Cylinder leak down test with the head off?
 

Anyone know who makes a tool to do a leak down test on an engine with the cylinder head off? AST made the following tool but they say it has been discontinued for a few years:
http://fototime.com/7CB97607CC9BD22/standard.jpg

The reason I need it is I took the head off a 4 cyl. car suspecting a blown head gasket and after putting it back together it still has over 80% leakage in the 2 center cylinders. After pulling the head again and taking it to a machine shop, they said the valves vacuum tested fine and the surface flatness is in spec. and for me to check rings. My third world test is to bring the pistons up to the same level in each cylinder and pour in an equal amount of transmission fluid and wait 24 hours to see how much the level drops. I'd like to do something more scientific if someone makes such a tool as AST did.

Don't know of anyone that makes such a tool, but it seems like it wouldn't be too hard to make a simple plate with a gage fitting that could be bolted to the head.

with the two center ones having problems i would suspect a warped head and leakage between them.... i would want to check the head flatness myself. just to be sure.

the two center ones leaking in the rings seems a little suspect to me.

tom w

The flatness checked out fine. Here are the results of my "leak down" tests with transmission fluid:

After 8 hours:
http://fototime.com/CB6945BE8967F10/standard.jpg

After 20 hours:
http://fototime.com/20E9E79F6B0C535/standard.jpg

Clearly showing a sealing problem in the center cylinders.

yep. clearly.

wonder why just the center?

tom w

When you say 80% leakage, 80% of what? I have never heard of that ATF test. Is that a legit test?

Mike

80% of the compressed air going into the cylinder through the leak down tester leaks out. Compared to only 15% in a good cylinder.