coolant and funny noises?

[syn-]

So, I have had my ohv for about a year now. Replacing as it breaks, though it seems that I am plagued by coolant missing problems. My resevoir always seems to be empty takes about a month or so to happen, but keeps happening. I thought it was my radiator cap, because I would hear the resevoir bubbling after I shut the truck off. Replaced the cap (had a release valve cap) and the hissing near the cap seems to have calmed down. Now I did replace the water pump and thermostat (put a 180 in since its florida), one of the bolts didn't tighten (actually looking to replace to rule out). What I find odd, is if I let the truck sit for 2 or more days (cold weather seems to make it worse) it needs help to get started (starts to putt a bit). Now till it warms up (say about 2hrs of driving) I get a misfire feel in the higher gears(around 50-60mph anything over 2k I feel the stutter) truck idles fine (at least that I notice). Feels like its being flooded or a cyclinder is not doing its job. When I get codes run I get a constant p0171 and p0174, and when I have let it sit I get cyclinder 5 misfire. Now if I keep driving the truck after that the stuttering doesn't return till I let it sit again. I am about to do valve covers, intake (upper and lower), fuel injector orings, and thought maybe buying a new coil pack (since plugs and wires were done less than a year ago, say 8). Some history, I blew a freeze plug twice (same one, till I put in a brass plug). Engine got hot a few other times, but there is no milky oil or heavy duty signs of a bad head gasket. Any and all help is greatly appreciated. Also have some metal to metal sounding noise going on in the front end when I go over bumps, I know I am missing the lower rubber bushing on before the control arm. New sway bar links.

 

[borenshoratius]

still sounds like a head gasket it always dosenst have to be milky on the stick do a compression test and that should tell u where u are at

 

[syn-]

What type of compression should I be looking @ on a 96? And its not possible to be a the coilpack, because it goes away. Correct?

 

[syn-]

Let the truck sit for 2 days, did not do it this time. No stutter, no rough idle, actually ran pretty well. Going to do the compression check this week, anyone care to let me know what my compression should be at?

 

[firepop5]

Actual value is not that important. All cylinders should be about the same or within 5-10 PSI. If one cylinder is very different from the others, you probably have a problem with that cylinder. If you have a blown headgasket, you may show zero on one or 2 adjacent cylinders because the pressure will leak into the nearby cylinder.

 

[syn-]

it seems like the head gasket is where the problem is, replaced the heater control valve (it was leaking and pretty much broke in my hands). noticed there is about a good inch if not a little more missing from the reservoir tank and I put some in it after I finished the hcv. Its also is happening overnight, my guess during the cool down. No puddles, just a loss.