Mechanically over-revved my car (cracked retainers/slightly bent valves), so picked up a used head, got new retainers, valve guides & keepers. Everything for the head was installed at a reputable machine shop. Head was also milled, pressure tested and check for cracks, everything was fine.

Sent my car to the shop to get the heads swapped. Everything went fine, they went to start the car, it ran, got pretty rough, then they shut it off. Pulled the plugs and coolant was in the cylinders.

New head gasket was used.



Any ideas???

 

Sounds like the head gasket couldn't seal for some reason. Did they use an OEM Honda head gasket or some aftermarket POS? Did they follow the manual (to the letter) on torquing the head bolts down?

Also, if the head was not milled absolutely right (flat, smooth, proper surface finish, etc.) that would keep the HG from sealing properly. This is a job I wouldn't trust to just any old machine shop. Did they check the top deck of the block for straightness? That surface needs to be just as flat as the head does.

 

OEM Gaskets were used. Old head removed and "new" head installed by the book.

Machine shop was a very reputable one, so I doubt it had anything to do with the head. The deck of the block was untouched (never came out of the car).

 

My engine is an MY03, the head I bought was from a MY00 and the headgasket used was for a 2003. Could this be the problem??

 

Well... it didnt just magically get in there, the shop prolly f-up unless maybe one of the water jackets cracked? Usually the engine would run and smoke a whole lota white had it just been same headgasket or didnt torque to spec. hell maybe they forgot a headgasket all together

 

The block and the head need to be checked for flatness. That's step one.

 

you reused a used headgasket? i think i read that right? sorry if i didnt. why would you go through all that work and not buy a new headgasket.

 

Mr Jew:

 

haha yea just saw that i saw the word used so many times. maybe they didnt torque the head down correctly? in sequence? safest bet its proly not even across when they shaved it.

 

If it were me I think I'd try another head gasket and hope that there was something wrong with the first one.