Possible Cylinder Head Gasket Problem?

[mjamoose]

This one is puzzling me.
I've had my Mk2 Golf for a week or so now, and the colour of the exhaust smoke is concerning, a mildly white colour.
There are no ovbious signs that the gasket is going, no water in the oil or oil in the water.
The engine used to heat up quite quickly, but changed the water and antifreeze and all was fine there but the smoke is still coming out white, a little more than it used to before I changed the Coolant.
This is really puzzling me so any tips or help would be appreciated.
Also is the Cyinder Head Gasket change an easy repair that could be undertaken by a relative mechanics novice? If so how much would it cost to DIY compared to a garage?
Cheers!

[Gambit]

get a compression test done on the car, that is the only way you'll know if the head gasket is gone

is it defo white smoke (its smells real bad!) or just exhaust vapour which just smells like exhaust fumes

[mjamoose]

Smells more like exhaust fumes, but there is a subtle smell of something else, not burning oil tho...

[...joe]

if your not too hot with mechanics it'would probably be worth paying someone to do it. its not the sort of thing you want to get wrong! mind you having said that i did mine when i didn't really have a clue what i was doing, i just got it checked by someone before i started it up again.

headgaskets seem to be a common problem nowadays, could it be psychosematic?? hmmm?