Low coolant, thermostat, or head gasket
Very typical of a blown head gasket. The quick overheating is caused by combustion gases getting into the water jacket.
why has no one said to do both a compression and block test to check the head gasket and rings, then you'd know for sure
thermostats are much easier than getting the equipment to test these things and nobody wants to pay a mechanic to test these. simple DIY tests and fixes are what people are looking for rather than fearing the worst.
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It does sound like a head gasket leak to the coolant jacket. You can do a simple test for combustion gases in the coolant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3J00_e7fyo
If the fan motor is not kicking on after a few min that might be your problem start car watch temp gage when starts to get hot look to see if the fan is turning if not check fan relay on temp switch
What you describe is quite normal. While the engine is running and the coolant is circulating the thermostat maintains the engine within its operating temperature range. When the engine is switched off there is still considerable heat within the engine and the coolant will continue to absorb this heat. With no coolant circulation, the coolant inside the engine will register a temperature rise to the extent your gauge measures. This temperature rise may persist for up to 15 minutes until the natural thermo-syphon of the cooling system starts to dissipate this heat build up and the engine starts to cool down. Because the cooling system is pressurised, the coolant is prevented from boiling off at this temperature above boiling point. Once the engine is restarted the coolant flow is re-established taking this excess heat from the engine and the system temperature returns to normal.
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Bad thermostat or water pump! Take the radiator cap off ,,start the engine and see if the coolant is circulating. Check the water pump under the engine for leaking fluid and listen for a squeal sound from the pump from bad bearings. If you have a stuck thermostat that is an easy fix and cheap. That will be where the hose from the radiator goes into the block on the top side. 2 bolts hold the housing on where the hose clamps on it. The thermostat is inside the housing. When bad it won't open or and the coolant willl not be able to leave your block to circulate back to the radiator to cool down. ,,making it hot as hell.
I have changed quite a few thermostats in these hondas. also wait til car is warming up and grab hose in front of thermostat (lower Radiator hose) and touch the outlet hose and see if theyre the same temp. if not, then its prob just thermostat. But i have seen quite a few hoses bust to the water pump. you would know if water pump was going out because they squeel awful
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