I have a 2003 Civic EX that has a head gasket that has apparently gone. I am wondering what others experiences may have been after getting a head gasket replaced as I've heard/read different stories. Is this going to be one headache after another once it is replaced?

My situation:
Radiator loses coolant although the resevoir is full (radiator cap replaced after pressure tested). I have been careful to never let the car overheat and simply turned off the engine when I saw the needle creep up. At this point there is no actual leak that can be found and it is not blowing smoke or leaving anything under it in the parking lot so this is pretty early on in the process it still loses significant amounts of coolant. After 2nd pressure test told me it was head gasket. I am considering the head gasket replacement among other options.

Thanks,

Jamie

 

Chances are good that simply slapping in a new gasket will fix it. Continuing to to drive overheated, which you didn't do, is what causes complications of warping and cracking.

 

Okay so I thought I would give my update on this. I ended up taking my car to a friend of a friend that previously worked at a Honda dealership. We replaced the thermostat, seals, head gasket, and belts. It was indeed the head gasket...the teflon on the gasket had failed and coolant was slowly leaking into the cylinders in multiple spots. The warning he gave me was that after replacing the head gasket they commonly start burning oil due to increased compression in an old engine. The car runs much smoother but we will see how it goes over the next couple weeks as I keep an eye on both oil and coolant.