Compression numbers...

[918_gsx]

Ok. Car has been running crappy and starts to overheat when you get on it. Can pudder around town though and not overheat. Also, it tends to be hard to start all the time. Just did a compression test on all 4 cylinders. Here's the numbers...And please, try not to laugh too hard while reading these numbers
Cylinder #1...14psi
Cylinder #2...17psi
Cylinder #3...17psi
Cylinder #4...45psi
Anyone ever see numbers this low and the car still run? Granted, you can not take your foot off the gas the whole time, but it still runs. I'm kinda lost. And very little smoke and only at initial start up. Oil is not milky...
Any advice?

 

[rlacasse1]

And it made that big of a difference huh?

I'm having issues with my car and I was kind of wondering if I should change my radiator cap cause it's been pushing a little coolant and what not. I may do that now.

Anyways, you may still want to redo your compression test though.

 

[918_gsx]

Yes, it did. I was getting fluid pouring out of the coolant res, but not now and it's idling better and easier to start. Weird

 

[rlacasse1]

Yeah, I'm definitely going to try it.

 

[GsxMan98]

I would try and get a new compression tester before you do anything because that doesnt sound right at all. Those numbers just seem way to low for the car to even start.

 

[Calan]

...it's idling better and easier to start. Weird

Not weird at all. The coolant temperature directly affects the ECU's AFR calculations, when it goes into open loop, timing advance, etc. If the car never gets to operating temperature or runs hotter than it should, you will definitely see a change in performance.

 

[918_gsx]

Thanks for the insight calan. I'm still tinkering around with it today. Hope its not a blown head gasket...

 

[fallenauthority]

that would be your best case scenario is to have a blown headgasket at this point, your other options are valves or piston rings