blown head gasket??

[michaedo]

Howdy folks,
Is it possible to blow a head gasket without any intermixing of fluids?
Compression test shows 1, 3, & 4 @ 220psi, and 2 @ 200.
Doing a leakdown test has
#2 leaking air into #1. (Applying air pressure to #2 and I can
feel air coming out of #1's spark plug hole.
But no other type of leakage is noted, just between the two cylinders.
Oh, yeah, the engine refuses to fire or even try to fire.
Thanks,
Don.

[jordan]

Absolutely, a head gasket can blow in between cylinders just through the firing rings of the head gasket leaving the water and oil gallerys isolated. Though your pressures seem quite high and a retest might be necessary.

[wrench459]

Remove all the rockers then retest the leak down.
One of my friends swaped the coil wire with number one Guess what it still ran.. ok very rough but it did run.
Tell us how your doing a leak down test .
All of my leak down tests are based on percentages.

[michaedo]

Hello Jordan,
yeah, I was rather surprised with the high readings myself and rechecked.
The gauge is brand new outta the box. Second time around was the same.

Wrench,
Didn't back off the rockers when I did the leak down, just ran each cylinder up to the point where the valves were closed for the firing stroke.
Results were:
#1 - 68%, with audible air leaking into the crankcase. It's a new engine so I figure I will get some leakage past the rings.
#2 - 100%, leakage mostly into #1 some into #3.
#3 - 75%, into crankcase
#4 - 38%, into crankcase
Pressure used was about 50psi from the compressor.
Did it twice with the same results. Will back off the rockers
tomorrow and give it another try. Thanks for the tip.
Don.