Compression = 170, 189, 30, 50

[awild]

Bought the car that wouldn't stay running. Seemed like fuel but ran a compression test on it and the number from left to right came out 170, 180, 30, 50. Added some oil to the low two cyls and got 50 and 80. Is it headgasket time, rings, or 6 bolt?

Car's blog is over at http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/blogs/awild/447-850-95-gsx-build.html

 

[awild]

Since you can't get the car warm, your compression numbers will be off. Start by pulling the head and looking at the head gasket and valves. If both of those look fine, it might be the rings. Those are some pretty low numbers.

I managed to keep the car running long enough to get the temp gauge to move a bit. I didn't take it all the way to 210F but I got it to move.

All this adding more things makes me think a running 6 bolt might be the way to go versus a 133k unknown history 7 bolt.

 

[bluegs03]

To give the original poster some advice when i had THAT low of compression i had a cracked ringland. most likely you will need to add in new pistons but you wont know until you tear it down

 

[squeak104]

If you can get it to a shop or can do one yourself definitely do a leak down test as Boost92awd said. A leak down test will tell you if air is escaping through the rings, past the intake valves, past the exhaust valves or into the coolant jacket. I personally would like to know where I need to be looking for a problem before I tear into something. It could be something that isn't all that obvious and end up spending days to find. Or you could do a leak down test and find out where you should be looking for the problem at. You'll probably end up having to pull the head but at least you'll know where to look for the problem.

 

[awild]

I'll do a leakdown so I know how to do one, but it's leaning towards a 6bolt at the price I'd pay to fix it all.

 

[marsh63]

i say also do a leakdown test. if it has a 130000 plus on the motor if its not a simple thing like the cylinder head or hg i would recommend a 6 bolt if you have the funds.

when you do the leakdown tell us where the air sounds like its coming from. exhaust, intake, or if it sounds like its coming out from the oil cap.

 

[awild]

There's a few complete 6bolts locally for $400-600, the head/rings looks like it'll crack $250+ anyways so mind as well go for it.

 

[Defiant]

This thread has had the SHIT scraped off of it.

Do not add any more. You pissy bunch of back-biters are going to get Santa all pissed-off at you.

 

[lasertrash]

Hey if you have a chiltons manual check section 3-83 describes your exact problem and gives the fix for it.

 

[awild]

Hey if you have a chiltons manual check section 3-83 describes your exact problem and gives the fix for it.

I have one, but I'm at work....if it's short and sweet can you type it?

 

[meliketoball]

I believe it's due for a whole rebuild with those current numbers.