Pretty much guaranteed to be head gasket.

 

How about my ignition? I just installed a new distributor. Could my timing be incorrect and it's it not sparking/combusting properly?

 

Sounds like a head gasket. Does the exhaust smell like burnt coolant?

 

I smell something and there seems to be a fair amount of water collecting on the muffler tip. However:

1. Will a compression test tell if it's the cylinder head gasket?
2. With my radiator cap off (to remove bubbles/air) the coolant rises up and leaks out constantly - sign of bad head gasket or not?

 

white smoke is 99.9% chance of being steam a compression test should show it up or even a radiator shop can pressurise your radiator and will fill the cylinder with water either a blown head gasket or cracked head

 

Do a leakdown test. are you getting coolant/oil mixing? Did the car overheat at any point?

 

This problem can be 2 things:

1. Head Gasket
2. Cracked Block

But... #2 - Cracked Block - Is really really worrying me. I don't want to open up the engine replace the head gasket and the white smoke return because there is a crack in the block. Would I be able to visually see the crack in the block when I open it up? How likey that it would be a cracked block? Oil/coolant isn't mixing (If it is it must be little).

 

you could also have a cracked head. do you have any reason to suspect a cracked block? a block will not crack randomly under normal conditions. have you had the block or head worked on recently? the reason I ask is because I went through a similair situation where the machine shop cracked my head while installing new guides.

 

No work done. The only thing is "Very High Heat" - The engine would be abnormally hot. But after I changed the spark plugs+wires, radiator, water pump, etc. - tge engine runs much much cooler. So could high heat crack a block? (I don't think so)

 

Do you know how hot (degreeF) the engine got during these episodes of "Very High Heat". You may have warped the head and/or block. Sounds like you will need to pull the head, check both surfaces for flatness using a precision straight edge, machine is necessary, and install a new head gasket.

 

When I remove the head, can I just leave the intake manifold in the car (Just unbolt it from the head). Also do I have to re-adjust my vavle lash when reinstall the camshaft?

 

overheating can def cause headgasket issues. It may have warped the deck surfaces also. If you do go and replace the headgasket check the block and head for straightness.

 

I guess you could leave the IM in there but it might just clutter things. You shouldn't have to re adjust valve lash. But it doesn't hurt to recheck it.

 

hey guys i think i need a new head gasket cuz i see oil leakin inbetween the head and the block and my exhaust smells but could that be from me not having a cat and my car doesnt overheat but my check engine light is on and the atts what u guys think is wrong and whats the avarge cost of a new headgasket with install

 

every time I take an alloy head off a motor itis best to have it skimmed (machined) not much just enough to be dead sure it is flat alloy heads warp more than steel heads and alot easier besides blown gasket or cracked head it could also be corrosion in a water port which has erroded to close to the compression chamber it is definetly head or gasket problem and after the head goes back on id readjust the valve backlash just to be sure it is easy enough to do I cant see any problem of leaving the inlet manifold in the car as long as you have enough room to lift the head out . no matter what the head has to come off to find the problem you will have to decide if you want to do it or have a mechanic do it for you.
hope this helps.

 

I can't imagine how much a shop would charge you to do this job....probably an arm, a leg, and your first unborn child. If you have a place to work, a good tool set, and feel confident in your abilities I would try to pull the head yourself. I did a head swap recently and it took me about 2 full days (not including downtime while head was at machine shop).

 

the labor is whats gonna cost you the most i spent about 800 to have my civic's hg, water pump and intake mani gaskect replaced.