If you aren't getting the timing correct you can have the symptoms you
are describing. If the valves aren't closing at the right times you
will have little or no compression and it will backfire out the throttle
body.

The oil drip can happen when you are removing the head and doesn't
always mean a blown gasket.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Dave Skirrow wrote:
>
> Hopefully someone can help me with this. I have a '97 Fiat Punto. A
> couple of weeks back the end of one of the spark plugs dropped off into
> the cylinder.
>
> I removed the head, cleaned it all up, got rid of the bits of plug,
> checked for damage and refitted the head with a new gasket.
>
> A compression test showed that there was not very much compression in a
> couple of the cylinders and further testing showed that the compression
> in all cylinders was all over the place. I removed the head again and
> oil had made its way from the oil galleys and seeped out into the
> cylinder. I assume thats where the air was leaking out too - through the
> head gasket.
>
> So I got another gasket, a proper angle gauge (I guessed the angles
> before when I tightened the head bolts) I cleaned everything up a little
> more than before, oiled the head nuts more, and reassembled. Compression
> was even worse this time. If I try to start the car it turns over but
> misfires through the throttle body (sign of a blown head gasket?) I
> assume that the gasket has blown/not sealed properly.
>
> Can anyone give me an idea of what might be causing the gasket to not
> seal properly.
>
> Only things I can think of a
>
> I've not cleaned the mating surfaces properly
> I've not tightened to the correct torque for some reason
> The head is not perfectly straight.
>
> Are there ANY other factors at all that could cause a newly fitted head
> to not seal properly?
>
> I assume that if I can see where the oil has made its way through the
> gasket that means that the gasket isn't sealed correctly? Theres nothing
> else that would cause oil to make its way into the cylinder?
>
> I'm at my wits end with this damn thing.
>
> Cheers,
> Dave