I know I've said that I'll knock out a compression test to compare each cylinder with each other, and I will. I work night shift, so when I come home I'll either tinker with the truck a little or go straight to sleep. And as of right now with the season that it is, I wake up to darkness so this compression check is going to be a weekend ordeal. I'm still waiting for this software and obd2 cable that I order Monday.

As of today, I when out got me a gas can with gas to put into the truck, since it was about empty, along with MAF, throttle body, and brake cleaner. I did a vacuum leak and came up with nothing other than what I saw before with my brake booster. What happens when I remove the vacuum line from the vacuum pump on the brake booster the rpms will increase and smooth out. I'm unsure of what causes this and I'm positive that finding out will only help me diagnose what could be the issue.

Here's the video that I took AFTER the vacuum leak check (I sprayed along the intake manifold where it mates to the heads, the individual connection points on top the manifold and all the pcv system that i could get to).

EDIT: I don't know if this is any help or not but on the first crank up and run of the motor I had the CEL flashing, on the second crank up (the recorded run) I wasn't getting any CEL on the dash.

 

Compression check complete! And, it doesn't look good.

#1-140 dry and compression increased when I added oil. So I'm thinking possible worn piston rings

#2-0 dry and wet. So I'm thinking a burnt valve with this one.

All other cylinders were 165 plus/minus 5.

 

Yikes...valve or piston rings...

time to pull the head and take a look

 

How much of a pain is it to get the rear exhaust manifold bolts out? Any special technique or tools used? Other than those few bolts, what else is a huge problem causer when removing the intake manifold and heads?

 

The driver side exhaust bolt may be easier from the bottom, but thats about it.

 

Broken valve spring.... Just think I could have fixed this weeks ago if I didn't go for the driver side head. Hahaha

Oh well, you live and you learn.