Date:         Fri, 19 Sep 2003 13:11:52 -0300
Reply-To:     Various <AllStuff@HANS-WILLY.MYIP.ORG>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Various <AllStuff@HANS-WILLY.MYIP.ORG>
Subject:      COMPRESSION {#~<©>~#} Why so 
              low?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Volks,

I bought a project vehicle with a "blown motor".  So I says to myself,
"self, I might be able to revive it", seeing as it was turning over pretty
good, and there were some obvious signs of (amongst others) EFI neglect.

I fixed all the loose/corroded wiring, all electrical tests in Bently ok,
but no start.  Good spark and fuel.

Checked the fuel pressure, right on specs.

So I check the Compression, ugh!, low, low, low

1 = 60
2 = 90
3 = 60
4 = 0

So this is it:  what else could be the sourse of low low compression, beyond

1.      valves cooked, worn
2.      valve seats worn, split
3.      piston rings worn
4.      head gasket leak

I ask this because the archives has one posting suggesting (without
expanding on this) that there could be multiple reasons for low compression
beyond the obvious, including (and I don't really understand this) an oil
pressure relief valve stuck closed , which somehow would pump the hydraulic
lifters so much that you would have the valves stay open all the time...?

Is this possible?  If so, what would one do to ascertain it is the problem
and fix it?

Anything else I should check before removing the heads etc?

Thanks for all suggestions

Fred, aka Bleu Schtroumpf