1999 Honda Civic smoke / stuttering after head job

1999 HONDA CIVIC
167,000 MILES • 4 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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NOAHE
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  • 1 POST
I cracked the head gasket about a year ago and just changed the gasket, put in a resurfaced head, and a new exhaust manifold (the hold one had a crack). I can start my car just fine, < 1 minute later smoke starts coming out of the where the exhaust and head meet. Its idling at 2000rpm's and when the smoke starts it will drop down like it wants to die, and then "violently" jump back up to 2000. The smoke isn't white, and it isn't thick, just a steady light smoke...
Sep 11, 2009 at 9:27 PM
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PEAR69
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You either have a failed exhaust gasket or a cracked exhaust manifold or a cracked head or all three. When the engine heats up it obviously expands. A crack will be more pronounced when heated up. Also, loose bolts can cause this. And if the exhaust bolts were overtightened, it can easily stress the head and/or manifold thus evenutally causing a crack.
Sep 12, 2009 at 4:25 AM
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