1998 Honda Accord 2.4L 140k

Oil in the radiator.

No coolant on the dipstick that I could tell.d

Either headgasket or cracked head. Trans fluid was replaced 10k ago, smells burnt now.

What would be the average cost of repair?

Does the tranny need to be pulled and inspected?

Did the oil being in the coolant cause the tranny to overheat, thus burning up the fluid?

Is it worth it to repair? or should it be sold?

[Edited on March 19, 2009 at 9:13 PM. Reason : d]

3/19/2009 9:12:56 PM

Won, you sure it's oil and not tranny fluid? I've seen the fluid cooler in the radiator spring a leak before. And if the thing is putting some kind of oil in the radiator, my bet is on the tranny. If it smells burnt...does it smell REALLY burnt? Is it shifting all shitty, or jerky or funny altogether?

Is the fluid still red at all, or amber, or has that shit turned black? I think you need to take one variable out of the equation. I'd get a piece of tube and connect the cooler hoses together and take the tranny cooler out of the loop. Flush the radiator and cooling system using a good flush (and flush out a minimun of two or three times after) and fill with nothing but clean water. Crank it. Let it idle for an hour or so. Maybe take a lap around the neighborhood, but don't drive too much; don't want the fluid getting too hot without a cooler.

And then see if you have oil in the radiator or maybe steam wisping out of the cooler connections. That will tell you a lot right there. lemme know what you find.

3/19/2009 9:43:44 PM

^bingo. i'd damn near bet that's actually the problem. i don't know that i've ever seen or heard of a head gasket/cracked head where the coolant was contaminated and not the oil. the density difference just doesn't let it happen. plus, the fact you've got trans fluid issues just about confirms it. it'd be a hell of a coincidence if that's not what's caused it.

3/19/2009 10:13:22 PM

This is a coworker's ride, but I can tell you this, the oil level fell and the radiator and overflow tank was filled with oil.

It's been dripping oil for a little bit, never used a drop before. They asked me to check and that's what I found (oil dripping from the overflow). Coolant was full as far as I could tell, but what do I know since the overflow was filled with a mix of oil and coolant.

I never pulled the tranny dipstick, but the diagnosis is from their 'reputable' shop.

I have no idea how it drives. They recently (within the last week) drove it to and from Boone, with only a noticeable drop in MPG on the return trip.

I will check the trans fluid myself tomorrow and will ask all the relevant questions brought up in this thread.

You guy's are great. Remind me to buy you beer (I'll even spring for the good kind ).

[Edited on March 20, 2009 at 12:38 AM. Reason : d]

3/20/2009 12:35:44 AM

Dude, I'd even venture to say I'd like to look just to see what is up with it. Coworker live close?

I'm still around the corner if you are.

3/20/2009 12:50:17 AM

only thing i can think of is that its working its way through the oil filter housing, and being cycled through the bottom rad. hose, and the thremostat isnt opening wide enough to let the oil through. sounds dumb i know, but im at a loss after what you just said.(nothing new there)

3/20/2009 12:51:43 AM

Actually, Will, that is a distinct possibility because most Hondas do use an oil cooler...of the water type.

3/20/2009 12:57:41 AM

or the fact that the oil to the cam and and the water jacket is separated by an 1/8" of head gasket

3/20/2009 9:37:22 AM

Not really relevant, but I didn't think they made the 2.4 till ~2004.

3/20/2009 12:18:18 PM

It's prolly an F23.

3/20/2009 1:09:15 PM

Man you know I don't know nothin bout nothin.

Also head is actually cracked. Saw it in person.

The dude at the shop offered the coworker $900 and he sold it on the spot.

Man, I have never heard of a head failing that early.

[Edited on March 20, 2009 at 1:18 PM. Reason : x]

3/20/2009 1:17:06 PM

shit i would have given more than that. well if you drive it like you stole it and only changed the oil every 5-6k, that will help it

3/20/2009 2:55:05 PM

there's nothing wrong with changing the oil every 5-6k.

3/20/2009 4:39:09 PM

they babied that car. oil changes every 3k. all the services.

3/20/2009 5:00:45 PM

^word.

^^ i just threw a number out there, but, BUT, if you are driving the shit out of something, and/or off roading it and what not, maybe factory recomendations arent that good of an idea.

in before, another oil interval thread

3/20/2009 6:59:06 PM

you have worked at jiffy lube way too damn long, anyone that runs synthetic and changes short of 10k loves to waste money

3/20/2009 7:00:30 PM