blown head gasket what to do to keep it from happening again!!!

jordain817 · 07-03-09, 05:13 PM

i bought my 91 ack legend and it was overheating. ifound out that it was a blown head gasket (which i heard is common among these vehicles) im gonna get it fixed but what can i put in there to keep it from happening again?

byalegend · 07-04-09, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jordain817

i bought my 91 ack legend and it was overheating. ifound out that it was a blown head gasket (which i heard is common among these vehicles) im gonna get it fixed but what can i put in there to keep it from happening again?

You can say a few prayers

. 3.5 RL swaps seem to be the hot trend now to skate around the BHG. I don't think there's anything you can do for your current engine besides keeping up on regular maintenance after the BHG is repaired.

Pinyix · 07-04-09, 01:22 AM

People will argue that head gasket failure is inevitable but theres plenty of evidence to support the fact that maintaining your cooling system will prevent BHGs. This means replace your coolant and thermostat with honda type2 coolant every 30k miles and check the coolant reservoir when you check your tires and oil every couple weeks. Lean over your engine and look through the fans at your radiator to check for rust. Next time you change your timing belt, replace some coolant hoses. Maintenance is the key.

Soloist · 08-19-09, 01:18 AM

While I have heard that proper maintenance can prevent BHG's, you have to admit the rate or BHG's that occurs on Legends is almost absurd. What I think is sad is that there doesn't seem to be anything to do, as far as machining, to physically prevent it from happening, and the C32A and C32A5 are very strong, and otherwise great motors.

I wish someone knew the exact reason why the C35A is so much more reliable, perhaps then a modification to the block of some kind might help eliminate the problem.

I say all of this because although I desperately want a Type II 6-Speed coupe it might not even be worth paying the premium for the Type II if it is going to fail anyway. Or, if I have to baby the hell out of it just to make sure it doesn't overheat; seems better to pick up a Type I 5 speed for 1-2k drop the C35A in and when you get around to it, swap the 5 speed for the 6 (to get better hwy mileage), that is unless you must have the Type II suspension and improved front brake system.

Oh yeah, I might be displaying a somewhat frustrated tone as my 6th Legend just recently developed a seeping gasket and it's only a matter of time until it's not driveable. Blaarrggg!

OLDSKOOLACURA · 08-19-09, 03:43 AM

you also have to remember these are not young cars. when i bought mine it had a bhg and acura sent it out to get honed (spelling) put over 20k on her since. also what pinyix said, if you take care of your vehicles they will reward you.

Soloist · 08-19-09, 05:04 AM

I don't know 3 of the 6 Legends I have owned had recently had the HG's replaced by Acura mechanics, also, the first Legend I ever drove, which was my Mom's 91, way back in the day, started showing symptoms at 80-90k miles and she drove that car SO conservatively, changed the radiator and water pump and everything on time.

Hell, it seems like I am going to need active refrigeration instead of the regular cooling system to keep mine going. Of course I am joking but I say again, blarg! I am addicted to these cars even though they have let me down 6 times now (over many years of owning different Legend's).

Pinyix · 08-19-09, 08:42 AM

It doesn't have anything to do with your driving habits. It has everything to do with maintenance and a hawkeye on your cooling system. If you asked someone if the legend had any notable flaws in the year 2000 they would have told you no. Once it did become a notable flaw, people thought the type II was less susceptible but a few years later people realized they were just younger. Head gasket issues are at an all time high because legends today have had 4 or 5 owners and haven't been taken care of. You don't take care of an old car the same way you take care of a new car. New cars have maintenance schedules noting what to replace every 5000 miles. People don't get serviced at dealers anymore so they tend to take the reactionary approach to maintenance: My transmission isn't shifting right, I should change the fluid; My brakes are hard I should get the system inspected. People do remember the big maintenance items like the timing belt but they buy AEM water pumps and don't replace coolant hoses with their timing belt and it comes back to get them or the next owner. Somebody scoops it up for a couple grand and big surprise, the headgaskets fail a few weeks later.

Legends are on the fast track to becoming a collectors car. At this point the "casual owner" is all but extinct. You have to be proactive with maintenance and have the acuity to sense a problem when there is one. Its a real gamble buying a legend today. I bought my coupe in October and have spent what I bought it for on maintenance. I should note that it's head gaskets are original. I should add that I am in no way worried about this. I've brought her up to ship shape using the right parts and a knowledgeable mechanic(ze doctor!). I take care of her so she takes care of me.

