Started up my 190D and noticed more smoke than usual. It normally smokes a little black on startup and when you lay into it, but now it smokes a blue/white color and a significant amount more. I also noticed what appears to be small amounts of oil residue on the ground beneath the exhaust pipe.

Is it time for a re-ring, head gasket, newer car?? I am thinking I will pick up a compression tester to check the rings, but how do you check the head gasket? Do you have to remove the head, or can a leakdown test tell you?