InsanoDano

Hi,

Just after a bit of advice. My cart is showing early signs of a blown head gasket. It was over heating and I noticed bubbles on the dip stick. I've just done a compression test and there are my results:

Without open throttle
Cylinder 1 - 16
2 - 16
3 - 15
4 - 16

With open throttle
1 - 18
2 - 18
3 - 17
4 - 18

So there aren't any two cylinders with low compression but I'm do think 18 bar is quite high? And I'm worried about the 3rd. Is it possible that the gasket could be blown somewhere else, and not between two cylinders?

This all started yesterday morning when my idle was bouncing from 1k to 2k every secong. And my heating wasn't working while this was happening. On the way home from work it over heated a little when idle and then continued to do so until I put about 1 ltr of water in it. (It then got hot when I was idling in traffic)

Thanks in advance

dontbuyprelude

those number do not reflect stock compression numbers. im guessing your probably in the range of 11.8:1 compression ratio.

i think cylinder number 3 is fine. i wouldnt worry about it unless you see oil in your coolant or vice versa.

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David
01 SSM SH

93 d15 auto del slo gone and FORGOTTENexcept for a few memories....

indylude18

To save everyone else reading the trouble of googling it, 18bar is about 261psi. 17 bar is about 247psi.

That is pretty high for a stock engine, however all that you are really looking for in a compression test is consistency between the cylinders. Since all 4 are relatively close together, I don't think you have anything to worry about yet. Could just be that you have an inaccurate compression tester that reads high.

How bad did you allow it to overheat before you shut off the engine? Like peg the gauge bad? Does it only overheat while idling or in stop and go traffic, or does it overheat while cruising on the highway as well?

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Bluetop H23a Vtec Swapped NHBP '99 Base

InsanoDano

I didn't allow it to over head. It went 3/4 of the way when I noticed it so I drove defensively and kept it down. When I put more water in it it was ok when driving but overheaded in traffic. The compression tester is brand new and the engine is standard.

It's a Si-R and I don't think they have a different compression ratio to nornal h22's.

I know it didn't have 2 cylinders down but could it have gone to a waterway?

InsanoDano

Also, could this be the early signs of a gasket failure? Should I do this now before it causes any other issues?

indylude18

That means your radiator fan isn't working correctly. Do a search on the subject, it's a fairly common problem.

What?

Check your oil. If it looks light brown and "milky" then you may have coolant getting in the oil, indicating a bad head gasket. If it looks normal, you don't have a head gasket leak.

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Bluetop H23a Vtec Swapped NHBP '99 Base

InsanoDano

Well... My original question was do the HG's always blow between cylinders? Cause I thought it could go down towards a waterway? Or am I talking ****e? haha.

So you reckon I should start with changing the thermostat?

I did check the oil and it looked normal except for some bubbles - which I thought is a sign of water ingress?