compression test and a leak down test cost?

[19963.4lsr5]

Water vapor is a product of combustion.

Send out a oil sample. If you got a bad head gasket it should show up in the oil test


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[thegipper]

A properly done leak down test is the 100% guaranteed way to know if you have a bad HG and where it failed (leak into coolant passage, leak between cylinders etc).

Dye tests, IMO, are worthless. My HG blew on cylinder #3 and I did that stupid dye test about a dozen times and it never even remotely turned yellow (yes I did it correctly and yes the fluid wasn't bad). Maybe if you have a major HG leak they work but at that point, it should be pretty obvious.

When I started to pressurize #3 cylinder, bubbles started coming out of the radiator. I wasted a bunch of time and money on all of the other tests (dye test, cooling system pressure test, compression test etc etc) when I could have known for sure in about 10 minutes doing the leak down test.

Gas that only sat for one winter shouldn't be bad and I highly doubt has anything to do with your problem.

Do the leak down test and be done with it....

I opted for swapping in a different engine since I already had a spare one in great condition. If the head isn't cracked, it can fixed but it will cost a fair amount of money and take a good amount of time.

 

[thegipper]

Oh and a PSA:

I suggest investing in something like an ultra gauge. You can set an alarm for coolant temps so if the truck ever starts getting too hot, you can shut it down before you do any damage.

It's 85 bucks well spent and they do a ton of other cool things too.

The stock temp gauge on these trucks is essentially worthless. By the time the needle moves, it's pretty much too late. The 5VZFE is super sensitive to being overheated.

 

[judoant]

Any follow up to this?
If it didn't follow the coil pack, sounds like it's specific to that cylinder. 205 is a good number, so did you try a new injector?
The reservoir may be a bit lower simply due to the coolant in the engine being too low originally, and now it's evened out. Check from that level now.

I replaced the fuel injector and it resolved the issue. It has been over a month and no issues.