Engine Woes!

[dcc 855]

Today i set about fixing minor issues with the gti6 lump

 

It idles perfect, but when you touch the accellerator, the revs die off and it can almost stall. Bought myself a new ECU coolant temp sensor, and when i came to fit it, the old one was covered in some buildup of what can only be described at rust, but they are copper? how do they rust (FeO2 doesnt have any Cu in it)

This sorted the issues of revs dropping off when trying to accellerate (i might add, under stress or even light application of throttle), and it also seemed to idle a lot better too, even though it seemed fine before.

The part was £10.41 from a local Motor Factors.

 

Now is where I need peoples opinion...

 

There is a fair ammount of white smoke coming out of the exhaust, she idles well, but the coolant system is pressuring a huge ammount. now i know the pressure on a '6 lump is greater than the standard 8v or even mi system, but enough pressure to blow apart a join in 2 pipes (albeit a bodge join, but fastened together well with jubilee clips). the smoke doesnt go away, and gets denser with revs when under load. at first i thought maybe piston rings, but im not convinced, now i think Headgasket. ill id be tempted to get the head skimmed, cambelt and waterpump, and a decent gasket if it were this. whats peoples opinions?

In no way did the smoke smell like oil, and it was just white smoke which dispersed after 5ft of leavign the exhaust, oily smoke would travel further before dispersing and wouldnt it be a dull grey colour?

[Anthony 1,003]

Is it losing coolant from the expansion tank? If it is, then that, white smoke, and a pressurised cooling system certainly points towards a failed headgasket.

[hexhamstu 9]

ive got a compression tester you can use....