can a head gasket be blown without actually looking like it's blown? no breaks, burning, chunks missing, but exhaust valves on #3 and #5 are grayish/whitish, indicating a blown head gasket. what are your thoughts?

 

Did you get that valve spring compressor yet and pull those valves?
I still think maybe you have broken or weak valve springs.

 

Did you have any other signs of a blown head gasket? Are the #3 and #5 pistons and combustion chambers cleaner than the others?

 

got compressor. pulled valves. other than faces of #3 and #5 exh being whitish color, valves look great. minor carbon, cleaned them all off. as far as #3 and #5 being cleaner? nope. they have quite a bit more carbon build up then other two. put everything back together after having head checked. now dead battery, so i'll wait till morning when i can see to charge battery, run compression test.

 

you have more patience than me i would have already ran that thing off a bridge lol....If mud maniacs not right then i dont know anything else that could be wrong...Unless those were the 2 cylinders that the injector/poppet were messing up on causing the valves to discolor...idk

 

the injection unit has been replace with the new mpfi style. i did notice on the head tho that between number 3 and 5 it seemed like it was darker, burnt color, but did not see this on the gasket. oh well, we'll find out in awhile, after i get battery charged,

 

oh, and springs did check out ok. none broken or weak. i think it was just a head gasket. needed to be replaced anyway. that, and the intake had been off before. the jacknut who put new lower gaskets in forgot to make sure gasket was lined up correctly. pretty good vacuum leak on guess where? 3 and 5. so there's part of the problem, still doesn't account for lower compression in 3 tho.

 

just did compression test with new head gasket, tho motor was cold. couple questions:
1) new readings are 150 consistent on drivers bank (new gasket), other side is still 160-170. am i ok to run like this, or do i need to change passenger side as well?
2) #3 cylinder still low, 120, same as it was so it wasn't head gasket. shop told me springs and valves were good. valve seals then? not sure how that would affect compression.
3) anything else i should check or look for?

 

al i can say is watch this..skip forward til about 2:15 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1XKmaRbeHM

 

that was def good for a laugh. doesn't help the 'hoe, but made me smile. thanks hoss, needed that.