just for any one googling...

This issue ended up seemingly related to a headgasket. I had all the same symptoms as this guy, started out with vtec bull****, and eventually lead to a blown headgasket. Maybe it's somehow unrelated but considering i went to several shops that weren't able to diagnose it, and this guy had similar issues, it seems relevant.

https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAd...comments/5nrtkl/honda_element_blown_head_gasket_advice/?st=js2edqz1&sh=f159404d

From the reddit post:

Vehicle: 2003 Honda Element EX
Mileage: 192,xxx
Engine: K24A4

My '03 Element has a blown head gasket, and I'm just looking for advice about how to proceed with it. The backstory is that it overheated pretty bad back in July because I stupidly forgot to put the radiator hose clamp back on after replacing both the cooling/AC fans. The hose blew off and obviously leaked out most of the coolant. It ran fine until November, with no overheating or other issues. It went into limp mode due to a bad VTEC oil switch/solenoid, but I also discovered it was throwing misfire codes, initially just for cylinder 3 and then cylinder 2 within a couple days. After the VTEC solenoid was replaced it was idling and driving fine. The coolant was low though, and I suspected the head gasket was leaking due to the previous overheating. Within a couple weeks it began idling poorly, and a leak down test confirmed the head gasket leaking into the cooling system at cylinder 3. The car has been sitting since the beginning of December so I don't cause any further damage.

A head gasket replacement is beyond what I feel comfortable DIYing, so I've called a few places to get estimates on repairing it and get a feel for who I'd like to do it. A couple of shops have seemed pretty adamant that repairing the head gasket on such high mileage will likely cause too much pressure on the bottom end and cause the piston rings to leak and burn oil. I'm not terribly knowledgeable about internals, so I'm trying to gauge the likelihood of that happening. My dad and fiance seem to think it will probably be ok since we're basically just repairing a leak and not replacing internals and whatnot. They're no experts but fairly knowledgeable, and the other shops made no mention of this potential issue either.

I know the car isn't worth a lot, about $3k or so, but in the 2-3 months prior to replacing the fans, I also replaced much of the front suspension and new brake rotors and pads all around. It was mostly normal maintenance stuff that I and previous owners had just neglected to do that all hit at once and some "while we're at it" stuff. All told, I've spent nearly $900 on the car since last May. I'd like to not have all that money and time wasted, but I realize I'm teetering on the edge of its worth. Fixing it is cheaper than replacing it though, and it's in pretty good shape and has otherwise been very reliable for the 3 years I've owned it. I have considered repairing it and selling it so I don't have to deal with the potential leaking rings, but I don't know what I'd get as a replacement or how long that may take to find with my specific needs and wants (it's my dog car so I need to fit crates, etc.) so it would need to last at least a few months to get another vehicle. Or if I can repair it and drive it reliably for at least another year or two, I'd be happy.

TL;DR '03 Element overheated in July. Head gasket started showing obvious leakage between cylinder 3 and cooling system in November. A couple shops say fixing it will probably result in blown piston rings due to high mileage, but a couple others didn't mention it. How likely is repairing the head gasket to cause the rings to leak?

 

I had that problem in December, i replaced the VTEC and VTC solenoid, it went away but it returned with the same code last week, the only thing i didn’t do when i replaced those parts was change the oil, so i changed the oil and i noticed it was dirty,so hopefully iam thinking it must be a case of dirty oil, i cleared the code and i just need to drive it to see if that was the issue.

 

So many people talk about that and mention they think it's the oil but no one ever shares WHAT oil or filter or the oil weight or how long they went since the last change. Example: I personally have had 2 FRAM filters collapse in the past and dump dirt back in the engine. Not a Fram fan now but all the superstores push them.

I was in Florida several years ago and had to get an oil change on a GMC pickup with a V8 that required a lighter weight. When I made absolutely sure what oil I wanted in the engine, I ended up limping all the way back to Indiana because the jerk put a heavier weight oil in anyway. "That's what you really needed, not that thin stuff!" I could see an oil change place pulling the same stunt in sunny California and plugging your screen.