Leak down test, Can it hurt?

[ViperJoe]

On the Gen 1 early year cars, can a leak down test exascerbate the head gaskets leaking or failure?
I know it is supposed to FIND this problem, but can it get the problem going?
Thanks for ALL the great advise and help guys, I have learned a ton from all the "masters"

 

[JonB]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by lookin4asnake:
......... can a leak down test exascerbate the head gaskets leaking or failure? I know it is supposed to FIND this problem, but can it get the problem going? ...... <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

If a head gasket were just about ready to Old Faithful on you anyway, and you pumped the cylinder up to max do a leakdown test, it IS possible theoretically. But the heated-operating motor would cause the failure pretty quick in that about-to-fail condition anyway.

A cylinder leakdown test is SUPPOSED to identify other problems, so revealing this one (ie an about-to-fail-gasket) would be OK, would it not?

Good Luck.......