OLDSKOOLACURA · 08-19-09, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinyix

It doesn't have anything to do with your driving habits. It has everything to do with maintenance and a hawkeye on your cooling system. If you asked someone if the legend had any notable flaws in the year 2000 they would have told you no. Once it did become a notable flaw, people thought the type II was less susceptible but a few years later people realized they were just younger. Head gasket issues are at an all time high because legends today have had 4 or 5 owners and haven't been taken care of. You don't take care of an old car the same way you take care of a new car. New cars have maintenance schedules noting what to replace every 5000 miles. People don't get serviced at dealers anymore so they tend to take the reactionary approach to maintenance: My transmission isn't shifting right, I should change the fluid; My brakes are hard I should get the system inspected. People do remember the big maintenance items like the timing belt but they buy AEM water pumps and don't replace coolant hoses with their timing belt and it comes back to get them or the next owner. Somebody scoops it up for a couple grand and big surprise, the headgaskets fail a few weeks later.

Legends are on the fast track to becoming a collectors car. At this point the "casual owner" is all but extinct. You have to be proactive with maintenance and have the acuity to sense a problem when there is one. Its a real gamble buying a legend today. I bought my coupe in October and have spent what I bought it for on maintenance. I should note that it's head gaskets are original. I should add that I am in no way worried about this. I've brought her up to ship shape using the right parts and a knowledgeable mechanic(ze doctor!). I take care of her so she takes care of me.

well said

2.7legend · 09-02-09, 10:31 PM

so pinyix, have a lead foot. i mean my car's see the redline at least once a day. so if i don't change my driving habits at all but change my t-stat and coolant at least evry 20k miles...i should be all good.

i'm not trying to be a smart ass...but i'm kinda basin my judgemnt on what you say if i decide to buy a legend or not.

Pinyix · 09-03-09, 01:55 PM

Theres more to maintenance than coolant but if you keep your car on a maintenance schedule, I wouldn't worry about driving hard. Things break but thats unavoidable. You can avert the big stuff with maintenance. Refer to the maintenance schedule in this post: http://www.acura-legend.com/vbulletin/645075-post1.html

Legend 91 · 09-03-09, 03:35 PM

I have been maintaining my Legend to the max. I havent even changed my timing belt or water pump yet and has never been changed and the cars at 125,xxx miles. So They can go longer and I push my car hard alot not all the time. The coolant system is perfect, I might go ahead and change to the honda coolant though.

Pinyix · 09-03-09, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Legend 91

I have been maintaining my Legend to the max. I havent even changed my timing belt or water pump yet and has never been changed and the cars at 125,xxx miles. So They can go longer and I push my car hard alot not all the time. The coolant system is perfect, I might go ahead and change to the honda coolant though.

Recipe for disaster. While timing belts are rather unlikely to snap, legend water pumps are known to develop leaky seals if unchanged past the service interval(good way to develop a BHG) or worse, seize, shredding your timing belt and fucking your whole motor by bending the valves. I'm am curious what you consider "maintaining your legend to the max".

Legend 91 · 09-03-09, 08:10 PM

lol Well except for the timing belt and waterpump everthing I change at the recommended intervals or before. Im curious just to see how long they will last I have other cars; plus I want a black on black legend. So if this car gets messed up then I can look forward to getting one.

byalegend · 09-20-09, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Legend 91

lol Well except for the timing belt and waterpump everthing I change at the recommended intervals or before. Im curious just to see how long they will last I have other cars; plus I want a black on black legend. So if this car gets messed up then I can look forward to getting one.

It irks me when people treat Legends like they're toilet paper.

edcypha · 09-20-09, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jordain817

i bought my 91 ack legend and it was overheating. ifound out that it was a blown head gasket (which i heard is common among these vehicles) im gonna get it fixed but what can i put in there to keep it from happening again?

i believe I read somewhere that the factory spec for the head bolts are understated at 56 ft. lbs. Legend owners who have had BHG's have noticed that it is common for the hg's to warp around cylinder's 3 and 6 which they have speculated is due to excess rattling so they have developed a theory of tightening the head bolts to 62-63 ft. lbs. to compensate. I hope they are right