Honda Civic repair manual- Head Gasket questions

BretLuter · **Posted:** Thu Jan 05, 2012 11:05 pm

So, I picked up a '94 Civic LX the other day. Car has ~200k+ on it and the PO said it has a blown head gasket (per the mechanic they took it to after it started blowing steam out of the exhaust).

Looking online, it doesn't look like a bad job- just wondering if anyone has any firsthand experience with this job or can point me to a good DIY online, or someone who has a paper repair manual for this car (Haynes, etc).

Not sure what the final plan is for this car, I was leaning towards selling it as-is as a Lemons/Chump project, but it's pretty nice inside and I think if I can get it running right without too much hassle, it would make a good beater/daily for someone.

Thanks!

KouroshNeshat · **Posted:** Fri Jan 06, 2012 8:57 am

http://www.spoonertuner.com/manuals

if that doesnt work let me know. I should have at least a '97 manual on my laptop at home.

Stephen Westerfield · **Posted:** Fri Jan 06, 2012 2:49 pm

Here is another source. http://hondatech.info/downloads/Auto/Manuals/Civic/

BretLuter · **Posted:** Fri Jan 06, 2012 7:18 pm

Thanks guys!!

Those 2 links should be plenty of help. Doesn't seem like a very hard job, I just can't afford to get into this too deep ($$) in terms of machine work or additional parts expense. Hopefully, it'll be: pull the head, replace the head gasket, put it all back together and it'll be good to go.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

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BretLuter wrote:

Thanks guys!!

Those 2 links should be plenty of help. Doesn't seem like a very hard job, I just can't afford to get into this too deep ($$) in terms of machine work or additional parts expense. Hopefully, it'll be: pull the head, replace the head gasket, put it all back together and it'll be good to go.

I assume you have a machinist's straightedge and will check the head for warp? I have had a few honda heads through here recently and have seen a couple badly warped.

BretLuter · **Posted:** Sun Jan 08, 2012 11:31 pm

Mike,

nope- don't have a machinist's straight edge, but I can probably find one to check it. I might just take it to CHS and let George check it out for me to make 100% sure it's good to go when I put it back on.

Another couple of questions comes up after doing some more research. Looks like Honda specs 2 different head gaskets- 1 if the old head gasket is not blown, and a different one if the HG has been blown. They also spec different head bolts depending on which HG you use. Looks like the stock HG is graphite or similar, while the one to replace a blown gasket is MLS (Multi Layer Steel). Some folks seem to recommend a later 1.6 (D16Y8?) OEM gasket saying it's as good as the MLS 1.5 gasket. (Car is a D15B7).

So, what do you folks with Honda head gasket experience recommend for parts? I'm thinking an MLS gasket and new matching head bolts- just need to figure out which ones to get.

Thanks!

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Beater street car? Any new gasket (even the $18 ebay ones), reused head bolts will work fine with no heavy abuse.

Fun car? Felpro MLS (check advance auto, use a 40% coupon) and new bolts.

Race car? Felpro or Cometic MLS and ARP studs.

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Honda Civic repair manual- Head Gasket questions

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