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I think I blew my RB20DET tonight =(

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Radianation

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
A few weeks ago I had a problem with a heater core pipe cracking, which spewed coolant all over the engine block and manifold. It generated some nice smoke and gave me a good scare.

I took it to the garage the next day and they fixed the problem. I believe they replaced the pipe as opposed to fixing it. The thread diagnosing this issue and discussing it is on here somewhere. Anyways...

Tonight the same symptoms popped up. I called this other garage that has worked only on my suspension because they were open late (custom auto garage). They said to swing by and they would take a look at it. Well, I decided to drive it there after pouring two big cups of water in the radiator reservoir just to be "safe" ... It was closer to go to this garage than it was to go home so I went for it.

Half-way there I see smoke coming out of the back of my car now and not just under the hood. Not sure if it's the exhaust pipe or just flowing from under the hood behind the car. Then I notice my engine is slowing down even though I am staying on the gas. Uh oh. I decide to throw it in neutral, coast as far as I can and stop on the side of the highway to call a wrecker. When I put it in neutral the car stalled, wouldn't restart (while coasting) so I pulled it over, called AAA, and it's now at the garage I was heading to.

The garage that did my swap was closed and I can't get a hold of them.

So...

Anyways, do you guys have any idea why the thing would keep busting the heater core (if that's indeed the case this time)? I've been trying to get them to put a second fan on my radiator (it only has 1), and I'm wondering if the radiator itself might be bad (came out of RB20). Also, the stupid temperature gauge doesn't work properly and I didn't realize this until it was overheating (smoke) on the way to the garage. Looks like it comes on but there is no sensor to check for heat.
 
Discussion starter · #2 ·
BTW - I didn't hear any loud pops. Also, my new shift knob is a little smaller and kinda slippery at first and I missed second gear before this stuff started happening. I was revving pretty hard when it happened.

That's around the time I started noticing the smoke. =/
 
#3 ·
sup bro...damn that sucks...i had the same thing happen to my SOHC KA....just about 2 weeks ago....i sold the car but im gettin it back and a parts car with a DOHC that has a rod knock....but for the price i caint beat the opportunity...lemme know what they say...cause im gonna try and pull the motor and do a teardown once ive got it back...thing is i just replaced the entire cooling system...guess i was too late :( new thermostat, water pump, radiator, hoses....ran fine the COOL night b4 i had to go to work the next mornin then like you said POOF..DONE!
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
The coolant problem was resolved a few weeks ago with new pipe/hose etc. so I didn't think anything was wrong. I was just working the gears trying to get used to the pedals / shifter I installed today. I had planned on doing a fun run this Sunday so it was all planned out etc.

I saw that post about your SOHC. Sucks sucks sucks. I was like whoa, I'm not alone.

I think if the engine has a blown head gasket I might actually have it towed to my dad's garage where he restores antique cars and try to do the repairs myself. I'm bummed that I didn't do the swap myself, but I've been reading and learning and trying to do small stuff preparing for bigger things (like a turbo install, etc.) so this might be good learning opportunity.
 
#8 ·
I had a hose under my intake manifold bust on me (when I had the stock intake manifold). I lost alot of coolant and the car got really hot, I was pissed off and drove it home lol. The car started to smoke and make alot of noise but I kept on trucking. Got it home shut it off. I fixed the hose which was a bitch to get too and the car started right up, I thought for sure I had killed the head gasket but I got really lucky. Hope your as lucky too btw was a RB20 too.
 
#9 ·
Yellow4g63 said:
I had a hose under my intake manifold bust on me (when I had the stock intake manifold). I lost alot of coolant and the car got really hot, I was pissed off and drove it home lol. The car started to smoke and make alot of noise but I kept on trucking. Got it home shut it off. I fixed the hose which was a bitch to get too and the car started right up, I thought for sure I had killed the head gasket but I got really lucky. Hope your as lucky too btw was a RB20 too.
Click to expand...
Haha I did that with my dsm when i first got it a while back, except it was a 500 mile trip haha it had too see like like 500 miles of stop and go, fill the coolant up drive 20 miles till it starts over heating do it all over again, 270+ degree coolant temperatures and who knows how hot the head got.

Even worst my friend has this old beater 90 integra with like 230,000 miles hes driving like 10,000 miles on it overheating, it always over heats no matter what, he just doesnt care either its retarded it still runs perfect, its been almost 2 years of driving on the redline on the temp gauge still perfect, ahaha the oil isnt milky either.
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
Still waiting on the garage to give it a good inspection. I'm going to head over there shortly to take a good look at it myself. Here are some of my options at the moment, and I would appreciate your thoughts on this as I'm still new to the whole swap/mod scene:

1) Bought the clip with a standard 6 month warranty. We're in month 4 or 5 at the moment. I'm wondering if the head gasket and possibly other problems are present whether or not this falls under the warranty? What if the problem is caused by a hose that slipped off that the garage upgraded? Does that fall into a grey area? Who is at fault (if anybody) in these instances?

