Head gasket replaced now smoking

[gcastle]

Hi guys,

I just registered after lurking for a long time. Long story short, 75 280z fuel injected. The head gasket started making a hissing sound and turns out it needed to be replaced. I got it replaced along with getting the head polished, new valves, etc..

Car idles like a rock and has more power since the work on the head was done. Problem I'm having 2 days after I took the car from the shop.

1. Temperature gauge isn't working anymore.

2. Upon hard acceleration, lots of white/grey smoke from the tailpipe.

3. Upon cranking in the morning, it takes 2-3 tries to startup. It hesitates the 1st & 2nd times with a really rough start. Once I give it a 3rd shot, it's starts up just fine and idles great.

4. I notice the fuel mileage is really crappy now.

I downloaded the FSM but I'm not much of a mechanic and I'm hoping maybe it's a common issue with a temp sensor or egr system.

[bobc]

First thing to do is IMMEDIATELY check the amount of water in your radiator. Of course with the engine cool. It's possible that the shop either didn't put water back in or enough water back in and it's blown the head gasket again. Or, the head gasket blew and you've lost enough water that it is not flowing past the temperature sensor. It could just be coincidence, but the temp guage to suddenly stop working is worrisome. Did it work when you picked it up from the shop?

Assuming the water level is good, pull out the spark plugs and turn the engine over. See if any water comes shooting out. If so, blown head gasket. Check the oil, if it looks like a milk shake, blown head gasket. You can do this by draining it out, looking for water on the dipstick, or remove the oil cap and look down on the top of the cylinder head.

Nothing you've described is normal. Since you had the work done at a shop, take it back. They should honor their work for the little time period you've had the car out of the shop

Best,

Bob

[gcastle]

The temp gauge worked when I was driving it home and the morning after on my way to work, although the morning after it looked suspect as the temperature never reached 'normal operating temperature'. Once the gauge stopped working the day after is when I started noticing lots of smoke.

Thanks for the tips Bob!

I'll report back after I try your suggestions.

Edited September 18, 2009 by gcastle