Well this was the 3rd blown head gasket in 15,000 miles. This time I went all out. Pulled the motor, had the block resurfaced which involved stripping the entire motor apart. I also used a MLS head gasket as I was told these are better. Also had to get a re-manned head as the old one was too warped to use! And the car had never been all that hot! If I had seen the gauge go up I stopped. Waited a bit and added water that I carried with me and kept going (The blown head gasket would pump the water out and into the overfill then on the ground.) Car had a about 245,000 to 250,000 miles on it at the time. And you know I could see having to do something like this at 250,000. But then the stupid thing should last 250,000 miles again!! IT didn't though, less than 30,000 later it sucked antifreeze in the cylinder and bent a rod when I tried to start it.

So this was the first time My civic blew a head gasket. And really I can't complain about it. 230,000. It happens. BUt the problem is it's not repairable... ever no matter how hard you try or what you do. My car now has 290,000 has been through 5 head gaskets and I'm done with it. Not replacing it a fifth time...

This first time I simple put on a new gasket, no machining... car was never really hot so why not. got 5,000mi

Second time: I had the head resurfaced and new gasket (Thought it was my fault for no resurfacing) got 10kmi

Third time: Had block surfaced, new head, and MLS gasket got 30,000mi

Fourth time: head resurfaced; genuine Honda gasket; 5,000mi

Now after running it blown for 5000mi I'm looking for a new car...

So this is head gasket #5 that has blown in a span of 60,000 miles. This head gasket lasted maybe 5,000 miles... Not quite sure. The temperature sender had failed about 2 months prior and I didn't get around to repairing it till july. This is when I noticed the head gasket had once again failed, though didn't want to believe it. I drove it to work after the new sensor was installed and the motor got hot. I opened the heater valve and the car cooled right down. Checked the antifreeze, it's OK. Not showing any previous symptoms of a head gasket. Not missing on start up, not pumping out antifreeze. Heater works fine. I thought originally it was something else. Checked my fan switch and relay. Replaced thermostat. Maybe radiator was clogged from leak stop junk form previous head gasket. But nope. As I was checking things in Dec 2017. I finally found it. I took the thermostat completely out and can take the radiator cap off and just watch the bubbles flow as the car runs. Blown head gasket... or maybe a cracked head or block who knows. All I know is I'm done with it... I like to repair things and keep them running. I have a fleet of old vehicles and tractors. I don't mind the occasional repair as long as it fixes it. Averaging 5,000-10,000 miles on head gasket is not fixing a problem... It's a problem that can't be fixed. When you have the block and head resurfaced use new head bolts there's nothing left that could be a problem except the thing is junk!! I have put head gaskets and heads on 20 mowers and 10 tractors and this is the only thing that has ever given me grief. I really wish I knew why it keeps blowing gaskets, but the only thing I know is it's just junk and can no longer seal It's not like I tuned it up. The motor is stock everything! NO cams, no high compression, pistons or heads nothing... People say Hondas run for ever , I say bull crap!!!!! Get 230,000 miles on it better throw it away, it ain't worth it. Till then I will say they are pretty good cars. I've had the civic since it was 170,000 young and until the head gasket no real issues, just breaks and tires and bad igniton switch. Before that my parents owned it since new and no real issues. I think once it needed a fuel injector and that was pretty much it. My brother had a 90 civic at 230,000 everything went on his. My uncle has a 04 that at 230,000 everything went as well. Basically for some stupid reason they are not rebuildable!