Oil leak

[Bob Qazi]

Had smoke coming out of engine. RAC guy diagnosed small oil leak from head gasket. Says will need head taking off to fix and new timing chain after thats done. Alternatively he said just run it as oil will burn off and will be an expensive job. Anyone able to help re similar experience/solution please?

[Lance]

The rocker cover gaskets are well know failure points on these engines, which not at all the same as a head gasket leak.
Cheap and easy fix.

Oil weeps from the top cam/rocker gasket and runs down, causing oil smoke and oil burning smells.

Check it out before going HG route.

[Chris_D]

+1 cam cover gasket. They all go eventually!

Check the oil filter housing gasket too.

Worst case is main seal between engine and gearbox.

Sump gasket can leak too.
Worth poking around...

[ph001]

Very unlikely to be head gasket, either he /you getting confused on gaskets or he's just giving plain bad advice.