Vauxhall Astra engine light has just came on and bad vibrations

Car: Vauxhall Astra
Variant: 1.6 automatic
Model Year: 2002
Categories: Running Rough, Starting & Power Loss
Someone please help. Ive had the car for about 3 weeks. Its done 91000 miles so well below its mileage for age. Ok so heres the problem. Not long after i got the car i noticed the white gunk on the oil cap the white smoke and loss of power and water. Was told head gasket had gone. So got a mechanic out to fix the problem. This was 2 days ago. Car seemed fine. It did smoke a little bit but was assured it would settle and that it was just the new gasket taking affect. Then today driving down the road the oil light came on and really thick white smoke was pouring out the back.Took it to a nearby garage and they told me the car had no oil in at all! So had to go buy some oil and the mechanic kindly filled it up and topped up my water and said the smoke would settle its probably just the engine flushing out everything with the head gasket just been changed. So i took his word for it and the smoke did die down. Then when i was on my way back from the school run the car felt really weird and the engine light came on and the car wouldnt go over 20mph. It has a really bad vibration to the point where the whole car shakes. The exhaust makes a putting noise and the oil level has gone down again. Even though it has just been filled a couple of hours prior. Please any suggestions ? The car feels really horrible and dare not drive it without knowing whats wrong. Thanks in advance !
Posted: Nov 8, 2013 (11 years ago)
You need to get a decent garage to examine the car for engine fault though msy be to late to have avoided major repairs It would seem from what you say that initial repair badly carried out .
Posted Nov 8, 2013 (11 years ago)
Well at first i thought it was an oil leak but havent noticed at any wet patches lying about. So the car is beyond fixable then ? :(
Posted Nov 8, 2013 (11 years ago)
Cant tell until engine checked out .Cyl head should have been tested and probably skimmed before gasket replaced.Engine oil and filter replaced also is normal procedure .
Posted Nov 8, 2013 (11 years ago)
Have just been reading up about the warning light and people have said its to do with the exhaust emmisions and a blinking light is critical to the engine but a solid light in not critical. Well the light is solid. So does it mean the problem is easier repaired and less expensive ?
Posted Nov 8, 2013 (11 years ago)
Is the exhaust pipe oily as it sound,s like it,s running on oil,could be a kinked engine breather pipe or as suggested other issue due to repair.
Posted Nov 8, 2013 (11 years ago)
Exhaust pipe isnt oily but black feels like charcoal ?
Posted Nov 8, 2013 (11 years ago)
can be a number of problems by thye sounds of it do you know if the head was skimmed and crack tested prior to fitting the new headgasket as if these were not done then that could be half the problem also did the valve stem oil seals get replaced as that can create blue smoke out the back of the car and if there are any breathers that could be choking the system but also would be a good idea is to have the engine cylinders pressure checked
Posted Nov 9, 2013 (11 years ago)

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