smoking

[pugsy66]

hi,i wondered if you could help me ive got a rover216 est . running lovely but when i struck it up this afternoon it started billowing white smoke out the back.dont know much about cars but sounds as if head gasket may have gone how can i check before taking it to the garage.

[uktazzy]

if you think head gasket as gone the water will only be able to go 2 ways 1 is into the oil so if you take out dipstick check for water in oil on dipstick or oil will turn grey , 2nd check for water leaking out of head running down engine eazy way is to put cardboard underneath engine see if dripping appears hope this helps john