# new headgasket, cooling systems repair
**URL:** https://forums.speedlife.net/t/new-headgasket-cooling-systems-repair/64793
**Category:** NYSpeed Automotive
**Created:** [March 19, 2009, 6:53pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/new-headgasket-cooling-systems-repair/64793 "2009-03-19T18:53:40Z")
**Posts on this page:** 14
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@JDMSIR](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JDMSIR)
#### Post date: [March 20, 2009, 9:59pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/new-headgasket-cooling-systems-repair/64793/21 "2009-03-20T21:59:06Z")
> [@deebo](#):
>
> i pulled everything, well i drained the cooling sytem and got all the hoses off and was about to pull the valve cover to pull the head but i stopped because it was getting dark/food, came back on and decided that it’s going to need a few more things looked over than a simple headgasket swap, none of which i can do, and i cannot bring the car anywhere once the head is off, and i dont want to fuck up the new headgasket
>
> i threw everything back together and went to go pick up food and it starting overheating and smoking so i said 🖕 and pulled over and nothing was leaking, everything seemed fine etc etc
>
> i HATE this car
Burp the coolant, you might have a bubble somewhere. Let the car come up to temp. and let the fan come on wit the rad cap off until all air bubbles are out, you will know when its done. If you need help PM me and I might be able to stop by on sunday and lend a free hand.
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### Author:  [@travisn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/travisn)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2009, 5:47am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/new-headgasket-cooling-systems-repair/64793/22 "2009-03-21T05:47:43Z")
> [@JDMSIR](#):
>
> ↑ Ya, why? Do you need to make sure the IM is straight? Waste of $8 for IM gasket, dont waste your time, you do not need to remove it unless it is leaking.
Because in order to deck the head it has to be bolted down to the mill or whatever is used and the IM would be in the way. Plus metal shavings would get everywhere and the last thing you would want would be to have one inside the IM someplace.
I know its a pain in the ass to remove and install it, but why are you so against it? Plus its a good time to clean the IM out because its probably full of goop as was my civic’s IM with 250k on it.
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### Author:  [@deebo](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/deebo)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2009, 7:04am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/new-headgasket-cooling-systems-repair/64793/23 "2009-03-21T07:04:02Z")
> [@JDMSIR](#):
>
> Burp the coolant, you might have a bubble somewhere. Let the car come up to temp. and let the fan come on wit the rad cap off until all air bubbles are out, you will know when its done. If you need help PM me and I might be able to stop by on sunday and lend a free hand.
i did this, only problem is the fan doesnt work lol
i didnt see any bubbling in the overflow
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### Author:  [@Toda\_Party](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Toda_Party)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2009, 8:50am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/new-headgasket-cooling-systems-repair/64793/24 "2009-03-21T08:50:16Z")
fan doesn’t work why?
then ur thermostat isn’t working or the fan switch/wiring is fuxxed…
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### Author:  [@Saxon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Saxon)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2009, 6:27pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/new-headgasket-cooling-systems-repair/64793/25 "2009-03-21T18:27:33Z")
> [@99\_civic\_si](#):
>
> an
> coolant - regular green prestone, mix it 50/50 with distilled water. you can actually go a little heavier on the water because water cools better than coolant but don’t go too crazy because you lower the boiling point of your mixture
you can use 100 % distilled water if you want to , although it will corrode the block and metal parts… coolant helps with cooling but is mainly for corrosion protection and lowers freezing point of water
alot of southerners use distilled water with a drop of soap or water wetter and have absolutely no problems
to
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### Author:  [@Saxon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Saxon)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/new-headgasket-cooling-systems-repair/64793/26 "2009-03-21T18:30:46Z")
> [@99\_civic\_si](#):
>
> an
> coolant - regular green prestone, mix it 50/50 with distilled water. you can actually go a little heavier on the water because water cools better than coolant but don’t go too crazy because you lower the boiling point of your mixture
you can use 100 % distilled water if you want to , although it will corrode the block and metal parts… coolant helps with cooling but is mainly for corrosion protection and lowers freezing point of water
alot of southerners use distilled water with a drop of soap or water wetter and have absolutely no problems
to test the fan, unplug the fan switch and jump it, if the fan turns on when the car is on than its either an air bubble or the switch is bad
make sure you clean the threads in the block before installing the arp’s and tq to 80ft lbs and you will be set
if it had a blown headgasket i would get the head decked (around 40-50 in my area) just for reassurance
use only oem headgasket and forget the copper spray stuff, ive done it way too many times with and without it and it did not make a difference either way
while your in there get a new cam cap seal as most fail and lead to oil running all over the side of the head/block
any other questions feel free to call man
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### Author:  [@JDMSIR](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JDMSIR)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2009, 7:42pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/new-headgasket-cooling-systems-repair/64793/27 "2009-03-21T19:42:02Z")
> [@travisn](#):
>
> Because in order to deck the head it has to be bolted down to the mill or whatever is used and the IM would be in the way. Plus metal shavings would get everywhere and the last thing you would want would be to have one inside the IM someplace.
