[Cary]

The van has been sitting in the garage for a while, I don’t want to work in a cold garage. Weather is good now and I just did some more test. The leak down tester from Harbor Freight is not so good however it may still mean something. So when I apply compressed air into the cylinder I got the following. It is really strange and I can not understand at all. So I am hoping someone from here can show some light.

1. Apply compressed air to cylinder 2, air escapes from cylinder 6 and the dip stick hole.
2. Apply compressed air to cylinder 4, air escapes from cylinder 2 and the dip stick hole.
3. Apply compressed air to cylinder 6, air escapes from cylinder 4 and the dip stick hole.
4. Apply compressed air to cylinder 1, air escapes from cylinder 5 and the dip stick hole.
5. Apply compressed air to cylinder 3, air escapes from cylinder 1, (not from dip stick hole).
6. Apply compressed air to cylinder 5, air escapes from cylinder 3 and the dip stick hole.

Each cylinder is at the TDC when testing it. Cracked head gasket? then why air would escape from c2 to c6, c6 to c4 but not c6 to c2? Cracked block? The coolant is very clean, no oil in it. It doesn’t lose any coolant either. No over heating so far. Leaking from oil dip stick hole indicates bad ring. Even c2 and c4 had air escape from the dip stick hole although their compression test is 192 and 188.

Any clue? Thanks in advance…

[Cary]

Thanks Karl.

Cary

[Cary]

Thanks Karl and Eric.

For replacing the engine what figure of cost (an estimate of engine and labor) are we looking for?

Cary

[Cary]

Thanks again Karl,

I will re-test the compression and perform a leak down test. I will update with new numbers. BTW, I understand I need to turn the piston to TDC to do the leak down, is inserting a screwdriver in the spark plug hole the best method? I would like to be sure to get the TDC.

Cary

[Cary]

Thanks Karl,

I had opened the front valve cover at least twice but not the rear one. I am attaching pictures of under the front valve cover. I would say the engine is slightly sludged.. We have been driving the van for years and never feel it is lack of power. It runs great even compare to a 2014 Sienna without big difference. Should we feel a big power loss if the compression test result like that? I have been changing oil every 3K miles, dino oil because it burns synthetic even worse. How come the problem happened so sudden while the cylinder leaking (Low compression) should be a long time careless result.

I will do the compression test one more time and perform a leak down test.

Thanks,
Cary

Attachments:

• valve_cover.jpg
• valve01.jpg
• valve02.jpg
• valve03.jpg

[Cary]

Koinonia,

Thanks for the reply. I did checked the coolant level and it is fine. Doesn’t look like any coolant missing and the coolant is near the “max” line of the tank.

Thanks,
Cary

[Author]

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