the valve spring has a cap on top of it that the valve keepers slip into and it holds the valve into the spring.. if the cap broke like that it would have probably caused the keepers to fall out too and the valve would have fallen into the engine now if the cap only broke part way it might be still holding the valve just barely... which would be a dangerous situation in the future when it finally does go... (valve dropping into cylinder and hitting piston at speed).

If it is the valve spring cap then you could compress that cylinder with air and you could actually remove the keeper and cap and replace with a new one without taking the head off... but the cylinder needs to be pretty tight to hold the air cause if it doesn't hold the valve will drop and you will have to pull the head then...

This is all from a perspective of a gas engine repair... pretty sure it will work on a diesel as well...

 

this is a valve spring retainer (cap) off a jeep... but same looking thing for a diesel... just stronger and bigger I'm sure...

 

well.............. Hope this is my compression issue on number 4. , what do you guys think, sure would be nice considering I have only about 30 bucks in this so far, where as a ring job would be a lil bit more,

 

well, seems this isn't my issue unfortunatly. I replaced it and still getting under 300 psi on number 4.. right when I thought I had her licked.

 

That was on your low piston? Everything else looked ok?

Might be time to pull the head as much as that sucks...

 

yeah, could only get about 250 on the gauge but was doing it cold too. Everything else looked ok to me , but that it not saying too much considering I am no engine man by no means. I did a leak down test with the 4 cylinder up to top and wouldn't you hear air out the pipe or out the oil fill if the rings were leaking. I couldn't really hear air from any where except right where I was plugged up to the gp hole. Also no bubbles in the coolant. Man I am so damn upset that the valve seal wasn't the culprit......

 

Well if the valve seal was broken, then the valve guide and or valves could have issues... A head job is not that expensive... Not fun, but that might be your issue.

 

yeah, I am too the point where I am just fet up with it and may just break down and take it to someone. Gonna have to drive it like it is for a bit though due to being poor for the time being and another lil one on the way. Just sucks cause it fired right up after sitting for like 3 days and runs really strong, but just puffs this damn blueish gray smoke on light acceleration and take offs.

 

sorry about your truck

I am doing a compression test in the coming days myself ....not looking forward to it~!