I purchased a '94 Accord EX fairly recently that seems to be having an overheating issue. I'm having to add coolant about once a week. I don't see where it's leaking out much, if at all but the temp gauge rises towards the H and I check my coolant level and sure enough it's low. Where could the coolant be going? What sorts of issues should I take into consideration? I haven't seen any coolant from the exhaust or leaks around the engine so I don't think it's the head gasket...

 

Coolant goes three places; on the ground, into the exhaust, or into the oil. The last one being the least likely. Do you see a brown foamy residue on your radiator cap?? Milky oil??

 

if it was the head gasket the car would be straining to run. u can do a compression test. check the tail pipe u can smell antifreeze there. i suspect that u have a stuck thermostat. stuck or sticking closed. the antifreeze isnt gone, in that situation its just stuck and cant move so the radiator or recovery tank would appear empty. check the upper hose to see if it gets hot when the car is running. possible leaks r at the thermostat housing, the hoses at the clamps. the water pump which u could hear the bearing. the radiator at the top where the plastic meets the radiator support. or if u have an automatic check the connection of the transmission cooler lines to the radiator. my radiator had a leak. see if the radiator moves easily back and forth when the car is off. i had a small leak that i thought was coming from the recovery hose but it was the top of the radiator. if the thermostat sticks open u will get no heat and the gauge will move up slowly if at all and will randomly move up and down. if its stuck closed it will rise to hot and stay there. the latter is the worse situation of the 2.

 

compression test.

 

no residues or milky oil. I replaced the thermostat a couple weeks ago because i thought the old one was sticking closed. When you start moving, the temp gauge eventually goes back down a bit, but like I said, I'm still having to add coolant occasionally.

 

Are both fans functioning??