Hi Folk:

My car is vexing me so I'm consulting the mass mind for intervention clues.

It's supposed to be a leaky head gasket, but I replaced that twice, milled the head, used 4 kinds of block sealer (2 kinds of Barrs, 1 ea of blue devil, and something else with cellulose and copper flecks), and it all has no effect. It might be a crack, but if so, it's very well concealed. I also replaced the intake valve stem seals.

I was told I have a 1.8 instead of a 1.6 as the VIN report says. I've been using 1.6 gaskets, they look the same, would that cause it?

From a cold start it runs well for 5 minutes then begins to drip and throw water from the exhaust pipe and the engine rpms drag and advance cyclically. if I drive, it blows steam from the tailpipe while accelerating.

is there any other way the water could get into the exhaust?

guesses? anyone?

thanks