On Jul 3, 10:08*pm, Grumpy AuContraire <Gru...@ExtraGrumpyville.com>
wrote:
> BT wrote:
> > On Jul 2, 7:29 pm, Grumpy AuContraire <Gru...@ExtraGrumpyville.com>
> > wrote:
>
> >>Two items that were not covered in this discussion...
>
> >>1. Is this the original radiator, if not - How many miles since the
> >>replacement?
>
> >>2. You checked the coolant level in the overflow tank but did you check
> >>the radiator itself?
>
> >>JT
>
> > Original radiator. And still in good condition according to the
> > dealer. All hoses are fine too. Their hypothesis is that the
> > thermostat went bad.
>
> > I did not check the coolant level in the radiator. But because of the
> > sweet smell the day before, I am pretty sure the gasket was gone
> > before I noticed the overheating.
>
> > Does that change anything?
>
> In my experience, any radiator after 150K is usually plugged or well on
> its way.
>
> JT- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

my popped gasket got started when my civic was new; it had a tendency
to heat up since day 1, i assumed it was because the tiny radiator was
so minimal. after a few years when it couldn't even deliver that level
of cooling, i swapped it out, and was astounded that the new one never
overheated. shortly thereafter, my head gasket paid the price of those
few years of my assuming that the original factory radiator wouldn't
have birth defects.
on a humorous note, i just replaced the replacement radiator after
like 15 years, due to a big leak; it turned out that despite its
really ragged appearance, it was still intact, and the leak was coming
from the innocent looking heater hose which had split down the bottom
side. haha.