Ken,
thanks for the information.  I'm thinking that if it is either the
intake or exhaust valves on cylinder 3, then a new head would solve
the problem.  If it is the ring, then I'll swap in another long block
from a known working (but high mileage) vehicle and then contemplate
more about the ring.

I have two known working heads in the garage and a complete engine
gasket kit in the garage.  One head has about 3,000 miles on it, the
other has maybe 30,000 miles on it.  I could swap the head on
cylinders 3 and 4 first then see if that solves the problem.  If not,
try the other side.

I don't have an air compressor to try a leak down test.  I suppose I
could buy one since I want to get one anyway.

The van actualy runs pretty good.  However, I have this fear that an
exhaust valve is going bad and is going to break one day when I am way
the heck in no-man's land.  Of course, I'm also worried that I'll
spend a weekend swapping the heads and then find out that the problem
is with the piston ring or the camshaft.

If the air compressor will save me a lot of time in diagnostics, I'm
willing to ponder purchasing one.  Maybe I can rig some type of
fitting so that a bicycle pump can fit onto the hose that came with my
compression tester?  I have a quick-release on my compression tester
hose.

Regards,
Craig

On Mon, 4 Oct 2004 14:03:17 -0400, Ken Lewis
<kdlewis_wasting_time@access4less.net> wrote:
> Crair,
>     I had an exhaust valve go slightly out of round cause this. I guess it
> was the beginning of a "burnt" valve.
>     While adding compressed air to a cylinder listen at the throttle body,
> tail pipe and oil filler to try and determine if the leak is an intake or
> exhaust valve or rings.
>
> Ken Lewis
> 86 Transporter Crew Cab
> 60 356 T-5 Porsche
> http://neksiwel.20m.com/
> Vanagon tech, pixs, O2 monitor gadget
>
>