i just changed a headgasket on a 92 civic dx for someone.

the car would not start and they had it diagnosed at a shop as a headgasket

anyways.

when i pulled the head, it was definitely the head gasket, as number 1 cyl was squeaky clean while the other three looked normal for 200k miles.

anyways, i changed it out and started it up. car starts great, 1 or 2 turns and it fires right up

but it is still smoking BAD, smoke is definitely coolant as it smells just like it.

so i did a compression test on it.

180 180 180 180 good numbers for over 200k miles.

im checking the intake manifold today, to make sure that its not entering through any of the gaskets.

would a crack in the head show up on a compression test? dont have a leakdown tester, wish i did.

could it be smoking from coolant leftover in the exhaust? if so how long should it take to clear that crap out? i let it run for 5 mins and the smoke got worse.

i checked the head and block, they are not warped.

want to look at EVERYTHING possible before i go and pull the head off again. thanks

 

what color smoke is it?

 

re read the thread. IT IS COOLANT

it is white smoke, with the smell of coolant. no doubt whatsoever of what is burning.

 

It is quite likely somoking from what is left in the exhaust system.
How long did you run the car after doing the gasket,does it run right,does it overheat?

I have had the smoking several times after doing head gaskets and if everything checks out good run the car for a while and the smoke will most probably go away when the exhaust gets hot enough to burn it off.

 

Depends on where the crack is , if its on the block/head no it would not show up in a compression test only in a cylinder but if there was a crack there you would have noticed it when you were checking the head not to mention if it was cracked you would be noticeably leaking something around the engine block.

 

well i rented a radiator pressure tester and it held pressure.

so i unbolted the exhaust and ran it for 2 mins open header, no smoke at all.

hooked the exhaust back up and it started smoking again.

looks like its built up in the exhaust. thanks for the help guys