I have a 8 cylinder 350 (I think GM..it's in a boat)

Engine back fires and sputters. Engine does not leak oil that I know of.
(or at least not very much)Compression test revealed 0 compression in 1
cylinder and all others were ok. Based off these symptoms, Is it likely
that I will have to do work on the engine block or will the problem be
likely in the Head (gaskets or other)

Head. Gasket or valve.

"nate" wrote in message
. ..
I have a 8 cylinder 350 (I think GM..it's in a boat)

Engine back fires and sputters. Engine does not leak oil that I know of.
(or at least not very much)Compression test revealed 0 compression in 1
cylinder and all others were ok. Based off these symptoms, Is it likely
that I will have to do work on the engine block or will the problem be
likely in the Head (gaskets or other)

Bill,

You the man! ...So you don't think I'll have to tear it completely down /
take the engine out?

Nate


"Bill McKee" wrote in message
link.net...
Head. Gasket or valve.

"nate" wrote in message
. ..
I have a 8 cylinder 350 (I think GM..it's in a boat)

Engine back fires and sputters. Engine does not leak oil that I know of.
(or at least not very much)Compression test revealed 0 compression in 1
cylinder and all others were ok. Based off these symptoms, Is it likely
that I will have to do work on the engine block or will the problem be
likely in the Head (gaskets or other)

Pull the head in the boat and check it out first. Then you may have a real
problem if the head or valve is not bad.
Bill

"nate" wrote in message
. ..
Bill,

You the man! ...So you don't think I'll have to tear it completely down
/ take the engine out?

Nate


"Bill McKee" wrote in message
link.net...
Head. Gasket or valve.

"nate" wrote in message
. ..
I have a 8 cylinder 350 (I think GM..it's in a boat)

Engine back fires and sputters. Engine does not leak oil that I know
of.
(or at least not very much)Compression test revealed 0 compression in 1
cylinder and all others were ok. Based off these symptoms, Is it likely
that I will have to do work on the engine block or will the problem be
likely in the Head (gaskets or other)

Bill,

You the man! ...So you don't think I'll have to tear it completely down /
take the engine out?

Nate


"Bill McKee" wrote in message
link.net...
Head. Gasket or valve.

"nate" wrote in message
. ..
I have a 8 cylinder 350 (I think GM..it's in a boat)

Engine back fires and sputters. Engine does not leak oil that I know of.
(or at least not very much)Compression test revealed 0 compression in 1
cylinder and all others were ok. Based off these symptoms, Is it likely
that I will have to do work on the engine block or will the problem be
likely in the Head (gaskets or other)

Bill McKee wrote:
Head. Gasket or valve.

"nate" wrote in message
. ..
I have a 8 cylinder 350 (I think GM..it's in a boat)

Engine back fires and sputters. Engine does not leak oil that I know of.
(or at least not very much)Compression test revealed 0 compression in 1
cylinder and all others were ok. Based off these symptoms, Is it likely
that I will have to do work on the engine block or will the problem be
likely in the Head (gaskets or other)


Why? It could very well be a hole burnt in a piston, or a valve broke
off and pounded a hole in the piston. Usually if it's the head gasket,
you'll show a little compression, but will leak down easily. Same with
a burnt exhaust valve.

wrote in message
oups.com...


Bill McKee wrote:
Head. Gasket or valve.

"nate" wrote in message
. ..
I have a 8 cylinder 350 (I think GM..it's in a boat)

Engine back fires and sputters. Engine does not leak oil that I know
of.
(or at least not very much)Compression test revealed 0 compression in 1
cylinder and all others were ok. Based off these symptoms, Is it
likely
that I will have to do work on the engine block or will the problem be
likely in the Head (gaskets or other)


Why? It could very well be a hole burnt in a piston, or a valve broke
off and pounded a hole in the piston. Usually if it's the head gasket,
you'll show a little compression, but will leak down easily. Same with
a burnt exhaust valve.


When the valve breaks off there is not a little hole in the piston.
Normally the piston splits and the rod breaks. And the cylinder can crack
also. Makes a little tapping sound before a single big bang sound. Been
there, done that. Pistons rarely have a hole burned through them, unless
you are running really hard and lean. Then you see aluminum on the
sparkplug when you pull the plug. And depending on the size of the head
gasket hole, and the speed of the engine turning, you get so little
compression, it will not register on the gauge. Takes a couple of PSI to
move the gauge. You have to overcome the Schrader valve spring in the
tester. Same for a burned valve. And if the rocker for the intake is
broken, you also get a zero to very low reading on the compression gauge.

Bill McKee wrote:

When the valve breaks off there is not a little hole in the piston.
Normally the piston splits and the rod breaks. And the cylinder can crack
also. Makes a little tapping sound before a single big bang sound. Been
there, done that.


Pistons rarely have a hole burned through them, unless
you are running really hard and lean. Then you see aluminum on the
sparkplug when you pull the plug. And depending on the size of the head
gasket hole, and the speed of the engine turning, you get so little
compression, it will not register on the gauge. Takes a couple of PSI to
move the gauge. You have to overcome the Schrader valve spring in the
tester. Same for a burned valve. And if the rocker for the intake is
broken, you also get a zero to very low reading on the compression gauge.

I've changed Several head gaskets that showed SOME compression on the
gauge. I've never, ever seen a head gasket that would blow a chunk of
it out that it wouldn't read anything, seeing how the valve in the
tester keeps the pressure reading. Same with an burned exhaust valve.
The thing being, in your reply, you acted definitive. You could VERY
EASILY be wrong.

wrote in message
oups.com...


Bill McKee wrote:

When the valve breaks off there is not a little hole in the piston.
Normally the piston splits and the rod breaks. And the cylinder can
crack
also. Makes a little tapping sound before a single big bang sound. Been
there, done that.


Pistons rarely have a hole burned through them, unless
you are running really hard and lean. Then you see aluminum on the
sparkplug when you pull the plug. And depending on the size of the head
gasket hole, and the speed of the engine turning, you get so little
compression, it will not register on the gauge. Takes a couple of PSI to
move the gauge. You have to overcome the Schrader valve spring in the
tester. Same for a burned valve. And if the rocker for the intake is
broken, you also get a zero to very low reading on the compression gauge.

I've changed Several head gaskets that showed SOME compression on the
gauge. I've never, ever seen a head gasket that would blow a chunk of
it out that it wouldn't read anything, seeing how the valve in the
tester keeps the pressure reading. Same with an burned exhaust valve.
The thing being, in your reply, you acted definitive. You could VERY
EASILY be wrong.


I could be wrong about what is wrong, but I have seen several head gaskets
without compression. And my daughters Explorer broke the intake rocker and
zero compression reading.

Squirt about 1oz of 30 to 50 wt oil in that cylinder, enough to wet the
entire circumference and check compression again. If there's no change it
should be a valve or gasket. If the compression jumps up it may be a
piston/ring which means you need to go into the block. The only other
possibility is that a hole in the piston is large enough that the oil won't
seal. In that case you might be able to see it with an inspection mirror
and a small flashlight through the spark plug hole.
LD

"nate" wrote in message
. ..
I have a 8 cylinder 350 (I think GM..it's in a boat)

Engine back fires and sputters. Engine does not leak oil that I know of.
(or at least not very much)Compression test revealed 0 compression in 1
cylinder and all others were ok. Based off these symptoms, Is it likely
that I will have to do work on the engine block or will the problem be
likely in the Head (gaskets or other)