BT wrote:
> Car: 1999 Honda Civic CX (Hatchback)
> Miles: 242,000
> Location: Southern California
>
> Symptoms: Sweet smell when I started the car Monday morning. Thought
> my daughter had dropped some candy or something and ignored it.
> Tuesday afternoon, while driving up a hill at ~50mph, I noticed the
> engine temp gauge needle rising pretty quickly. It got about 3/4 of
> the way to the top while I was looking. I was in the process of
> slowing down to make a left turn, so took my foot off the gas and the
> needle went down as well. Made it back home driving very slowly, and
> the needle never went above the halfway point (but it was still above
> where it normally rests). When I got home, checked the oil level
> (fine), coolant (near max) and if the rad fan was obstructed in some
> way (it was fine). Drove normally to the dealership after about 2
> hours, and the temp gauge needle was at it's usual spot just about the
> 3/8 mark.

gauge can't be trusted unless it's in the red - it's non-linear.


>
> Dealer diagnosis: Don't know why it over-heated, but the head gasket
> is blown. They plan to replace the head gasket, get the head checked
> and machined and put it all back together again.

think very carefully before you allow them to machine the head.

1. it probably isn't warped, thus is unnecessary.

2. in shopspeak, it does more for convenience, i.e. no difficult time
consuming cleanign operations, than it does for mechanical necessity.

3. they're hardly ever finished to the standards necessary to seal
aluminum properly, i.e. last as long as oem.

4. it affects valve timing.

5. it affects compression.


>
> Questions: What are the likely reasons for having a blown head
> gasket?

cracked radiator in the recent past.


> Is it just age as the service person suggested? If they don't
> fix the underlying reason, how likely is it to happen again? And how
> long for it to happen?

if the head is "machined", it'll last just long enough for you to sell
the car. which is the typical exit.


>
> Is it worth looking at putting in a replacement engine?

yes. i'd do jdm or domestic [low mileage] used, NOT rebuilt. rebuilt
is only ok is you don't care or if you know a /REALLY/ fastidiously anal
builder, but they're rarer than rocking horse shit. typical rebuilds
rarely last anywhere near as long as the original engine. lots of
technical reasons that i cant' be bothered to list right now.


> I don't
> particularly care for speed/hp as long as it's smog-legal in
> California. But it would be nice to have something better than the
> stock CX engine Are there any recommendations for mechanics in the
> San Diego area who could do something like this? If I decide not to
> take up the dealer's offer, will it be safe to drive the car to a new
> mechanic?
>
> Thanks very much for the help.
> BT

you can pick up used cx engines real cheap. tuners throw them away when
they upgrade civics.