Date:         Wed, 4 Jun 2003 14:13:32 -0400
Reply-To:     Matt Sutton <msutts@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Matt Sutton <msutts@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Interpretting Compression Values- 88GL?
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Hi Folks,
    Did a compression check today, and need some help finding what these
numbers really mean.  Here's the results:
Cylinder #1: 125-130 psi (9 bar)
         #2: 145 psi (10 bar)
         #3: 140 psi (almost 10 bar)
         #4: 145 psi (10 bar)
 Test done per Bentley, car fully warmed up, accelerator floored. Test tool
was a universal compression tester from NAPA (not easy to use, but
re-checked results for cylinder #1 a couple times.) Cranking/rise times
pretty even.
    Other info: 88GL(manufactured 87), 116k on engine. Exhaust/cat
non-stock, and in poor shape (see later note). There were some long standing
FI problems, now fixed. 950 miles since last oil change(10w40), very little
to no oil consumption (have topped off once), and the oil itself looks
pretty clean. Plugs look similar, no fouling. 22.5 mpg on last long trip,
though this is mostly an urban daily driver (Brooklyn NY).
    I'm shopping for a new exhaust system, and did the comp. test to figure
if I'd be throwing away resources on a not-long-to-live engine. Right now
I'm pleasantly surprised by cylinders #2-4, concerned by the unevenness of
#1. How bad is this? What causes and cures? Which hole do I stuff money
into?
TIA
-Matt Sutton