I have a 97 Civic Lx, I noticed some white smoke coming out of the hood, and when I checked I noticed I was out of coolant. So after the car cooled off I refilled it with coolant and ran the engine, I noticed coolant slowly gathering on a sponge-like gaurd at the top of the radiator, is my radiator busted? How hard is that to fix?

 

you might have a bad theromostat... is the water boiling when it comes out?

 

It's not boiling. Its just as the engine gets warm, the coolant leaks out. The coolant is warm to the touch.

 

You need to do a pressure test.If it is the tank the plastic piece, that can be replaced it is easier just to replace the whole thing I have a 92 and it takes me like ten min or less to remove it.

 

I have a 98' ex and the plastic part of the radiator cracked a few days ago. it was right by where the foam stuff is. i replaced it with a radiator that i bought from autozone. it's wider than the stock one but works great. it cost me $103 and comes with a limited lifetime warranty. it's an alternative that ain't too expensive.

 

A bigger radiator is a good thing.