I know... but I don't want to repair/replace the heads/head gasket if the rings are gone. I had low compression in a cylinder (can't recall which one off hand) a few months back when I tested it. At that point I thought it might have been rings. Now with the head problem, it might have been the precursor to where I am today.

I am going to try the oil down the cylinder tonight.

thanks everyone for your suggestions!

 

So the results are in...

I don't think its as bad as I first thought, don't get me wrong, I definitely have a problem.

My oil level is not bad. when I checked it this morning I was in a hurry, and just pulled the stick and looked at it. Tonight I waited and cleaned the stick and it is right at the full mark.

I did a compression test and the results are

drivers side plugs from front of engine to rear cylinder numbers 1-115...3-155...5-160...7-155

When I pour a bit of oil in number 1 it went to 130

passenger side front to rear 2 - 155...4-155...6-149...8-151

Now when i pulled the plug from number 6 "steam" was coming out from the spark plug hole. so this is the cylinder that has the coolant leak.

I am thinking more of a gasket now, rather than a cracked head. Either head or intake gaskets.

when I pull the heads off will it be obvious where the coolant is leaking from?

not sure what I want to do with the compression number being that low on number 1. might do a leak down test tomorrow to see if it leaks from the top at all.

On the fence if I should just pull this engine and get a junkyard engine to get me by.

 

I was thinking the same thing. But bad ring seal will cause blow by lallowing FUEL to seep into the oil. That causes all sorts of problems.

Ussually when you tear an engine down, you always open up a whole new can of worms.

 

Amen to that! Usually?! Almost always! I'd leave well enough alone, unless you have more money then time to spend.

 

Darn it! I hate wishy washy results. It probably is your heads like others have been saying but I'm afraid you don't know for sure unfortunately. On the positive side even if it does turn out that number one has less than perfect ring seal at least 130 isn't all that low.

Bummer that it sounds like you'll at least be needing to tear into both banks though by the sounds of it with steam coming out of 6 and low compression on 1. Might just want to freshen up both heads while your at it now if you decide to go the repair and reuse route.

 

My money is on the intake gasket leaking above #6 and bad rings in #1. Doing a leak down it a good idea.

 

Didn't Aim say just the other day to do the compression test 5 times in a row to have accurate results? If you weren't perfectly at top dead center and one of the valves was open just a hair then that will affect the test.

 

Compression test involves turning the engine over with a gauge screwed into the plug hole. You are thinking cylinder leakdown test. The piston MUST be at TDC, with both valves fully closed to give accurate results there.

The 'oil test' didnt give conclusive results either. Doing the leakdown test should tell the rest of the story.

As for the leak being obvious.... sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't.... Crap shoot.

Do the leak down test, you will be able to hear where the air is going. That should give you a good idea if it is rings, or valves. I am putting my money on valves.

 

That would be nice if it was the valves. That would be really nice if there was just some baked on crap on a valve and all it takes is a bath in a parts cleaner.

 

Just did a leak down test on cylinder 1. I am getting a moderate reading 50-55%. the air is coming up the dip stick. so definitely rings.

At this point I think I might pull the heads, and put new gaskets on (head, intake, plenum) till I can afford to swap the engine out, or do a proper rebuild.

Didn't get much of a chance to "play" today as it was my son's 3rd bday. hopefully tomorrow I can start pulling the heads.