You need heads at the very least. You have two cylinders at minimum spec.... the rest are all below. I would run the wet test, and see what the results were. If not much changes, just replace the heads. If the numbers make a significant jump, rebuild time.

 

I dont mean to contradict doing a wet test but what else besides worn rings would it prove? I dont have an oil consumption problem. No fuel or coolant is getting in the oil. Just a very bad coolant problem. This truck isnt my daily driver. Its just a back up truck so it doesn't have to be perfect. Would I be safe to just replace the heads? This is definitely low budget and ill be doing all the work myself.

 

Because if your compression doubled your rings are shot and its not worth putting heads on it. Might as well just find a donor engine to swap in.

 

If the compression comes up significantly, that tells you the rings are bad, but, I agree, wouldn't account for the coolant loss. That is most likely cracked heads. But, if compression numbers DON'T change much, that tells you that 99% of your problems are indeed the heads, and just changing them will solve a host of ills.

If the rings are bad as well, I think instead of throwing 600 bucks at a new set of heads, I would just pick up a lower mileage junkyard motor, and drop it in there.

Edit: Ninjaed by Ham Bone. That is EXACTLY what I am thinkin'.

 

If the rings were shot wouldn't it run terrible? The truck still runs great even with a 50/50 fuel coolant mixture. Lol. What are the odds of the heads and the rings going out at the same time? The truck isnt worth enough to drop a new motor in it.

 

Not a new motor, a used motor. Can pick one up for 500 or so from the junkyard. (around here at least....)

The engine will still run fine. (to a point), it just won't develop the power it should.

 

Did you have the throttle wide open when you tested it?

 

No. Thinking back now I forgot to. Does it make that much of a difference? Ill have to go back and get the tester ...

 

I'm sure it makes some difference. Not sure how much though.

 

Well if that screws it up a little then maybe the drives side where all cylinders wer 80s and 90s were ok. And that one on the passenger side thats went down to 70 is where my blown gasket is.