Title pretty much says it all. I am just curious as to what the difference in symptoms would be for a blown head gasket and for a crack in the block. It is a 2.8

they are very similar. Odds are if there is water in the oil or oil in the water, its a block. Loss of compression, white smoke, clean spark plugs. Head gasket. I had almost forgotten about that one in your previous topic about this. If you pull a spark plug out and the porcelin is bright white, it is being sprayed with water and you found the bad cylinder. Check your plugs first.

That is a great suggestion! I never would have thought of that one! + for you!

quote Originally posted by fieroluv: they are very similar. Odds are if there is water in the oil or oil in the water, its a block. Loss of compression, white smoke, clean spark plugs. Head gasket. I had almost forgotten about that one in your previous topic about this. If you pull a spark plug out and the porcelin is bright white, it is being sprayed with water and you found the bad cylinder. Check your plugs first.

Remember that if the head gasket is blown internally(between the waterjacket and the cylinder) it will force water into the cylinder and on the compession stroke it can blow by the rings into the oilpan. The oil on the dipstick can look milky if that occurs. If it blows externally ( from the cylinder to the outside of the engine) you should be able to hear it or it wont take long to. Had this happen twice on my Geo Storm. (internally)
Hope this helps also.

Steve