Soooo, I want to test to see if i have a leaky headgasket.. been looking at my faveroute tool shop lol and seeing some options.. Please let me know what ya'll think and which compression tester(s) I should get?

Head Gasket/Piston pressure testers? Which one?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=92720
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=92697
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=95187

And leakdown tester Myabe?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=94190

Also Should I get this Scanner?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=94217

Thanks!

-tim

 

A leak down tester is better than a compression tester.

That tool isn't really a scanner it's a glorified code reader.

What makes you think you have a head gasket problem?

 

if you get the leak down tester, I would not buy a compression gauge.

 

That's a pretty good price for one too. I usually seem toforget about that place when I'm looking for something.

 

At those prices, why not? A compression test takes a lot less time and is less involved than a leak-down test. Also, be aware that you will need an air compressor or compressed air to do a leak-down test. A leak-down test usually done to confirm suspisions presented by a compression test.If you have low compression on two adjacent cylinders, you might think head gasket. Another culprit might be a cracked head, or there could be the rare instance that you have -say- a bad valve on each ofthe two cylinders. A leak-down test will give you more information on the likely culprit. For example:A badgasket will leak-down faster than a cracked head. Itkind of lets you know atwhat kind of down time you are looking, who you need to call (machine shop), and what parts you need to order.

 

Yeah Im not sure if I have a problem yet.. Maybe Im just paranoid, but on start, get white smoke.. steam, not real smoke.. When cold its allot untill car warms up then its fine, No Coolant in oil, didnt see any oil in coolant really I drained some collant to see ( stuck something in the resevoir to suck up some there, and some from the top of the rad (oil floats on water right?) Also ran the truck with the rad cap open, didnt see any smoking bubles ( no bubles actually).. The steam I think just smells like water vapor, I dont think I smell any distinct sweet odor, but then again my smelling sences may not be too keen on what the green stuff should smell like (cept what it smels like in the bottle) ( btw they should add an additive to it so it smoke red when the engine is buirning it, that way you KNOW whats going on as far as whats leaking)... Also Not seeing any loss of fluid level as far as i can tell.. I figure worse case, cracked head(hopefully and not cracked block), buy remanufactured save some $$$. Best case just condensation and I should stop freakin out..

 

There is also this stuff "block check"
It detects combustion gasses in the cooling system.

http://blockchek.com/index.htm

I think you can get the same stuff at NAPA and other parts stores

 

NM, wrong site lol removed comment

 

Ok so the more I read the more I think its head gasket or cracked head.. In eather case... IF, i do have a blown head gasket, (After comp tes) I was planning on getting a cylender head just in case one was warped.... since machining can cost just as much as getting a new(refurb) one..

Is this Refurb or new??

http://www.cylinder-heads.com/details.cfm?itemid=1705

 

Or would this fit?

http://www.cylinder-heads.com/details.cfm?itemid=1563