Its been a long process for me to do this head gasket job with 2 kids under 4 and a full time job. I finally got everything put back together and started it tonight. It ran really high for a little bit and then came back down. After it came back down there is smoke coming from the engine bay.

You can't see if very well from the video but I could really use some advice and guidance as I have no clue what to expect after a job like this. Sorry I change the video angle you can see the smoke best at the end of the video but its hard to see in the video. Nothing seems to be leaking from what I can tell.

Can't seem to upload the video so here is a link... https://www.dropbox.com/s/wjcfwe0ibu...o_1_1.mp4?dl=0

Is this normal due to the truck sitting for 2 months and then getting all new stuff?

Did I do something wrong?

Any help is appreciated. I installed new of the following items in the repair.

Head Gaskets
Head Bolts
Exhaust manifold gaskets
Exhaust down pipe gaskets, studs and bolt
Valley gasket
Intake manifold gasket
Valve cover gaskets and new bolts
Oil pan gasket
Fresh Oil
180 LR thermostat
Fresh Coolant and bleed
Injector O rings
Transmission Oil Cooler
Water pump was done a couple weeks before the start of HG job

I think that covers it all and I torqued everything according to the rave and followed it very meticulously.

I am pretty bummed right now

 

I couldn't see the smoke in the video, but double check your seals on both the motor and exhaust. It could just be oil spoiled on the headers that is burning off, to a disconnected breather house somewhere, or leaking exhaust. Do you have any oil leaks?

 

Yeah, as mentioned above if you used an kind of penetrating lube - that's more than likely what you see burning off.

Hook up your ultra gauge or similar temp monitor and just drive her while eating a satisfaction sandwich - fruits of your labor and all that blood, sweat and tears!

 

First of all, congrats man!! It's a hell of a job getting that done. I couldn't see the smoke but I had the exact same thing happen when I did mine 60k miles ago so I completely understand your nervousness. I remember seeing a whisp of smoke when I started mine and if was from all the oil and coolant I had spread around burning off. If you are like me you will be concerned every time you see or smell something for the next 10k miles. Hell, I still get kind of weirded out when I am sitting in traffic and smell oil burning from the car two cars ahead of me. It just goes with the territory when you have one of these trucks.

You are good man, just watch that coolant level and enjoy your truck for the next 100k miles!!!!

 

Agree with others. All normal after a first major project well done.

......

 

keep an eye on it most likely just clean chemicals burning off

 

Smoke is OK.
Just oil burning off and antifreeze burning off.
It will stink for a few days.

Get engine cleaner when you are all done and take it to a spray / wand car wash.

Gunk works.
And the 3M stuff works too.

After I cleaned my engine bay after the head gasket job I was happy with the results.

The little spark plug booties are from NAPA.

This was year 2012 in Boulder, CO