bad headgasket but good compression?
 

i picked up this prelude si h23a1 with 145k on it, there was an obvious coolant explosion near the radiator, guy i bought it from said he was told by a shop that checked it out it needed a headgasket. i figure sure it overheated and blew out the radiator or whatever. tow it home.

i compression check it today before i pull the head and its 210 on all 4 cyl, could the hg be fine? or maybe it blew out on the ouside of the jacket? i cant tell forsure where the coolant blew out off but its stained green all over bit from the underside of the hood it looks like it was only up front and blasted back at the motor

also the oil looks good, not like chocolate shake or anything

Re: bad headgasket but good compression?
 

slap a rad in it and fire it up, then u will know

Re: bad headgasket but good compression?
 

maybe its not a headgasket, but it doesnt hurt to make damn sure.

Re: bad headgasket but good compression?
 

if the HG isnt blown that bad u wont see a change in a compression test. put a radiator in it and let it idle its probably going to bubble over.

Re: bad headgasket but good compression?
 

wel i hope your wrong but well see, i replaced the radiator and cap and gona do the thermostat tomarrow just in case

Re: bad headgasket but good compression?
 

slow bubbler, likely popped a hose then boiled it dry.

I did that to my D15B7 about a month ago.

RAd fan jumpered, 170 Tstat, heater on COLD = 125-150 miles before it fills the over flow and starts effecting the temp gauge.

With heater going I might get 50 miles before puke tank fills up.

I've used just over 1/2 gallon of coolant in the past month, mostly spillage. Whent the puke tank is full, cool motor, remove cap, dump the puke tank contents back into the rad, continue on.

Re: bad headgasket but good compression?
 

so you think your hg isnt blown that bad but its the hg forsure?

Re: bad headgasket but good compression?
 

yep, I went over the headbolts after the overheating, found one a little loose, went over them @ 50/56/62 and it helped. No bubbles at idle, but under load on hills it's pushing out combustion gases past the HG.

Remember, 1.5L AUTOMATIC 4 door, about any grade is a HILL! LOL!

Re: bad headgasket but good compression?
 

replaced the radiator, cap, thermostat and let it run for 10-20min nothin bad happened, then i drove it around and it seems fine.. guess im gona drive it and keep a eye on it

Re: bad headgasket but good compression?
 

keep the overflow tank low, check it every 100 miles just by lifting up on it. You'll know when it starts filling up.