Hi, I know this may be along shot but any help or advice appreciated,.

I have a 2004 mk1 with only 85k on the clock. It blows blue smoke on start up when it's been stood over night or quite a few hours. I understand this maybe a stem valve seal, could this be something else??

Also, could I just buy a new head for it or should I get the full engine?

Thanks

Check the head gasket first.

Blue smoke is definitely oil getting in somewhere.

I'd also check the oil filler cap for a mayonaise type sludge which would show that oil and water are combining (another sure sign of head gasket damage).

Check the basics before moving on to valve seals and piston rings.

Yes I checked all that, not 1 bit of mayo anywhere, no sign of oil the coolant although the coolant is very very slowly going down.

Have you considered just changing the valve stem oil seals? A second hand head might not be any better than the one you have.

Coolant disappearing is another pointer towards the head gasket.

I have been looking at doing the stem seals but not decided on using the rope trick or compressed air.

Get a cylinder leakage tester costs a little but saves you wasting money on a job the could be unnecessary and points almost straight to the problem

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You have certainly got the typical tell tale signs of worn valve stem seals - blue smoke on starting after it's been sat a while.

I would rather use the compressed air method to be honest.

I don't think a leakage tester would help identify if stem seals were leaking - if you put pressure on the cylinder with the valves in an open position then you'd lose all the air pressure in any case. With valves closed you'd need valves to be leaking for any air to get past the valves to the stem seals and again the air would exit through inlet/exhaust ports.

Leakage testers aren't reliable for identifying headgasket failures either, experience and signs like water in the oil or pressurising the expansion tank are more common pointers there.

I don't think a leakage tester would help identify if stem seals were leaking - if you put pressure on the cylinder with the valves in an open position then you'd lose all the air pressure in any case. With valves closed you'd need valves to be leaking for any air to get past the valves to the stem seals and again the air would exit through inlet/exhaust ports.

Leakage testers aren't reliable for identifying headgasket failures either, experience and signs like water in the oil or pressurising the expansion tank are more common pointers there.

not sure what message this is in relation to but if its mine, I was meaning compressed air to hold the valves in while the valve stem oil seals are changed.

Anybody know how much air, my compressor goes upto about 8 bar.

2-3 bar will be enough - its only to hold the valve in place.