head gasket

[lm48]

I had a lower pressure reading on cylinder 3. At cold the readings were 145, 142, 125, 145. If I run the engine for 10 seconds there is a pressure building into the cooling system. No smoke at the tail. I removed the cylinder head thinking is a bad gasket and to my surprise the only visible mark is on the side facing the engine block between 3 and 4. I did a leak test on the head, upside down and using mineral spirit and they all look good. The question is “Can the gasket leak into the cooing system with out visible marks?
Thank you

[So Cal Mark]

it looks like you had some compression leakage between 2 and 3 but I don't see signs of water leaking. A good indicator of water leakage is a lack of carbon in the cylinder that's been getting water into it.
I'd check the head for flatness

[lm48]

The head was mashined 400 miles ago but not the block. I will check the block tomorrow can the block be the issue?
Thank you

[Fi8spider]

It also looks like no.3 is starting a path to no.4 too.

A few things could be the issue including as you mention, the block.
Things that immediately come to mind.

-Recheck your torque settings and torque sequence is correct.
-Torque wrench is out, have seen this only once in my life.
-Clean your head bolts and the threads in the block might need a tap put through them to clean them up.
-A drop of oil between the base of the head bolt and the face of the head washer mating with it will help things along nice and evenly as you torque down the head.

[mgbgtn]

Make sure to retorque the head after the head has had a couple of cycles of hot then cold.

[lm48]

Here are the findings: the cylinder heads perfect flat but the block has the area between the cylinders .0025 lower then sides of the block. is this acceptable?
Thank you

[BEEK]

yes , that would not cause a problem. it is interesting but not going to cause gasket sealing problems. i have (not recommended) installed fiat heads with .020 warp and had absolutly no problems

[So Cal Mark]

.020 warp? Do you mean .002?

[BEEK]

no 20 thou, ive seen it, ive done it, lasted for many miles, may still be running today. like i said was done because i had to. not because i wanted to