Head Gasket Paranoia

  1. L-plater Joined: Nov 2010 Edinburgh Posts: 69 1998 Open (now closed) Scandal 1.0
    #1
    At the weekend i did my head gasket as the old one was gone between the water jacket and cylinder steamy! Having not payed much attention to the exhaust before it went i never noticed if it smoked a bit when taking off from standing still. It clears up once moving and seems fine. Water level is fine and oil level is staying pretty constant. Is this normal engine has done 140k so would expect it to be a bit smokey etc. Basically I'm paranoid have done about 100 miles since the change with no problems.
  2. Infrequent Poster Joined: Jul 2009 petersfield Posts: 153 2001 Audi TT 225 Quattro
    #2
    if its blue smoke maybe valve stem seals as this would be common with the millage its done
  3. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Aug 2009 Dorking,Surrey,M25 J9 Posts: 2616 Static -80mm Peugeot 405
    #3
    I was going to say... Did you replace the stem seals? I have many cars come to me for head rebuilds, half of them have a knackered gasket, the other half have leaky stem seals.