Alright so just to give you some backround on my mechanical ability before we start, I got a good understanding about engines how they work all that fun stuff, what all the parts and stuff do but i have never realy torn into an engine myself so basicly all that knowledge with nothin to back it up >.<... i have a full set of tools + odds and ends, i dont have the money to take my car to the shop so i have to do most of the work myself or with my friends when they got the weekend off. I'm guessing that since it is white smoke and it comes out all the time (when the engine is hot or cold, wot/idle) its leaking water in somewhere, im thinking head gasket but any other things i should check, and can someone give me instructions on how to replace the gaskets? and while im at it i have a miss and i looked in from under the car and on the weep hole on the water pump it looks like there has been water comin out of it at some point, probably messing up the opti causing the miss. I need instructions on how to get down to the water pump and Opti to replace them to. Any help is appreciated. Thanks... i can get more info if you need it... the car is completely stock, A4

 

Your head gasket is blown and causing the engine to burn coolant. The misfire you feel is from the lost compression in the cylinder that the gasket blew at.

If you want to double check you can do a compression check on all cylinders but without headers that's going to be a job in itself.

 

the miss...well more like a stutter was happening before the gasket went out. it would run fine untill it got warm then it would stutter pretty hard between 1500 and 2500 rpm

 

If the opti has been getting leaked on, it may well be bad. On the other hand, you have an near-absolute blown head gasket which will cause a miss as well. You need to do a compression check, and I would replace the opti just to be safe since you're tearing into the engine anyways

 

Honestly I might not waste time with a compression check. Check for coolant in your oil.

If your dipstick looks like it has chocolate milk on it, mixed with the fact that you're blowing white smoke out the tail, it's almost 100% guaranteed that you have a blown head gasket.

The reason I wouldn't bother with a compression check is I would replace both gaskets.

 

ok so first off JasonFace: i like the quote in your sig lol and alright so you guys got me convinced its the head gaskets... while im in there is there anything else i should check out... the engine has 126xxx miles on it, and i found a detailed explaination of how to get down to the waterpump/opti... is there any detailed explaination of how to get the head gaskets?

 

http://afrashteh.com/guide/install.htm

 

Pull the following:
Battery
Exhaust manifolds
Alternator
fuel rail
fuel injectors
Intake manifold
valve covers
rockers and pushrods

Unbolt the heads and pull them out.

Buy a top end gasket set from the auto parts store - you'll need head gaskets, valve cover gaskets, intake manifold gaskets and exhaust manifold gaskets.

Use a thick bead of copper rtv on the front and rear of the intake.

You can inspect the lifters and replace any that need to be replaced, or replace them all if you want to and have the extra cash.

 

I would also recommend a set of ARP head bolts.

 

I was going to suggest you contact Shoebox, he's got an answer for just about any question you would have....but he beat me to it.
Good luck!