< Date: Sun, 21 Jan 2007 17:38:43 -0500 From: Ben <huotb@VIDEOTRON.CA> Subject: Re: Opinions Please Denis, i understand but what is the point? you have a problem anyway! it need to be open, there is no way out, wile there, it's nothing to take a look at the pistons or/and head. The only thing good about a leak down it to tell the customer (or friend) the approximated price of parts, even then, if it show a leak on the pistons side it doesn't tell you that the heads are worned out or close to it! the thing that people don't understand is a leak down will tell you that your +- 400$ on a 3 to 5 k job. The time to go there and open everything is practically the same. I don't even do compression check anymore, i look at the engine, drive the van, touch the engine for vibration and i know. What i'm trying to say is that with a leak down, you can only tell that the price may be bit higher.... or lower! Cheers, Ben > Ben, I have FIXED a cylinder with poor compression by just adjusting a valve! This was an older vanagon with a lifter/valve combo that just didn't like 1.5 turns in - it had 90 PSI. At .5 turns in, the compression went from 90 up to 150, within 5psi of other cylinders(these are high-altitude readings, so its even more referenced to sea level). Point is, valves totally closing should be examined before rebuilding - one may not have to even pull the head! Now, admittedly, one does not have to do a leak-down for this -- but it would have been faster and more accurate if I had done that vs. using a compression test. Rich |
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