Rings or Headgasket?

[xi Talon ix]

Well let me just start by saying that I already did a search and couldn't find anything closely realated to my problem. I was driving my car one day and I looked down at my temp. guage and it was up really high. I pulled over and checked everything out and it seemed fine. So, I continued home because it was only another mile away. I got the car home and went to the auto parts store and picked up a new thermostat. Put that in and it still overheated. So I drained the system and burped it as I filled it up again. No clogs or air in the system. But on my way back home the turbo seals went and the car died. I got it back home and ordered a new Evo 3 16G and installed it the following day. The car isnt overheating anymore but the 16G doesn't pull near as hard as the 14b even was. I got the comression tester out and the numbers were horribly low: 90-60-46-41 The test was done when it was cold but I know that they shouldn't be that low anyway. My question is, is it my headgasket, valve seals or piston rings? I was told if it was valve seals then the guage on the compression tester would go down slowly. I'm stuck here so any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[Boost92awd]

Are you going through any coolant? Is there any smoke coming from the exhaust pipe? Have you checked your oil to see if theres coolant in it? I would suggest doing a leakdown test to narrow down your problem.

 

[xi Talon ix]

yea its goin through coolant like mad and its smoking white out the exhaust and under the hook. there is not coolant in the oil thought thats why im confused.

 

[Smokin80]

sounds like a head gasket to me...

Do a leak down test

 

[xi Talon ix]

well i just got the head off and the HG blew in three different spots.

 

[bobby180360]

have you replaced the head gasket before? If so which one did you buy?

 

[xi Talon ix]

i replaced one on my old car and i used a Fel Pro. im still reading about which one to pick for my goals/setup. i have a toss-up between a Fel Pro or a Mitsu. MLS? im also going to be picking up some ARP head studs but any help with the gasket picking would be great.

 

[bobby180360]

i was reading some of the forums on this a lot of ppl like the stock mit. they say good up to 30psi don't quote me on this but search the forums i think it was only like a mouth ago.