Hello everyone, this is my first post in this forum. This post is in regards to the Grand am in my signature. The car belongs to my mother in law, it over heated and blew a head gasket. I tore the engine apart, replaced the head gaskets (used Fel-Pro gaskets), and would like to think I knew what I was doing (former professional mechanic) but that was my first time doing head gaskets on that particular engine. Well since I put it back together she'* been complaining about blowing blue smoke out the tail pipe and said it'* getting worse. She said she'* also consuming more fuel than normal (claimed she used a 1/4 tank to drive 20 miles). It ran great the day after I finished, but the next day she said it was idling rough, like it had a misfire, and then the blue smoke started, followed by the fuel consumption. I'm hoping it'* not something I caused, but really need some help with ideas on what'* going on. Nothing I think of is good....ie piston rings, stuck valve, etc. I didn't replace valve seals because I didn't have the tool to compress the valve springs and money is beyond tight. I was doing the cheapest budget minded head gasket job I've ever done, but I did make sure to use quality replacement parts including new head bolts.

Again ANY help and suggestions are GREATLY appreciated. my mother in law is driving me insane and she wont stop driving the car even though she knows something is wrong. I'm afraid she'* going to ruin the motor.

Blue smoke is a good indicator of burning oil.......was it burning oil, before the job was done?

How did the heads look when taken apart? was there a lot of gunk on the valve springs(good indicator of lack of oil maintenance/changes)? Anything that could have plugged the drain holes and forced the level of oil to rise above the valve stem seals? this could also cause the PCV valve to suck in oil into the intake.....just pull the PCV valve out, and look for oil on the bottom of it.....

Thanks for the advice Tech II. It'* my mother in laws car, so I don't drive it, but I don't recall it burning oil previously. I think I have a bigger issue though. It'* idling rough, which has been an ongoing problem for a long time. Always the same DTC when I scan it, misfire in cylinder 3. I've tested the resistance on the coil pack, the plug wire, and replaced the plugs and wires twice. I need to get a compression gauge and check cylinder pressure. I have a bad feeling it'* internal. I think that might be associated with the new issues. As for the fuel consumption, it popped a nee code: EGR flow insufficient. I replaced several hoses that were rotted, cleaned the EGR, but no luck. As for the pvc valve, prior to repair it was so gummed up it didn't even rattle, I replaced it with an ac delco one and it'* still clean. Been about 500 miles since the head gaskets were done. I checked the car on Mother'* Day (working on the stupid blower motor and resistor) and didn't notice any blue smoke, oil level was perfect. I do recall the heads being fairly clean when I had them off. No major build up of any kind around the valves, but I didn't have spring tool (or the money to go buy one, currently unemployed) to remove the valves and replace the seals like I wanted to do. I hate half assing a job but I didn't have a choice. She spent everything she had buying parts. Like I said though, I didn't see anything indicating valve seal issues. I'm suspicious of cylinder 3 and thinking I may be looking at bad piston rings. I did put a straight edge (4 foot level) across the heads and didn't see any gaps indicating warpage, but I know that'* not a guarantee either. I'll just keep digging and if anyone has any other ideas, throw them at me.