Hmmm....I cant "quote" your reply......anyway....
Right now...and the when I first checked it last week....the coolant was over the fins but not really right to the bottom of the neck. Maybe I should fill it and watch it. One big issue is I cant see the level in the over flow tank....I cleaned it...used a flash light...rocked the car...cant see it....unless its empty??! Issue is if I add some to it and its to much it cant be drained without removing the whole thing. Don't even think I can snake down a piece of thin flexible hose.
I too thought if it was pushing air into the system via the head gasket then a bubble might be in there. It doesn't have a bleed valve anywhere....so I ran it around without the cap on...up some hills....to see if it would push the air out of it. Then if it did....and the issue came back with that would point to a head gasket I figured. But that didn't solve anything.
The tech said its burning the coolant....hmmm...if the bubble theory holds as far as why its causing this issue...how does sucking coolant in cause that? At some point sucks in air via the over flow?
The former non Honda tech who did the water pump I believe used a NAPA one....that's who caters to our local small garages and he for sure he uses them. Issue is getting at the pump is not easy as it runs off the timing belt.
I might see try the block tester....our local store has one....about $40 to try it....might tell me if its leaking. And watch the fluid level...at some point...esp if it sucks the overflow dry....its going to start showing via the radiator.
I found that exact link last night and was reading it. Only thing he didn't have was what this tech said....coolant leak into combustion chamber.
The tech might be right....but unlike with my Corolla where my dealer (I have an excellent deal with them) told me right off with that code...don't go changing the O sensors or MAF....its the intake gasket for sure...we've done several of these on the 2005's....the Honda tech isn't saying if he in fact has seen this happen a few times hence him wanting to skip all the tests.
What I might have them do is skip this so called leaking oil pump that he says is on the motor block....the leaking exhaust manifold( it does have a crack) that has the freakin CAT attached to it and costs $1100.....and just do the head gasket and water pump/timing belt. But first drive it and keep an eye on it.