TEST 2: Coolant Shooting Out From Open Radiator
Okay, the second test that I always do, when checking for a blown head gasket is to open up the radiator and crank the engine to see if the engine coolant is being shot out of the radiator.
Let me tell you that when you crank engine with radiator cap removed from the radiator, coolant should not be disturbed.
But when a head gasket gets blown, the coolant can get shot out of the radiator when you crank the engine. This happens when the head gasket, in its failed condition, is letting compression pressure or combustion gases into the engine cooling system (radiator).
Let's get started.
- 1
Remove the radiator's cap. Check to see if there is coolant in the radiator. If the radiator is empty, add some water or coolant to bring it up to the radiator's neck level.
- 2
Crank the engine with the help of helper, while you stand at a safe distance from the open radiator.
- 3
You'll see one of two results:
1.) The water or coolant inside the radiator will shoot up and out of the now open radiator.
2.) The coolant will not be disturbed. In other words, cranking the engine will have no effect on the level of the Water or coolant in the radiator.
OK now that the testing part is done, let's take a look at what your results mean:
CASE 1: The coolant bubbled out or shot out from the radiator. This confirms, without a shadow of a doubt, that your Honda CR-V's head gasket is blown.
CASE 2: The coolant DID NOT bubble out NOR shoot out from the radiator. This is the correct and expected test result.
If your Honda CR-V DOES NOT start, go to: TEST 3: Engine Compression Test.
If your Honda CR-V does start, go to: TEST 4: Using A Chemical Block Tester (Combustion Leak Tester).
TEST 3: Engine Compression Test
If your Honda CR-V engine is not starting, then the next step is to do an engine compression test. If the engine starts and runs, then you skip this section and go to TEST 4.
What we want to do in this test section is to see if the head gasket has blown between two adjacent cylinders.
When the head gasket gets blown between two side-by-side cylinders, you're gonna' have two dead cylinders on your hands.
We can easily check for this by doing a compression test on All 4 cylinders..
These are the test steps:
- 1
Remove all four spark plugs.
Disable the ignition system by disconnecting the distributor from its engine wiring harness connector. - 2
Thread in the compression tester by hand, on the first spark plug hole you're gonna' start with.
Do not use any tools to tighten the compression tester. Hand tightening the compression tester is more than enough to get the proper results. - 3
Have a helper crank the engine. The needle on the tester will climb, as the engine cranks, till the cylinder reaches its maximum compression. Once it stops climbing, have your helper stop cranking the engine.
On a piece of paper, write down the reading and what cylinder it belongs to (you can use the illustration above to help you identify the cylinder). Repeat the above steps in the remaining 3 cylinders.
Let's take a look at what your test results mean:
CASE 1: All cylinder compression readings were above 0 PSI. This is the correct and expected test result.
Now, if you need/want to interpret your compression test results, look for the section: Interpreting The Compression Test Results found in this tutorial: How To Test Engine Compression (1997-2001 2.0L Honda).
CASE 2: Two side by side cylinders had 0 PSI compression. This engine compression test result confirms that the head gasket is burned thru' at the point between those two cylinders. You'll need to replace the head gasket.
