luck.

[H4Bangin]

is it an auto?

[spayordie]

Yes it is an auto....I'm pretty sure the radiator has not broken between the coolant/ATF though...the ATF looks good and looks clean and has no water in it.

[H4Bangin]

the dipstick looks milkey?


i wouldnt drive it on a far trip like u are talking about....

[spayordie]

well I hope I'll have it fixed. From what I'm told, there's very little oil at all in the crankcase now, with a hit of fluid. I guess the bigger fear is it's been run without oil, huh?

[91CRXHF]

another way to tell if you can get it running is that there is bubbles coming up when you look in the overflow or in the radiator its self. hopefully just the headgasket man good luck

[travagliante]

YEAH good luck Its probaly a gasket i think but dont drive it the 600 or so miles you were saying. Thats just murder!!!