head gasket

my 1600gti is nearing completion few more small things and its done but i might have a problem. the engine had a top end off new gasket stem seals etc and all put back together and was running really nice no smoke or anything. it has only been started up to move the car in and out of the garage but today it was running on the drive and i noticed there was a puddle under the exhaust of like black water and the exhaust was like it was a cold day if that makes sense. so this got me worried sop checked the water it looks a little oily and the filler cap on the engine has a bit of white on it is there anything else i can check to confirm its the head gasket even though its done hardly any running ??


phil

Who did the gasket last time and why?  Had it blown it - and if so, was the head checked to see if it was warped?

i did it no it wasnt blown it just needed new stem seals so it was stripped and the engine fully checked so it had the new gasket new bolts and refitted following manual to the letter.

barty2 said

  today it was running on the drive and i noticed there was a puddle under the exhaust of like black water…. filler cap on the engine has a bit of white on it

Of course it could be a problem but right now I believe it is just condensation in the exhaust system. When the exhaust gasses heat the water film inside it turns to steam and comes out the tailpipe hitting the colder air which causes it to return to water. While it is steam it frees some of the carbon stuck in the pipe which makes it turn black. The white foam on the cap can also be condensation. If the engine does not get hot enough to boil off the moisture in the crankcase, it creates a foam which most times can be found on the cap or in the cylinder head. This and the tailpipe water can be cleared up with long hot drives once or twice a week in the Winter, Summer is not a problem. I would not predict doom just yet.