thook

Mmmm.....don't know about that. Quite possibly, if your oil pressure was high, sludge could've formed from the mix and plugged an oil gallery.

Can you tell where all the gasket failed? Just at the #3 cylinder? Any pics?

HelliphinoN8

I have no idea how to post the pics. The gasket was pretty crappy though. The only metal was the thin rings around the cylinders, no rings around the oil galleries. The toyota gasket I got has metal all through it, around every hole. Now I know why it was $40!

rowdy235

just one thing about blowby. There are different kind of rings on an engine. Just because you have good compression doesn't necessarily mean you're oil rings are not worn out.

HelliphinoN8

yeah, but it would still smoke right??

thook

No.....not necessarily. I can actually tell you that from experience and not just technical information.

Here's what it looks like:

I had 160psi + on every cylinder, but a terrible case of blow by. It was offensive. And.....no smoke on start up or during operation.

Here's a genuine Fel-pro headgasket:

If you look closely enough, you can see the metal around the oil and coolant passages. Not nearly $40, either. It's not entirely necessary for the metal rings to be as heavy duty around anything but the cylinders. They see a lot of heavy compression and combustion. However, if I'd had the budget, I would have gone OEM, too.

I'm inclined to believe a lot of headgasket failures may be due to insufficient and unequal clamping force. I really had to work at getting the HB threads in the block to come clean and smooth. I don't how many people or mechanics would go to that much trouble.

HelliphinoN8

I think that the gasket was a Fel-pro, because there was blue crap all over the block surface. After a google seach, I found a PCV valve called the "EN-Valve" that claims all sorts of stuff. Has anyone heard anything about this?? It sounds legit, but afterall, it's off of the net.

HelliphinoN8

En-valve?? Anyone? It sounds ok.

thook

I'd never heard of it myself. But, it looks like a good idea. If you decide on it, maybe let us know how it works. I'd be interested. Any idea how much one costs? I didn't see a price on the website.