Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:02:53 -0700
Reply-To: David Kao <dtkao0205@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David Kao <dtkao0205@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Low compression results accurate?
In-Reply-To: <COL0-DAV3423E807FE4B02C5D4BC3FDB980@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
In my opinion, the reading needs to be above 115 PSI in all 4
cylinders. If it is true that all 4 are below 100 PSI you will
need to rebuild the engine. It is still worth some money to buy it
for rebuilding though. The question will be the price.
My tired 84 has compression about 115 - 120 PSI all 4 cylinders.
It runs well on slopes still. However, befor I rebuilt my 83.5's
engine its compression was like 105 - 115 PSI and it ran poorly.
After rebuilding and breaking in it now has 150 PSI all 4 cylinders.
It was tested cold.
David
--- On Tue, 3/17/09, Edward Duntz <eduntz@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
> From: Edward Duntz <eduntz@HOTMAIL.COM>
> Subject: Low compression results accurate?
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2009, 12:38 PM
> I went to look at a partially-disassembled Vanagon yesterday
> to use for its
> engine in my tired '85. The parts van ('90 with
> auto trans and 2.1)) had a
> lot removed, including the computer, distributor, and
> battery. I wanted to
> do a compression test on it- the starter and transmission
> were still
> connected. I hooked up jumper cables- positive on my
> battery to the big
> terminal on the parts van starter; negative on my battery
> to the
> transmission on the parts van; and a jumper wire from the
> big starter
> terminal to the spade terminal on the solenoid. Each time I
> wanted to crank
> the engine, I held the terminal onto my positive battery
> terminal.
>
> I got readings of between 80 and 90 psi on each cylinder.
> The results I got
> seemed too low to be accurate, so I was wondering if there
> was something
> else in the situation that could cause results so low.
> Obviously the engine
> had not been at operating temp before the test was done,
> but I couldn't
> control that. The starter did crank slowly, but I let it
> turn over enough
> until the gauge didn't rise any more.
>
> The owner said the engine had run fine and had power on the
> highway. I
> suppose that you can get up to highway speeds even with low
> compression,
> albeit very slowly. But would it even start and run with
> compression so low?
>
> I wanted this engine to put in my '85. I could take the
> whole van 9what's
> left of it) for a decent price and maybe part out the rest
> of it, but I
> really wanted it for the engine.
>
> Thanks for any advice,
> Ed in CT
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