Sounding more like the thermostat. See the Service Manual for how to test and replace it. I'd think an air pocket would have been detected months ago. Won't hurt to fill to capacity and rebleed. LHT coolant filler is elegant as well as stupidly expensive compared to which can be on your front porch tomorrow or the next day.

(Nomenclature is important. Valve cover gasket and cylinder head gasket are completely different. Spark plug seals keep motor oil out not antifreeze.))

-- Chuck

 

An air pocket with our cars can oddly take that long to make itself known. Somehow it always seems to show up (overheat) when doing something mundane.

For future reference, if engine shows signs of overheating, shut it down and pull over immediately. Soon as its safe to do so. No, I'm close to home lemme turn around.

Walk home and bring back water. Cool down, refill THEN drive home. Or tow.

 

Understood. It was not safe to pull over until I did and killed the engine. I have never had a car overheat before, except a mk2 celica supra with 220,000 miles was the closest I had to have an engine giving out with a blown head gasket. I filled the radiator temporarily with distilled water and it never leaked a drop after I refilled it. I have not cranked it since the event. It sounds like a hose, thermostat or water pump. Does anyone have any other suggestions.? There is a Honda only mechanic within 10 miles that can look at it. I appreciate all your inputs. I will check air and use billman coolant bleed and watch it like a hawk. This car has gone to SEMA several times from Memphis. Once I pull the water and replace and vent the air from coolant I will run a compression check.

 

If the heat in the interior is HOT, you’re safe. If it’s not, you’re not.

 

ahem. Taking it off and testing it is a PITA but it's free. A new OEM one is like $60. Same one used in a bunch of other Hondas.

 

Just to confirm, if the thermostat is stuck closed, he will not get hot air into the interior.

 

Oh you will absolutely. The thermostat allows coolant into the radiator, otherwise it stays in the block. You control coolant circulating in the heater core with the heater buttons in the dash, which is an extra radiator in the car.

 

So you are saying in an S2000, the interior air will blow hot air if the thermostat is stuck closed? I guess this differs from car to car.

Thanks!

 

Fortunately,, it was just a pinprick hole in the coolant hose right behind the oil filter. The hoses were all replaced with silicone ones. The compression and leak down test show there was no damage to the motor. Head gasket is intact. Oil pan was pulled, bearings are intact. New Koyo radiator is still good. I had them replace the thermostat because at 166000 miles, just cheap insurance. The system was refilled and bled until there was no air in the system. It was driven by my s2000 mechanic for multiple days with no issues. I took it home and drove the crap out of it. Everything is fine. Lesson has been learned. Thanks for your advice!

 

Thanks for the update! Good luck with the car.