Date:         Tue, 22 Jun 2004 08:12:53 -0700
Reply-To:     gary hradek <hradek@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         gary hradek <hradek@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      compression test
Comments: cc: azsun99@EARTHLINK.NET
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Jerry,
      Some might say your values are on the low side.
It is a mixed blessing.   I think when your
compression is too high it puts you more at risk of a
head leak into the coolant.   The very first sign that
you are borderline low is you will find that when
going up long hills your temperature gauge goes up,
later you may find overheating on long hills in hot
weather.   In the mountains you will find that you
have no power from a dead stop.  You can live with all
of this you just have to be prepared to change your
plans when driving as the conditions demand.   I would
give no consideration to rebuilding until opportunity
demands it.  hope this helps, gary
Date:    Mon, 21 Jun 2004 22:27:41 -0700
From:    Gerald Masar <azsun99@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: compression test

Vanagoners,
This weekend, I did a compression check on my '90
Westy with 162K
miles.
Usual procedure, remove all plugs, ground HT lead from
coil, block
throttle open,
remove FI relay and the item I am uncertain about,
engine at operating
temperature.
Bentley, p. 15.20, says oil temp. min. 30?C (86?F).
Here in this part
of Arizona (not
even PHX),
the temperature is well above that before noon and
hotter in the garage
where the van
was sitting.
Anyway, here are the results at ambient temp.: #1=130,
#2=120, #3=120,
#4=130.
Ran the test again the next day after a run up to
Sedona and back, and
waited for the
engine to cool down a little so I could get the plugs
out and not burn
myself.
Results: 125, 125, 125, 140 (in same order as above).
I understand a compression test is inconclusive
without a leak-down
test, and I am not
having any problems with the engine (other than normal
for it's
mileage), but would
anyone care to comment on these results, and how hot
should the engine
be for the
test?

Thanks,
Jerry




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