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can anyone comment on my compression number? (for boosting purposes) 900 1995

went for a compression test (this is about as much detail as I know -- do not know if it was wet/dry or whatnot)

Mechanic reports me back with 120 120 120 135

FAQ here says minimu 128 psi with not more than 28 psi difference between cylinders.

Is my head shot?
what else could I learn from these numbers.

any links with your replies will be greatly appreciated.








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    can anyone comment on my compression number? (for boosting purposes) 900 1995

    Individual compression gauges vary considerably, so you may or may not have a problem. Either have someone else do another test (with a different gauge) or do one yourself (it's not difficult, and the gauge is not that expensive---$25-40 at Sears, for example) Rule308 had several good tips for getting accurate results. If all the plugs are out, (which they should be) I don't think it's necessary to have a battery charger connected, (assuming your battery is healthy) as the engine spins over very easily. It's a good idea to pull the coil wire from the distributor cap and secure it with the loose end about 1/4" away from a ground (bare metal), so the spark can jump across the gap when you crank it over. This prevents damage to the ignition system, which can occur if there is nowhere for the voltage to go (as there would be if you pulled the coil wire at the coil) Keep your hands away from this area while cranking, unless you like getting zapped.

    Position the gauge where you can see it while cranking the engine. Watch it closely while you do so. The needle will move upward with each revolution. Some typical numbers are 90 PSI on the first pulse, 120 on the second, 140 on the third, 150 on the fourth. (the actual numbers may vary due to compression ratio or other factors, but the proportions should be about the same in any case) You want to make a note of each one, and compare them for all the cylinders. The more consistent, the better. Then do it again, with a good squirt of motor oil in each cylinder as you test it. (not too much--you don't want to cause a hydraulic lock--a squirt or two from a trigger type oil can should do) If the numbers are much higher (by 20-25% or more) on the wet test it is an indication of worn rings and/or cylinder walls.

    Note to Repairman Jack: As this engine is a turbo, with a relatively low compression ratio of about 8.5:1, the numbers will be a lot lower than those of a healthy B18B, which is 10.5:1








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    can anyone comment on my compression number? (for boosting purposes) 900 1995

    If obtained correctly, the numbers are quite low.
    What's this got to do with boosting?








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    can anyone comment on my compression number? (for boosting purposes) 900 1995

    Hey , you should do a wet test after the dry test to compare numbers . At least that will tell you about the ring seat . Also make sure the battery is in good shape . Larry








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      can anyone comment on my compression number? (for boosting purposes) 900 1995

      battery is good, it's a few (2-3 month) old from walmart.
      but i can double check.
      looks like i'll be redoing the test myself to be sure.

      also the low reading will indicated headgasket problem, right?








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        can anyone comment on my compression number? (for boosting purposes) 900 1995

        Consistency is the key to a good compression test<

        All spark plugs out
        Throttle plate blocked wide open
        Ignition disabled or key in off position
        Battery charger hooked up
        Crank each cylinder over exactly 4 revs
        Do it dry and then do it wet

        All of that being said, your numbers are pretty low, and they appear to be low across the board. I would reccomend doing a compression test as I outlined and doing it wet and dry. I was just doing one for a customer today and not only did the #2 cylinder only come up to 120 but it only came up to about 35-40 on the first revolution, not good.

        Mark








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          can anyone comment on my compression number? (for boosting purposes) 900 1995

          Yes, "consistency is the key" and i think the chap that did the check was consistent he may of done things wrong, like just let it pump up to the first,or second figure? At least all the readings are the same and the last one is well within the 28lbs limit. If something was wrong surely one would be badly wrong from the others? Also don`t forget it is a turbo and mine were similar,and it went like a bat out of hell!! Allowing for the lower compression this man`s readings seem OK.








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        What they may mean.. 900 1995

        Low values like that would not necessarily indicate a bad head gasket.

        Normally low numbers indicate failing rings on the pistons - especially if the compression values rise sharply when you squirt some oil into the cylinders.

        Good, even compression across all the cylinders is your goal. When you have one or more values that are significantly different from the others, it tells you that there's a problem with the outlier (piston).

        I'm not sure what spec is for a B230, but that seems kinda low. My 1967 B18 with 500,000 miles returned values of 130-145. My 1968 low-mileage high-compression B18 gives dry compression readings between 175-180 psi.







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