hi all need a favour plz ive bought a mk escort rs2000 after a few hundred miles head gasket went im not bothered because got the car real cheap as a trade in from work

ive put a new steel head gasket on etc etc ive done about 1500 miles now the problem is its taping like fcuk it never did it b4 oh until now!!!
ive put 10/40 semi synthtic oil in (miller) now could that b the problem oil too thin after a few hundred miles???
ive also bin told the lifters but there 357 quid i could get an engine for that just wondered if you could help