smoke at startup-reused head studs?? PLEASE HELP!

[Crazy E]

Ive posted about this alot, but things keep getting worse and im not sure what to do.

I replaced my head gasket about 2 months ago, reusing the head studs and tourqing them down to spec. Fine. Now, I can see a small amount of oil leaking out between the head and block. Even better, I get some plumes of smoke at startup. It could be either white or blue, im not sure (in the daylight). In addition, oil psi gets low when it heats up.

I know that I should have changed the head studs, but I couldnt afford to. Could that be the cause of my problem?

I need to know whats going on with this car as im a dirt poor college kid and need it to get to work. Please give me any assistance you can.

Thanks

 

[RoasT BeeF]

If it only does it at startup I would say its the valve seals. Did you have them replaced when u took the head off? Check the head bolts again to make sure they are tourqed to spec. Were the bolts stretched?

 

[Crazy E]

Well, it stopped smoking at start up, that only lasted like 2 days. Im still concerned about the head though. I didnt have time to get it checked out when I did the gasket.

I dont think that the head studs were streched, they seemed to be fine when I inspected them. Maybe if I just tourque them down to like 60-65 ft pounds. When I did the job they were at like 50-55 I think.

Would it be possible to change the head studs without pullng the head or is that a bad idea?

thanks again!

 

[RoasT BeeF]

I wouldnt torque them more than spec. If the smoking stopped then what are you still worried about? I would think its a bad idea to replace the head bolts without changing the gasket again also. Its a crush seal.

 

[Crazy E]

Im still concerned because there is a small amoutn of oil leaking out of the new head gasket.

 

[RoasT BeeF]

Re-torque the studs, wipe off the oil and see if it comes back.