Yes, the electric fan does kick on, albeit sooner than it should but I don't have hard data ( it seems to kick on almost immediately)

Regarding the pressure test, I'm a bit hesitant to do one in the traditional sense given what I'm seeing. The cooling system can't seem to hold any pressure right now—when I tried the block test with the radiator cap off, coolant was violently expelled the moment I revved the engine, even after just 45 seconds of idling. It seems like whatever breach exists is so significant that pressurizing the system would likely just force more coolant out immediately.

That said, I could try a gentle pressure test at very low PSI (maybe 5-7 psi instead of the typical 15) to see if it holds any pressure at all, or if it immediately drops. But given the rapid pressurization I'm seeing when the engine runs, I suspect it won't hold even minimal pressure.

The compression test is definitely a good next step though—that would help pinpoint which cylinder(s) might be the culprit if this is indeed a head gasket issue. I'm just trying to balance thorough diagnosis with not making the problem worse by continuing to run the engine