Yes the compression can be going to another cylinder or to the oil passage, the best way to determine a bad head gasket is to do a compression test and a leak down test, it can cost you a bit of money to buy the test equipment but will be a lot cheaper then paying for the head gasket to be replaced,
to do a compression check take out all of the spark plugs, take off the radiator cap, and pull the fuse for the fuel pump then place the compression gauge in the first spark plug hole, it is best to use the threaded adapter then it is to use the rubber type, crank the engine over for a few seconds then write down the pressure reading, repeat on all cylinders, if you have even numbers then I would look else where for the problem but if you have one or more low numbers then I would do a leak down test,
for a leak down test you will need a compressor and the leak down test unit, as you are doing the leak down test on the low cylinders listen for air escaping out of the radiator cap, out of a different spark plug hole, or into the oil fill cap, if you hear the air in the radiator or another spark plug hole then it is positive that you have a blown head gasket, if it is coming out of the oil fill cap then it is either the headgasket or the rings,
also if the air is escaping through the intake or the exhaust then it means you have a damaged valve
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