2) Assuming the motor isn't in terrible shape and it's just the head I can rebuild that part with a bigger head gasket for more power. I've been given a preliminary quote of $1,000 - $1,500 to do that (including parts). I'm curious as to whether that is something I can attempt on my own and save a $1,000 real quick? I have novice skill level abilities, but my dad has worked on cars his whole life and can probably provide some pointers to get me started.

3) Scrap the engine

How does the warranty situation work? They charged me $3,100 for the clip. If I just return the motor do I get a replacement RB20DET or a refund on that portion of the cost?

In a perfect world, I wish I would have gotten an RB25DET instead...

Lots of things to think about. Would love to get some ideas here. I can't exactly discuss this with my wife. ; )
 
#12 ·
if i were you i would compression test it, if it checks out fix it and forget it, but if not just pull the head get a nice surface new oem HG and arp head studs while your at it, and you`ll be good for any future power upgrades.
Ryan
 
#14 ·
wait til you know whats wrong with it man. Dont get yourself into a tizzy thinking about what options you have as you only have one right now. Have the guys at the shop look at it. Thats all you can do unless you want to do it yourself. After they tell you wats wrong with it thats when you start worrying about what to do. Hopefully its just the h/g and you need to resurface the head and throw in some arp studs while your at it.

This is why we always say to do the swap yourself. That way you know what you did in there and how careful/not careful you were when bolting it up. With shops its always an unknown unless your in there watching em. But hey live and learn right? I hope your shit gets fixed man
 
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#16 ·
smoke out the exhaust? What does it smell like? Burnt bananas? is it white smoke and lots of it? - head gasket. Cheap part to replace, just a pain in the ass with the engine in the car.
 
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Discussion starter · #17 ·
I just left the shop. We took the top plate off, removed those spark plugs (nice and loose btw) and did a compression test. Every cylinder had roughly 40psi consistently.

There was a finger sized hole in a 1-2" hose on the heater core where the coolant just entirely spilled out after about 30 seconds of pouring it in the radiator.

Our initial diagnosis is that it's not really the head gasket, but perhaps more likely to be the rings. I don't really think the rings would go bad just from overheating? Sounds like the engine was pretty worn out to begin with, no?

I think with the problem being potentially a bigger deal than the head gasket the whole warranty situation is looking better.

If the engine was bad because it's old and faulty this is a no-brainer. However, if the engine went bad because of the coolant leaking out, is it the fault of the shop for not replacing the hoses when doing the swap? The hose appears to be the original RB20 hose, and it's in the same general area as the hose that busted last time. They told me the replaced all of the hoses after that instance and here we are.


Here is the big question though: Even if the place honors the warranty and I get a new engine, what is the norm with the shop's time/labor to replace them? Is it on them for not really buttoning it all up the first time (and second time) around or do I pay the labor to put the new on in? If that's the case, maybe I'll just do this one myself?

Also, with the warranty at these places, do they give you a refund or just swap the motor? I might actually prefer to buy the RB25 instead of the RB20. Remember, these guys bait and switched me in a sense. I went in wanting an SR20 and they brought back an RB20. If I intended to go that route I would have spent the extra cash for an RB25 but was not really given that option. =(
 
#18 ·
heres what you do in my opinion. If they warranty your motor tell em you want an rb25 pay the difference, take it home and drop it in yourself if they are going to charge you. If they will drop the motor in for free then let them do it because you can just ream them out bad if they fuck it up again. If they are going to charge you im sure you've learned you lesson about shops by now and know that you should do it yourself unless you have the time to hold their hand and watch their every move. I know i don't and if i was watching em that closely i would rather be doing it myself than supervising you know? But if they say well just rebuild the motor make sure you upgrade the internals while your at it. Might as well if your going to be in there you know. But i would see if you could coerce an rb25 out of em. Just be like hey motherfuckers you fucked my shit up from the beginning. Ive had nothing but problems and im pissed now. GIMME AN RB25 WITH FREE INSTALLATION OR ELSE BITCH!!

And then slap him in the face with your cock lol j/k on the cock slapping but you get the drift
 
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#19 ·
Just a heads up. I have been on the wrong side of the table in that situation before where I had to honor a warranty etc..

Don't be an asshole to the people in the shop. It won't get you anywhere. Only use it as a last resort. If they like you they are much more likely to help you out.

Wish you the best!

Consistent 40psi? Yeah thats not from a worn out motor. Sounds like cooked rings or something of that nature.

You did overheat it though so who knows what happened. Warped head at the least.

Evan
 
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