Car Burning Oil

[sophie_1003]

My car is burning oil and there is a lot of smoke coming from the exhaust on start up; what could be causing this? It has recently had a new catalytic convertor and head gasket and is a Ford Fiesta Zetec ('02 plate).

[Cockney_si]

Has the car been thrashed? It could be trouble with the piston rings.

[sophie_1003]

No; I'm a v careful driver!

[AlBags]

Soph .. hi again.
Your dad better get down that garage again. Is it in LS or W?
Anyone drive the car except you?
Where did you buy it?

[sophie_1003]

LS or W??
Bought it off my brother who'd had absolutely no problems with it, no-one else drives it.
To make matters worse I'm currently waiting for the insurance company's people to come and pick it up to repair a dent in it where a woman drove into the back of me last week! It is a curse car and will be so glad to see the back of it!!

[AlBags]

Were the valve seats/guides and seals checked/replaced when head was done?
The stem seals 'can' be done in situ.pretty easily.
They only used to fit them on one set of valves .. not the whole lot.

[sophie_1003]

Not sure Albags, it was done professionally and know it required quite a lot of work so think the head did require skimming.
Why the assumption Methyl? because of the smoke on start up? That's not the only evidence btw; have had to put a fair bit of oil in over past two weeks.
Also; had to put coolant in today; there was a man at the petrol station who helped me (the friend I was with knew him; he wasn't just a random bloke) he is a mechanic and said it's likely to be worn piston rings?
Also; should mention; I would be getting it down to the garage but it's being picked up by insurance's garage for body work repair after a lady drove in to the back of me (my car seemsto be cursed!!)

[sophie_1003]

Thanks for all the answers btw!

[AlBags]

Hi Soph ..

When engine hot .. switch off for 20 mins.
Restart and give it a rev up after a few seconds. Smoking from exhaust badly?

It's either gonna be stem seals or a piston/ring problem
Is it using coolant?

[sophie_1003]

It only seems to smoke on first start up; not if I've already started it earlier in the day but will double check tomorrow.
Haven't checked the coolant since putting some in yesterday when it was below the minimum level and don't know how quickly it had gone down before that as I've never checked it in the time i've had the car so that is yet another thing I have to keep an eye on!

[sophie_1003]

Update- it is using coolant.
Went a bit mad at garage that 'repaired' head gasket and dad's going to see if he can get them to do it for nothing because they also replaced the catalytic convertor because of high emissions on MOT which may have been unnecessary (apparently) if it is the piston rings that are the current problem!