Engine question - Honda Prelude Forum

PreludesR4Speed · 04-30-2002, 01:45 AM

i have a 93 lude si with the H23A1 engine. there is a very small leak in the block that i noticed about a month after buying the car. i've had my lude for about 7 months now and the engine seems to be running fine. i managed to stop the leak using a combo of quik-steel and BARs coolling system sealant. My question is: Can a small leak in a block be repaired or will i have to buy another engine? The engine seems to be holding up fine now, but i plan to put on a turbo and i know this would increase pressure in the engine.

Absolut · 04-30-2002, 01:51 AM

You will have problems if you run a turbo, your best bet is to sleeve the block, but i'm not a turbo guy... Try the FI forum...

TheRedPrelude · 04-30-2002, 12:13 PM

take the block to a machine shop and have them hook u up, a small crack wouldn't be much to repair

PreludesR4Speed · 04-30-2002, 03:00 PM

so i would have to break down the engine and take the block in? could they do it on the car?

marcucci · 04-30-2002, 03:06 PM

First thing you need to do is decide how much you want to keep your car. Using sealers and that kind of crap is dangerous, it usually only ends up plugging things you need, like water jackets and radiator cores.

The only real solution if you are leaking out of the head is to pull the head and find the problem. If you are lucky, it is just the gasket, but more than likely it is a warped or cracked head or deck due to an overheat. It might be something unrelated, be sure the leak is at the head first- but check into it, otherwise you might be left with a top and bottom end that's worthless.

Don't go with a turbo until you fix it, you'll only leave yourself with a bad engine and turbo.

PreludesR4Speed · 04-30-2002, 03:16 PM

i know that the best thing for my engine isn't to use sealers, but i do what i have to until i get the money to have something more permanent done. does anybody have an idea of about how much it would cost to have a machine shop check out and fix the prob? I don't think it's the head gasket, the leak is coming out of the block itself, not along the head/block sealing area. i'm just trying to find out if it is worth fixing or if i should just put my money into a new engine instead of a turbo.

TheRedPrelude · 05-01-2002, 11:00 AM

Take it up to East Bay Machine and Automotive, they will pull the block out for you and fix the problem, they are cheap, honest, and do a good job

Outlawgirl · 05-01-2002, 12:32 PM

I'd take the block and have them repair it. I don't think it would cost to much. But ask around for prices first before you take it to one shop.