So im losing oil. I have a small leak somewhere that I thought was the head gasket due to some oil near the head bolt on one side. Decided to test the adjacent cylinder before pulling heads.

In walks a buddy with his leakdown tester

Out walks the air through the valve cover and oil filler.

Buddy says, you have bad rings or walls. If it was head gasket you would have cloudy coolant.

So heres my question. Based on the distribution of the oil galleries vs. coolant galleries. Which my reading here has led me to believe do not run through the block and heads in proximity; is it possible hes incorrect and the head gasket is simply compromised in the area where the cylinder is in proximity to an oil gallery. This seems like it would coincide with my perceived location for leaking oil as well. Or is it a done deal on the cylinder wall/ring diagnosis.

Obviously I'm pulling the heads at this point. Just trying to decide how deep I should be prepared to go.

Other than that. The truck runs great. No codes, no misfires. Just a little oil leak and the results of the test.

 

What about leaking valve seals?

 

Lisa, that was my first thought. But then we could hear it in the dipstick as well. So its definitely getting through to the crank case.

 

based on information given,you have both.

Valve seals would blow back out through the intake or the exhaust. If you hear it though the dipstick, then he is correct. Either rings or scored walls.
You might be blowing blue smoke on hard acceleration.

You also have a external oil leak.

 

No smoke. So theres that.... lol. not that it changes anything.

 

I was burning 1/2 quart of oil per gas up. Rebuilding revealed oil loss thru worn valve guides and worn out rings. No blue smoke ever

 

"(In walks buddy with leakdown tester,,,
Out walks air from valve cover & oil filler neck)".,,,!!
Where are you connecting the tester & putting pressure on,?

 

Do do a leakdown test you put each cyl at tdc, remove spark plug, screw tester fitting into spark plug hole and apply compressed air. The air can leak through:
Int and exh walve seats. Hear hissing in intake or exh.
Valve stem. Hear air hissing in valve covers.
Rings. Hear hissing in crankcase/oil fill tube.
I don't have the tester so I haven't done this. The gauges tell the percentage the cylinder is leaking. You do it to determine if heads or rings are the leak source, or both. It sounds like it was done on the c6linder showing an oil leak only. I imagine this takes twice as long to do than a compression test.

 

Is the hiss from the Filler spout or from the Dipstick two very different issues.

Filler spout could easily be valve seals

Dipstick is far more serious and more likely rings

You have said both you title says dipstick but your post says oil filler you need to very clear to get pointed in the right direction.

 

Its hissing from both. Yes it was only done on the one cylinder. Based on repairs required for that one result the rest didnt really matter. I was already going to have to pull the heads. Honestly At this juncture my only hope is that the walls are not damaged. Rings are not the worst news ever, but I really have no desire to pull the motor.