Expert: jack bahm - 12/14/2010

Question
I have seemed to have lost power. Takes an effort to move forward off the line and get rolling. The sound of the motor has changed. Doesn't sound or feel like it is running on all four. Idles fine. No black or blue smoke running or idling. Hasn't been overheating. No loose metal sound in the engine. Seems to require more water lately. I have been putting about a half gallon of water in the radiator for each 45 minute local street trip the past 45 days (cool weather now). I pulled the plugs. No carbon build up, light grey color on electrode. Looked down the plug hole. Numbers 4, 3, & 2 look clean inside. Number 1 had a "stain" inside it. I put my little finger down inside and touched the bottom. Residue on my finger had no gas odor or oil feeling. Appears to be water. Is this first sign that my head gasket gave away around the number 1 water jacket? No appearance of water on the dip stick. What are some tests you recommend to isolate this and to to get started on the road to repair? Thank you. Dave

Answer
That's a tough one.  The water is going somewhere.  Try torquing down the head.  If you find a low reading, that is a pretty good indicator of water leaking into number one cyl.  Worn points, dirty points, might cause the low power.  Look at them and if pitted or dirty, try a new set.  Pulling the head is a big deal.  If water is getting there, you should be getting some white smoke out the exhaust.  Exhaust gases may be getting into the water jacket, pushing the water out the rad.  This happens a lot.  Check the compression on the cylinders.  That may give you an indication.  You should be able to borrow a compression gage from someone.  Fill the rad and run the engine at high rpm and watch for bubbles in the rad neck.  This is not easy to do.  Bubbles are hard to see.  
If all this fails, then pull the head and take your time.  Don't damage the gasket in the area of the no. one cyl.  Look at some of my old answers to see what I recommend on head removal.
Good luck and let me know what you find.
jack