Suspected blown head gasket on '84 n/a 944
 

The story:
Car went in to shop to get things checked out after sitting for 5 years. A few miles after leaving shop, white smoke started spewing from the tailpipe. Driver immediately pulled over and had car towed back to shop. No formal diagnosis was done at the shop, because the owner became fed up. Not sure, but could this be the sign of a blown head gasket? Are there other things it might be? What should I look for? No water noticed in oil and no oil noticed on visual inspection of coolant. I don't want to have car taken to a shop for diagnosis and incur the towing/diagnosis expense if there's a short list of things it could be. If there's so much uncertainty, then maybe I should pass.

The situation:
I'm not the owner, but the possible buyer of said car. Given the situation, the car is obviously discounted but I'm trying to figure out its value and what the potential costs for repair would be. The owner didn't get an estimate (or isn't sharing it) because (perhaps) there was some uncertainty about what repairs are needed and didn't want to have one thing lead to another for a $3-4k car.

So is this likely a parts car or is it worth saving? I'm mechanically oriented and have done timing chains, valve adjustments, and other similar repairs on other cars including 912's - but have never worked on a 944.

Headgasket is $250 for the kit and all the timing belt componentry is $300. Throw in an extra $450 for cooling hoses and other things that should be changed on a 31 year old car and yoy should be all set. Clarks garage should give you additional insight as to what is required.

Also google porsche 944 shop manual. The first hit is of someone who scanned all of the factory ahop manuals and put them online. That shouls give you additional info as well

So about a $1000 plus some time. The TB was replaced 5K ago, but that was also 5+ years ago from what I'm told so it might as well be replaced at the same time. Thanks!

Are there any other potential problems that sound like that description?

White smoke doesn't necessarily mean blown head gasket, although that's likely. Pull the spark plugs and check if they have been "steam cleaned"...

Compression/leakdown test is only definitive way to determine for sure if headgasket is bad.

+1 on the compression/leakdown test.

If you can't do the compression test, although that's what you should to check. Pull the spark plugs, if they're super clean, like they've been steam cleaned, you're in trouble.

Spark plugs weren't steam cleaned looking. Air filter box was full of antifreeze. After looking more closely, I found that the car had a sub par paint respray, so I lost interest. I suppose if the seller wants to drop the price that I could be interested, but it isn't "the" car.

huh. how does the airbox get full of antifreeze?