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Well, after re-reading the compression test guidelines over at VClassics, I didn't really do this correctly. I removed each plug individually, hooked up the compression tester and started the engine, let it idle a few seconds and shut it down. I'm not sure what difference this makes to the overall results, but I'm not going to go re-test it right now.
Cyl PSI PSI w/ Oil Squirt
#1 135 135
#2 135 139
#3 130 140
#4 140 140
I bought the car with the expectation that I'd need to rebuild the engine. This engine has been rebuilt at least once before. The car tends to lose a quart of oil every 200 or so miles. Unless I'm monkeying around with the carbs, or if it has not been started for many days, it never belches black smoke.
There also seems to be a fair amount of oil residue around all the engine seals, so I've been wondering if a rebuild was really needed. The compression results are better than I expect, but still a little low. Overall, I am wondering if I just need to replace the gaskets and seals.
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1967 P220 Amazon, 1972 145S, 1976 245 DL, 1983 245 DL, 1986 745 GLE, 1990 745 GL, 1995 945....
You mean to tell me that Volvo makes cars that are *NOT* Wagons?!?
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That compression test indicates a perfectly nice engine that does not need a rebuild.
It does sound like it needs seals here and there, though...
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Thanks Phil, good news! (Hopefully others concur)
I have a complete (mostly) second B18 engine that I've been slowly accumulating parts for a rebuild. I was never really planning on rebuilding the engine that's in there now, but instead rebuilding the "spare" and dropping it in when necessary.
I do have a complete gasket kit, which I was saving for the #2 rebuild, but maybe I ought to use it on the installed motor.
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1967 P220 Amazon, 1972 145S, 1976 245 DL, 1983 245 DL, 1986 745 GLE, 1990 745 GL, 1995 945....
You mean to tell me that Volvo makes cars that are *NOT* Wagons?!?
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Phil has it right--clean the engine really well and find where the problem is. Replacing all the gaskets would be time-consuming when you might only need one or two! Check also around the oil pressure sending unit, etc.--sometimes oil can slip out of unexpected places.
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Tim--'72 ES, '90 240
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I didn't think to look there. Unless I've just cleaned it, The motor usually has some oily gunk on it.
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1967 P220 Amazon, 1972 145S, 1976 245 DL, 1983 245 DL, 1986 745 GLE, 1990 745 GL, 1995 945....
You mean to tell me that Volvo makes cars that are *NOT* Wagons?!?
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Thing is, compression test numbers aren't accurate at all in the sense that they tell you what the compression ratio is. All that's important is that you get similar readings on all the cylinders, and those numbers are pretty even.
You might want to give the engine a good scrubbing -- it's a lot easier to see what's leaking on a clean motor. If you're going through oil that fast, my bet would be on the rear mainseal.
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This car has the IPD updated front and rear seals. It also has IPD swaybars, magnetic oilplug, a IPD valve cover, and a few other "goodies."
I've degreased the engine several times over the summer. The gunk seems to build up pretty fast with highway driving, but I'm not getting any "blow-back" such as when the mainseal went in my regina 745, or when the front seals and oilpan seal were leaking in my 945. Both of those events left an oily film on the underside of the car and on the rear window. There is some oily gunk on the underside of the body, but no film on the glass. Unless the mainseal went out since I got the car back from Texas, it's fine. I replaced the gearbox in May, and there was no leakage. The Oil loss pre-dated that repair, so I think I can rule it out.
I think I'm losing it from a number of places. I can see a small dripspot under the oil drainplug (I fear it is nearly striped, so I hesitate to tighten it anymore). However, that drip is kinda intermittent. There's some general oily gunk around the oilpan gasket, around the mechanical fuel pump seal, and around the PCV oil-trap. There is usually a tablespoon or so caught in the valve cover fin right behind the filler cap.
One thing, is that with oil burning I expected to see fouled plugs when I was pulling them for the compression test. They had a little carbonization on them, but they looked pretty good - a nice light brown glazed appearance, a little bit of soot, but nothing too serious. What should I have seen if I was burning oil at that rate??
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1967 P220 Amazon, 1972 145S, 1976 245 DL, 1983 245 DL, 1986 745 GLE, 1990 745 GL, 1995 945....
You mean to tell me that Volvo makes cars that are *NOT* Wagons?!?
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