How To Test For A Blown Head Gasket (2.5L V6 Stratus/Cirrus)

TEST 3: Engine Compression Test

Every now and then, the head gasket gets burned between two side-by-side cylinders.

This is rare, but when it does happen, you'll have two dead cylinders (with 0 PSI) that will light up the check engine light with misfire trouble codes.

So, if the engine in your 2.5L V6 Dodge Stratus (2.5L V6 Chrysler Cirrus) runs smoothly (in other words, without a misfire and without misfire codes), then you can skip this test section.

These are the test steps:

1. 1

   Remove all 6 spark plugs.
   
   Label all of the spark plug wires so that you won't lose their firing order.

2. 2

   Thread in the compression tester by hand, on the first spark plug hole you're gonna' start with.
   
   Do not use any tools to tighten the compression tester. Hand tightening the compression tester is more than enough to get the proper results.

3. 3

   Have a helper crank the engine. Your job is to keep your eyeballs on the compression tester. The needle will climb, as the engine cranks, till it reaches the maximum cylinder compression. At the point it stops climbing, have your helper stop cranking the engine.
   
   On a piece of paper, write down the reading and what cylinder it belongs to (you can use the image in the image viewer to help you identify the cylinder). Repeat the above steps in the remaining cylinders.

Let's analyze your test results:

CASE 1: All 6 cylinders reported compression. These compression gauge readings confirm that the head gasket is OK and not burned at a point between two cylinders.

CASE 2: Two side by side cylinders had 0 PSI compression. This engine compression reading confirms that the head gasket is burned thru' at the point between those two cylinders. You will need to replace the head gasket.