Thanks, I like that idea, Coolant testing, I live in kind of a
back-water place though, wonder if we'll have it

Elle wrote:
> I had the privilege of recently seeing the old oil from a
> car with a blown head gasket. It looked exactly like what
> filled up the valve cover in photo 1 that you linked. It's
> the consistency/thickness of a milk shake, and
> brownish-green, as described at many web sites.
>
> Sludge that forms due to a lack of regular oil changes seems
> to me to be more black in color; more tar-like. (OTOH, I
> recognize Michael as an expert here... )
>
> From reading here, and working with a friend's car this past
> summer, the oil-in-the-coolant and coolant-in-the-oil
> indications do not seem to always appear. My friend's Civic
> was experiencing regular overheaing. Ultimately she had to
> have the coolant tested for exhaust products at the local
> dealer. That nailed it. Her 99 Civic, about 115k miles,
> needed a new head gasket. Years before she had had one
> overheat episode. But it might have just been the very hot
> summer this year that put too much strain on the gasket.
>
> If the car is not overheating, then from what you say, I
> guess I'd change the oil and monitor for a few weeks. Or
> consider having the coolant chemistry tested for something
> like $50.
>
> With the recent overheat episode, I would not be optimistic.
>
> "Greyjaei" <greyjaei@gmail.com> wrote
> > Car info:
> > 92 Honda Civic DX
> > 340k(engine rebuilt at 300k)
> >
> > About a week ago my engine troubles started.
> > Was driving home when the engine temperature shot up,
> > checked the
> > coolant and there was none there.
> > Refilled it, took it to a mechanic friend, he said the
> > Thermostat
> > wasn't working, which was resulting in the coolant being
> > boiled off.
> > Seemed reasonable, changed that, coolant hasn't been
> > dissappearing much
> > or at all since then. (timing belt is going, can't drive
> > it around much
> > to check)
> > WAS going to get the belt changed, but the mechanic at the
> > place I took
> > it to was pretty convinced I had a blown head gasket or
> > cracked head.
> > All he did was take off the valve cover, didn't do any
> > compression
> > tests etc.
> >
> > There seems to be no coolant in the oil pan, and no oil in
> > the coolant.
> > But the inside of the valve cover is covered in this brown
> > sludge.
> >
> > I'm not sure what to do.
> > Is it definitally a blown head gasket/cracked head?
> > Could that brown sludge have formed inside the valve cover
> > any other
> > way?
> >
> > Not really willing to dish out the 1500 to repair the head
> > gasket right
> > now, or the 3000 to repair the head. Want to be sure of
> > where I go from
> > here and would appreciate any opinons. The car is a really
> > nice ride
> > and I'll be sorry to see it go.
> >
> > Here are a couple pictures of the valve cover and lifters
> > etc
> > http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e15/Greyjaei/2.jpg
> > http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e15/Greyjaei/1.jpg