engine idles low after start, white smoke..

[Korndogg]

hey all
my friend is considering buying a 1992 lazer (1.8L) that's down the street... but when you first start it up, the RPM will drop and the engine will stall.. so you have to hold your foot on the gas to keep the RPM up for about 30 seconds and then it idles ok... but there's also a lot of white smoke that comes out of the exhaust constantly.. especially when excellerating. i'm thinking throttle body maybe? but i really don't know.. i'm a newbie and that's really just a shot into the dark. i also noticed that there is what appears to be some antifreeze on the left side of the top of the engine.. i 'm thinking that maybe there's a small hole in the radiator hose? (i looked and couldn't find one, however...)
either way, i'm looking for advice on what these problems may be. also, how hard would it be for 2 guys that are very mechanically inclined, yet completely unexperienced, to fix these problems with the help of the awesome people at DSMtuners
any help that can be provided will be GREATLY appreciated.
thank you

 

[Korndogg]

on second thought, the smoke may not have been white... it was getting dark out so maybe it had a tint of some other color... but it wasn't dark smoke.. was deffinitely light... probly white

 

[my_gst95]

First thing i would do is pop off those spark plugs and check compression. Sounds like a busted headgasket and that wouldnt make purchasing the car worth it unless you do it yourself.

my_gst95

 

[Korndogg]

hmm.. i honestly don't know how to check compression.... so strange compression readings would suggest a bad head gasket i assume?

random question: my car vibrates a little more than i think it probly should in high RPMs... 4500-5000ish... could a compression test tell me anything about that? just curious... thanks

 

[my_gst95]

http://www.dsmgrrrl.com/FAQs/compression.htm

Read the above link on how to check compression and compare the numbers you get with the numbers at the bottom of the page. If its off or lower then those numbers by alot, don't waste your time on the purchase and just buy a 1g AWD turbo in good condition for less then 3k hehe.

Vibration could mean many things. I would check the simple things first ie your rotors. When was the last time you changed your rotors?

goodluck

my_gst95

 

[Korndogg]

eh.. i've only had my car for 2 months or so... and i don't know a whole lot about cars yet (though i'm trying!)
all i've done so far is replace my alternator and put a new air filter in (..and hacked air can)
but yeah.. havn't changed my rotors... but it rides smooth at high speeds, just vibrates a bit at high RPM whether i'm in first or 3rd or whatever... so i don't think it's the rotors...

btw.. sort of off topic.. but if anyone has a link to some magical web page that'll teach me everything about cars that i would ever want to know, that would be awesome