yeah a pressure test, you use the spark plug port with a pressure gauge and then crank it and see if the cylinder is bad or attach a air host connection to the same spot and pressurize.

No tearing into the engine at all, or I totally missed what you were trying to say, but thats what we can do to our to check for a bad head gasket or a blown ring on a piston.

EDIT: Oh ok I see what your saying, you mean by like sound or something how can you tell?