Blue Smoke - Piston ring gone..?

[Andy Mc]

As the title say's, I have a mk2 valver and today I've noticed she's blowing quite a bit of blue smoke. Could this be a piston ring gone..? I recently had a new head fitted which has turned out to be a pile of $hite (bought of E-Bay - beware..!), anyway, the tappets ALWAYS rattle no matter the engine temp is and seeing as this has only been on the car for less then 7000 miles they should not. When this head was fitted my mechanic said that there was no piston wear so am maybe thinking that the valve oil stem seals could be shagged. When I checked the oil last weekend it was topped up to the max point and has had no oil added since I last changed it in Jan (she never burn's oil - til today)

Does anybody have any idea as to what could be causing this blue smoke. The car is always serviced every 5000 - 6000 miles and well looked after.

Any answers will be greatly appreciated...!

[AudiA8Quattro]

Do a wet and dry compression test.

[free]

could be the valve seels,

but as 6 says do a com test and see,

[Gix]

Or the guides (Valve not girl's) 

[bosun]

Does it smoke when on over run and when it`s started up in the morning,or is it constant,when you put your foot down?

[Andy Mc]

Thanks for the responses..!

She been standing since Thursday evening so I've been out and started her today and there is no smoke on start up, I then took her for a run and got her up to full temperature, including a motorway run then brought her back, she smokes when the accelerator is pressed, so then whole time I'm on the gas, she's smoking. As soon as I come off the gas she carries on smoking til the rev's settle back down to idle when she doesn't smoke

How do I carry ot a wet and dry test..? - How safe is my car to drive without going pop..?

[richandhazel]

That sounds like rings, however, as already said, a wet/dry compression check will confirm for sure.

[Andy Mc]

I suspect replacing the rings is a big job..? - How much would I be looking to have the work done..?