smokey exhaust/failed emissions

[birch]

took the car to local mechanic this morning, went back after couple of hours and they say it needs valve stem seals, they suggest fitting a head kit ( head gasket, stem seals and rocker box gasket ) £300?

[CJA321]

That seems pritty good....

That cover everything thou? Like a new timing belt and head skim?

[birch]

yes the price of £300 covers everything, head gasket, head skim, valve seals, rocker cover gasket and new timing belt, so not a bad price then?

[CJA321]

Id be happy with that 

[birch]

i had the valve stem seals replaced and the head gasket complete with head skim and rocker cover gasket, when i went to pick it up the mechanic said 'it was still smoking when i took it for a test drive, but it cleared after a short while' he said he had taken it for an emissions test and the emissions were very low and looked really good.  ive driven it over the weekend and it is not as smokey as it was and it doesnt smell of burnt oil anymore but when revving it, it does sometimes give off quite a cloud of whitish smoke. is this normal for a 150000 mile 8v or is it not sorted? any thoughts?
drives ok.
no codes on my vag scanner either.

[Screech16v]

Is the whiteish smoke more like steam ,keep an eye on your water level,remember though, cold weather and hot exhaust emissions do produce what looks like clouds of smoke especially whilst stationary.

[birch]

will keep an eye on the water level, you could be right, i might be looking too closely for exhaust smoke and its was very cold here yesterday when i was checking out the exhaust, does the fact that the emissions are very low mean that it cant be burning much in the way of oil or over fuelling?

[birch]

i decided to take my car for an emissions test despite the fact that the garage that did the stem seals saying that they took it for emissions test and they said it passed.
IT FAILED!
can anyone give an opinion of these results please?
engine was fully warmed up.

FAST IDLE TEST (2450-2850rpm)                   
CO             limit 0.3%           actual 0.503%    FAIL
HC             limit 200ppm       actual 98 ppm    PASS
lambda      0.970-1.030         actual 1.058       FAIL

2ND FAST IDLE (2450-2850rpm)
CO            limit 0.3%            actual 0.545%   FAIL
HC            limit 200ppm        actual 97ppm    PASS
lambda     0.970-1.030          actual 1.051      FAIL

NATURAL IDLE (720-920rpm)
CO           limit 0.5%             actual 0.478%   PASS

went back to the garage who did the stem seals and showed him the emissions printout and after looking at the results he said 'i only did the natural idle test' looks like your cat has been damaged by the burning oil! ? The exhaust still smells a litttle oily to me! He said its fine for a 150000 mile car. MOT at the end of may so i have a little time to sort it out, can a cat be cleaned of oil or IF it is the cat is it ruined? does cat cleaner actually work?

[mk3.owner]

I'm not 100% sure but im quite certain the cat can't be 'cleaned'.

Id just leave it until the MOT and replace the cat. Then (If you would want a decat) gut you'r original cat, Re-install and then you have yourself a stealth cat. 

[Len]

Not a good idea to "degut" cat yourself!