Radiator Problem

[cscott784]

Hello all. Just recently I've been having some radiator problems. After I drive 30 minutes or so, my temp gauge goes all the way up pass "H". Then after a few munites it goes back in the middle. Then up again. Then down again. Then up again and stays up. After the car has cooled down, I look under the hood at the radiator. It seems fine, but the reserve (the small plastic bottle to the right of the radiator) was overflowing with the cap on. I only fill it till it says max which is about 1/4 of the way. So i threw some coolant out back to the max mark and the next day its the same problem. It fills goes up to "H" and fills the reserver. Anybody know what to do?

Thanks

Scott

[jeef]

with the heating up and cooling down it'd lead me to think the thermostat is dead and needs replaced... but it could also be that your head gasket is on the way out check your oil for coolant and vice versa, and after overheating the enigne its likely that the head is now warped and needs shaved back to level... it'd be a good idea to check out the thermostat and try and get a compression test ran...

[cscott784]

oh great. How much is that gonna cost. I just bought a for sale sign for the car because I dont want it no more. I'm thinking to get a 92+ civic hb. If it costs over $200 to fix I'm selling the car. could it be anything else?

Thanks

Scott

[civicHBsi91]

flush your radiator out also, go get some flushout stuff fromt he auto store and follow directions mine did that then i flushed it out and changed the tstat and it ran fine until it sat for another month then it started to do it again, good luck

[sastanley]

A thermostat is about $5 at any parts store.

[cscott784]

I got it flushed and cleaned about a month ago. It was after the flush that the radiator went up. Also, my air filter is not the cleanest. I have a k&n style cone filter. My friend reccomended the coolant with pebbles. Is that one good or no?

Thanks

Scott

[civicHBsi91]

I got it flushed and cleaned about a month ago

did you do it or did a shop do it, if someone else did it remember not everyone is honest they could have fuked up somewhere do it yourself its not hard at all

[Melt]

Originally posted by sastanley
A thermostat is about $5 at any parts store.

yup, I remember replacing the one on my old MG ... while it was overheating I just went fast so the air would cool it sufficently. Couldnt take it out much on the really hot days though.