>
> I know its a pain in the ass to remove and install it, but why are you so against it? Plus its a good time to clean the IM out because its probably full of goop as was my civic’s IM with 250k on it.
I didnt know he was getting it milled, i thought it was just a HG swap with studs.
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### Author:  [@Saxon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Saxon)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2009, 8:14pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/new-headgasket-cooling-systems-repair/64793/28 "2009-03-21T20:14:44Z")
> [@JDMSIR](#):
>
> I didnt know he was getting it milled, i thought it was just a HG swap with studs.
he stated it had a blown headgasket, and imo it is something that you should do everytime a car blows a headgasket and your replacing it, might cost and extra 50-60 extra (machine costs and intake manifold gasket) but is worth the piece of mind
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### Author:  [@travisn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/travisn)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2009, 8:45pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/new-headgasket-cooling-systems-repair/64793/29 "2009-03-21T20:45:31Z")
> [@alpha earl](#):
>
> he stated it had a blown headgasket, and imo it is something that you should do everytime a car blows a headgasket and your replacing it, might cost and extra 50-60 extra (machine costs and intake manifold gasket) but is worth the piece of mind
🤓
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### Author:  [@JDMSIR](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JDMSIR)
#### Post date: [March 21, 2009, 11:33pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/new-headgasket-cooling-systems-repair/64793/30 "2009-03-21T23:33:59Z")
> [@alpha earl](#):
>
> he stated it had a blown headgasket, and imo it is something that you should do everytime a car blows a headgasket and your replacing it, might cost and extra 50-60 extra (machine costs and intake manifold gasket) but is worth the piece of mind
Maybe, but I have done maybe 15 HG, and once I had a problem with a head( carnut knows how bad the head was warped). Any other time its been fine, just need a good straight edge to measure.
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### Author:  [@Saxon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Saxon)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2009, 12:57am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/new-headgasket-cooling-systems-repair/64793/31 "2009-03-22T00:57:24Z")
> [@JDMSIR](#):
>
> Maybe, but I have done maybe 15 HG, and once I had a problem with a head( carnut knows how bad the head was warped). Any other time its been fine, just need a good straight edge to measure.
well you’ve done 15, i have seen over 100+ and can tell you that if you are going to do a headgasket ($70+ ) you might as well spend the extra ($60) to make sure everything is good
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### Author:  [@JDMSIR](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JDMSIR)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2009, 8:57am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/new-headgasket-cooling-systems-repair/64793/32 "2009-03-22T08:57:09Z")
why, if its straight?
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### Author:  [@Saxon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Saxon)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2009, 9:08am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/new-headgasket-cooling-systems-repair/64793/33 "2009-03-22T09:08:47Z")
> [@JDMSIR](#):
>
> why, if its straight?
i guess if you have the equipment to check to make sure it is 100% straight then it wouldn’t matter
i personally don’t so i get it surfaced just to make sure
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### Author:  [@deebo](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/deebo)
#### Post date: [March 22, 2009, 9:37am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/new-headgasket-cooling-systems-repair/64793/34 "2009-03-22T09:37:04Z")
i didnt have a few of the tools that i needed, and i didnt have a straight enough straight edge to trust(the one i use for laying tile)
so i jus dropped it off to andy and he is checking over a few other things as well ☹
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