Smoke at start up

[naiku]

When it rains, it pours.

So while still dealing with my transmission problems, I noticed that when starting the engine white smoke comes out the back. I have the coolant leak at the Y behind the passenger wheel, but had been watching coolant levels until I had time to change it.

I had the plugs pulled today and they all look normal. My main concern is that if the coolant was low (I had not checked out in a few days), that when I drove home the day the transmission broke, something happened to the head gasket. I kept the speed low and the temperature never went above normal.

Any other ways to check? Also if it is a head gasket, how expensive is it to fix? If not had gasket what else might it be?

Thanks.

 

[Flag Gibby]

Perform a compression and leak down test on the cylinders and that should tell you everything you need to know. With those results then you can figure out what needs to be done. I doubt that the compression test is necessary but since you are already there it only takes a few more seconds to perform it so you might as well so that you have that information too.