CriticalCommonEngine

Honda Stream: Head gasket failure and overheating (1.7 D17)

Head gasket failure and overheating (1.7 D17) is a common engine fault on the Honda Stream on the 2000–2006 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $1,800 to $3,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 22 documented faults on the Honda Stream.

Vehicle: Honda Stream
Engine: 1.7L
Years: 2000–2006
Fuel: petrol
System: Engine

This page covers the Honda Stream as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Honda Stream faults22 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

What goes wrong

The D17 1.7 in first-generation Streams has a well-documented head gasket weakness — the same engine as 2001-2005 Civics, where overheating from a blown head gasket is the leading cause of cylinder head failure. Coolant disappears from the radiator while the overflow bottle gains, then the engine overheats rapidly. Once overheated, the alloy head usually warps, so a proper repair needs the head skimmed or replaced, not just a gasket. Neglected coolant changes and non-Honda coolant accelerate the failure. On a 20+ year old JDM import, treat the cooling system as guilty until proven innocent.

What you would notice

Temperature gauge climbs quickly, especially uphill or in traffic
Coolant level drops with no visible leak
White sweet-smelling smoke from the exhaust
Mayonnaise-like sludge under the oil filler cap
Bubbles in the coolant reservoir with the engine running

How to check it

Where to look. Engine, between cylinder head and block; check radiator and overflow bottle at the front of the engine bay

Check the radiator (cold!) is full to the brim and the overflow bottle isn't overfull or oily.
Pull the oil cap and look for creamy emulsion.
Start the engine cold and watch the reservoir for bubbles.
On the test drive, run it long enough for full operating temperature and watch the gauge.
Ask for a cooling-system pressure test or combustion gas test before purchase.

Parts involved: Head gasket.

What it costs to put right

$1,800 to $3,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the head gasket ever been replaced, and was the head skimmed?”
“Has it ever overheated?”
“When was the coolant last changed, and with what type?”

Now check the Honda Stream you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

7thGenHonda forum 'Civic EN2 D17A7 Head Gasket?' thread
CivicForums 'D17A1 engine still runs hot after new head gasket'
Honda-Tech 'How common are head gasket issues on these engines?'
Go-Parts 2003-2005 Civic cylinder head overheating/warpage guide

Honda Stream buyer questions

Is head gasket failure and overheating (1.7 d17) serious on a Honda Stream?

We rate it critical and common on the Honda Stream. The D17 1.7 in first-generation Streams has a well-documented head gasket weakness — the same engine as 2001-2005 Civics, where overheating from a blown head gasket is the leading cause of cylinder head failure. Coolant disappears from the radiator while the overflow bottle gains, then the engine overheats rapidly. Once overheated, the alloy head usually warps, so a proper repair needs the head skimmed or replaced, not just a gasket. Neglected coolant changes and non-Honda coolant accelerate the failure. On a 20+ year old JDM import, treat the cooling system as guilty until proven innocent.

How much does it cost to fix on a Honda Stream?

$1,800 to $3,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Honda Stream years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2000–2006 Honda Stream. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Check the radiator (cold!) is full to the brim and the overflow bottle isn't overfull or oily. Pull the oil cap and look for creamy emulsion. Start the engine cold and watch the reservoir for bubbles. On the test drive, run it long enough for full operating temperature and watch the gauge. Ask for a cooling-system pressure test or combustion gas test before purchase. Look here: Engine, between cylinder head and block; check radiator and overflow bottle at the front of the engine bay