Dodge 3.9 V6 cylinder problem

[Whimsey]

Though I buy my vehicles new, I'm a cheap son of a gun

. I spend the money on maintenance gladly. I hold onto my vehicles for 10+++ years. My 1996 Ford Contour ordered in Sept 1995 and picked up in Dec 1995 is still running great and looks great. The last maintenance go around I spent probably 85% of what the used car value is worth. It's used market $ value is not much. BUT it's still a lot cheaper to keep a great running and rust free vehicle in the salt laden Northeast. Besides, I really enjoy driving the car

.

Whimsey

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: JTK
..and then find out if was valve seating issue with #1. That would be a be-ot-ch.

Joel


Can't a leak down test determine whether it is the valve or the ring/block?

 

[artificialist]

Originally Posted By: PandaBear
Originally Posted By: JTK
..and then find out if was valve seating issue with #1. That would be a be-ot-ch.

Joel


Can't a leak down test determine whether it is the valve or the ring/block?

As I remember being told, if you spray oil in the cyclinder and do a leak down test, and the results improve, it means the piston rings are not sealing. If the results don't improve, the failure is somewhere else.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: PandaBear
Can't a leak down test determine whether it is the valve or the ring/block?


Nope, a leak down won't differentiate. You can try a shot of oil like artificialist suggests or do like mechtech2 said: At TDC of the compression stroke, you can squirt compressed air in the cyl and see if you hear any noise from the intake or the exhaust.

Joel