delsolster
Nov 29, 2010, 10:16 PM
Car
1994 Honda Del Sol Si; 127k miles; 5 speed
Symptoms
With the engine running, I observed a slow stream of air bubbles coming through the tube in the coolant reservoir.
Increasing the RPM does not increase the flow of bubbles, while the radiator cap is securely on.
I first noticed it while flushing the coolant. I had refilled with water and left the cap off. In this case, the air bubble purge
Rate was dependent on the engine RPM. It smelled like exhaust gas. The CEL is not on.
Pertinent related info
My first thought was a head gasket leak, but...
1) I checked the cylinder compression; all cylinders were acceptable and within 5% of each other.
2) There is NO water in the oil; the oil is not like chocolate milk.
3) There is NO white smoke coming out of the tail pipe and it doesn't smell sweet.
4) There is no loss of power, especially under hard acceleration and high RPMs.
When I first purchased the car, I found the coolant reservoir filled with a black gunk. I have had to clean it out a couple
Of times since. The gunk could be oil, though it doesn't behave like oil. It doesn't float on top of the water. It sticks to
The sides of the plastic in the reservoir. I also checked the other radiator hoses and found all of them completely clean
On the inside and around the fittings. I also do not observe any gunk in the radiator itself or in the thermostat
Housing. It seems as though the gunk is being formed in the coolant reservoir.
Any suggestions would be most appreciated.
Thanks.
1994 Honda Del Sol Si; 127k miles; 5 speed
Symptoms
With the engine running, I observed a slow stream of air bubbles coming through the tube in the coolant reservoir.
Increasing the RPM does not increase the flow of bubbles, while the radiator cap is securely on.
I first noticed it while flushing the coolant. I had refilled with water and left the cap off. In this case, the air bubble purge
Rate was dependent on the engine RPM. It smelled like exhaust gas. The CEL is not on.
Pertinent related info
My first thought was a head gasket leak, but...
1) I checked the cylinder compression; all cylinders were acceptable and within 5% of each other.
2) There is NO water in the oil; the oil is not like chocolate milk.
3) There is NO white smoke coming out of the tail pipe and it doesn't smell sweet.
4) There is no loss of power, especially under hard acceleration and high RPMs.
When I first purchased the car, I found the coolant reservoir filled with a black gunk. I have had to clean it out a couple
Of times since. The gunk could be oil, though it doesn't behave like oil. It doesn't float on top of the water. It sticks to
The sides of the plastic in the reservoir. I also checked the other radiator hoses and found all of them completely clean
On the inside and around the fittings. I also do not observe any gunk in the radiator itself or in the thermostat
Housing. It seems as though the gunk is being formed in the coolant reservoir.
Any suggestions would be most appreciated.
Thanks.