Overheating problem, please help

[vsiev]

I have a friend that has a '96 Prelude DOHC vtec and he is having overheating problems. There was a full tank of fluid in the radiator and the spare plastic tank and after driving it, the car gets hot. Opened the hood and notice the spare plastic tank boiling and steaming out. Once it was cooled down, there was no fluid left. There is no leaks to be found. Please tell me your thought on what might be the problem. Thanks.

[Bobiii84]

I hate to say this man, but you've got yourself a blown headgasket. It's not bad now but when u get steam blowin out of ur tailpipe u risk warping ur head. Ur getting air in from the cylinders and that's why it's bubbling. My dad replaced one on his 92 civic. It's very fixable, but you have to fix it now b4 it gets really bad. It's an all day apart job, and then another day to put back together. Let me know if u need any help.

[sofast]

Are you running water or coolant? Is there fluid coming out of the exhaust? Is there fluid dumping into the oil. You can taste the oil off of the dipstick. If its sweet you have a bad head gasket. If neither of that is happening. Try changing the thermostat. You may just be boiling it out because the thermostat is stuck.

[crzyCollegeKid]

if the engine really starts to overheat, remember, turn the AC on to Hot and put it on max, then roll down your windows, that should give you long enough to get home

[rubix777]

most likely if all the water is evaporating from your spare water reservoir, you have a faulty cooling system. when the engine over heats, the hot water in the radiator backs up into that container, so instead of your radiator cooling off the engine, you have the engine heating up radiator.

check your thermostat and fanswitch

[SBallerk2]

...Boy...i'm sorry to say it but..."Bobiii84" said it...you more then likely have a BLOWN HEADGASKET or even WORSE a CRAKED HEAD!!...wish for number one if there's oil in the radiator mixed with coolant or water then u have a CRAKED HEAD...if there's water or coolant going to the block then u my friend more then likely have a BLOWN HEADGASKET...that's if ur mixing oil with either coolant or water which would look like a milky shake "brown" in the radiator...

Cause of this event: RUNNING THE CAR WITH NO COOLANT FLUID OR WATER!!! for a LONG LONG LONG LONG did I say LONG period of TIME!!!

well good luck...u might just need a new engine...

[vsiev]

There is no water or coolant coming out of the exhaust and when I ran the engine and drained out the fluid from the radiator several times, it was just regular coolant and water, no oil what so ever. I really hope it is not a blown headgasket.

[Bobiii84]

I told ya. It's a blown head gasket. It can be fixed though. Just a little time and a new gasket.

[Bobiii84]

And Rubix, I don't mean to be hatin', but when he talked about the coolant bubbling out. You've got to figure the air is comin from somewhere. I REALLY think it's a blown head gasket. Vsiev, people told my dad that it was a thermostat. Commonly the gasket blows and the coolant and oil mix. Not in this case though. Think about it. The air is coming from somewhere! Just don't wait too long to do something about it.

[SBallerk2]

well whatever u do tell ur friend to stop driving it untill it's fixed....cause then u'll CRACK THE HEAD and well let's just say u don't wanna do that..

[grumblemarc]

Had that problem once. No steam in the exhaust. Bubbling in the resevoir was from boiling coolant, not air. Turned out to be a clogged/bad radiator. Replaced it years ago and haven't had problem one with the engine. No blown head gasket here.