I havn't done a compression test yet but I plan to next weekend. There is no sign of coolant in the oil or oil in the coolant. I found that the # 7 & 8 cylinders aren't firing by pulling the plug wires off one at a time wile the engine is running (be sure to wear thick gloves, it can be a shocking experence if you don't). If the sound of the engine changed I knew it was firing, if the sound didn't change I knew it wasn't. I did pull the plugs, they were dirty and wet. Also while I had them out I connected the wire to the plug and turned it over, they did spark. I ran the engine for a few minutes after I sent the last message and the # 7 & 8 cylinders hit 10 or 15 times a minute when ideling at about 900 rpm. When I rev it up it drops them. Justin ----- Original Message ----- From: <RandalPark@xxxxxxx> To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Sunday, August 22, 2004 8:53 PM Subject: Re: IML: engine troubles > Have you done a compression test? > > Also, what test are you doing to determine that numbers 7 & 8 are dead? How do you know that they are getting spark? Have you taken the plugs out and seen that they have been firing? If they still look brand spanking new, they haven't fired. If they are firing, then there could be a valve problem, piston problem, cracked casting, or broken head gasket. These would show up as very low or no compression on those cylinders. > > If there is a cracked head or cylinder block, you may see bubbles and/or oil in the radiator, or even a loss in coolant while the engine is running. There could also be coolant in the crank case. A blown head gasket could also cause these things. > > Broken pistons and burned valves have other unmistakable symptoms all their own. > > Paul