compression tested 0, Blown head gasket?

[canonize-ryda]

I tested my car since it wont start and it read all zero's. I did the test according to the back of the tester box. I think besides this my timing may be off maybe a half cm from the IT on the balancer. Could this cause no compression like i am seeing? Maybe a blown head gasket.

I can smell gas in the oil if that matters.

 

[Junkyardspecial]

OP, Im thinking you messed something up. Always remember to try and check the simplest solution first. I would test on a running car first like mentioned before. If it works then its head pullin' time. You said the engine was sitting for a few years before, did it run before it became stationary?

 

[Calan]

But when turning it over you can see the cylinder head come up and sometimes gas mist comes up.

WTF

I can't make heads or tails out of a lot of info in this thread (head lifting while cranking, rust on plugs, zero compression, etc.), but maybe start here:

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-engine-fuel/338152-compression-leak-down-testing.html

Unless the head really is lifting while cranking, in which case you should probably find the missing head bolts and just start pulling it apart for a new head gasket.

 

[stevecbr929]

I don't think I've ever seen any engine that didn't have compression on all cylinders unless for obvious (no head, pistons, ect.)reasons.

I would try a new or maybe better compression tool or like these guys said try it on a working engine to be sure it does work. Just doesn't make sense that none of them are showing you any numbers at all.

Good luck either way...

 

[VTEC_THIS]

That's not true at all. I just did a compression check with all plugs out at the same time 175-180 on all cylinders.

Don't post mis-information like this because it's completely false. Now take your keyboard and smash your face into it until you have learned your lesson of negligence.

OP, doesn't matter which way you test, but you may be either reading it wrong on not doing it correctly. Worst case, just pull the head and check out the pistons.

Gotcha, I had no idea. That's honestly how I've always done compression tests on these cars. I just thought something was up when the OP got absolutely zero on all four cylinders and I thought it could be an error while testing like that. I didn't mean or intend to post mis-information, I was just trying to help a fellow DSMer out and made a simple mistake and I apologize for that.

At the same time, TSi Kid, I really don't think your hostility was necessary. You don't have to beat down other members for making mistakes, that doesn't exactly encourage others to post and try to help someone out.

 

[And_44]

Very confusing post. But couldbe as simple as a broken tester.

Or if I read post right you said timing marks was off? Maybe threw a bunch of valves into the pistons.

 

[canonize-ryda]

I'll pull the valve cover and check. the timing is what seem to be maybe a half cm past the It on the cover with the balancer. Its not the cams that are off just a the crank by a few hair widths. I set the timing after i watched a you tuber do it. I just paid near 50 bucks for this tester and have no money to afford another but if it doesn't work i will take it back for a new one.

Engine did run before this and i was told by previous owner,( since i know he had like 7 alternators go threw and a water pump), But he told me it would just need swapped to the other tranny and bam. According to him it should work. But to be honest with you guys the tops of the pistons look rusty brown, Maybe they ground some rust into the walls while trying to start it now it had given up.

 

[T is for TURBO]

I don't think I've ever seen any engine that didn't have compression on all cylinders unless for obvious (no head, pistons, ect.)reasons.

I have. Way back in my early days, I had this SAME EXACT problem. I had ZERO compression on ALL 4 cylinders. I tested it with two different compression testers, with the same result. I got so fed up with it, and me not being very car savvy yet, I took it to the local mechanic. He also tested 0,0,0,0. We could not figure it out. Especially since it ran perfectly 2 days prior.

So the mechanic left the spark plugs out of the car overnight. The next day, he came in, put them back in. Tried to start the car, and it started on the first crank?
To this day I cannot figure it out.

Do note: The car was running perfectly one day, the next day I started to put a new exhaust on. I had the rear end of the car up on jack stands for 2 days. When I got down, the car would not start. Thats when I had Zero across the board.

THIS is my thread I started.

Good luck

 

[canonize-ryda]

Thank you, this has given me hope. I will look into everything and still check the valves. I could maybe get the timing better but i have heard of people doing it all wrong and still getting compression. And to show you guys what i have to work with my moms ex bf thinks compression is tested underneath the cylinder.... And he wants to help me with my car?!?! What a joke...

 

[Tyeler18]

How did you do timing? Even a messed up timing belt won't cause 0 across the board, however, you will get some funky numbers.

Line all your timing marks up. Now look at the notches on the cams that should be facing 3 o'clock on the exhaust cam and 9 o' clock on the intake cam. Go directly across the cam gears from each mark and you'll find the two other notches, should be 9 o'clock exhaust, 3 intake, follow? Now starting at the valley directly above the notch at the 9 o'clock position of the exhaust gear start counting teeth in the belt until you make it all the way around to the notch on the other side of the intake gear. How many teeth do you have between?

If that doesn't make sense let me know and I'll try to explain better.

 

[canonize-ryda]

I have 13 full notches on each on and a half notch on each one. So almost 14 each. They are dead on in the middle. I will admit that i didn't time the balance shaft at all.....Also i didn't do the tdc on cylinder one.. Now i think i may have bent some valves.. I'm going to pull the cover in like 10 minutes.

I just put my mouth over the number one cylinder and blew and i can feel air in all the other cylinder holes. I think my head gasket in between the cylinders is shot. lets hope so.

 

[Tyeler18]

Wait what? When counting teeth you need to count across the cams also. So just follow the teeth on the belt all the way across one side to the other. You should have 39 teeth between the far outside notches.

The air could be headgasket, could also be valves.

You need to time the balance shaft as well.

 

[TSi Kid]

I just put my mouth over the number one cylinder and blew and i can feel air in all the other cylinder holes. I think my head gasket in between the cylinders is shot. lets hope so.

WTF

Time to pull the head

 

[delta448]

Either the crankshaft isn't rotating or you have bent valves.

 

[boostdawd]

WoW 0 compression is strange......When I did my compression test,cylinders 4,3 were good but cylinders 2,1 were like 15-20ish.Turns out I had a gap between my cylinders due to the gasket.Maybe your gasket is just shot?

 

[camposr]

Add a little bit of oil on the cylinder being tested and check for compression again, if it reads compression with oil in it you have bad piston rings

 

[canonize-ryda]

Okay about how much oil is needed?

 

[H4G64T]

No more than a cap fill.

 

[camposr]

Yeah use around a cap full

 

[canonize-ryda]

Okay should i wait for a friend or can i attempt a test by my self?

 

[H4G64T]

You can attempt it yourself.

 

[canonize-ryda]

K i'm going out right now then. i'll test all of them with a cap of oil in them.

 

[Dhan]

You guys should have been clearer that you want the oil to seep down around the piston's edge. So it seals the rings. Oh well.

I'm shocked there's zero compression on all the cylinders. Something doesn't sound right.

 

[H4G64T]

Going to be hard for him to do that with the cap method, usually a squirt can is best for that.

 

[canonize-ryda]

Yea i gave it time to run into the cylinder and i tested them multiple times. All zeros still, I haven't tested a working engine yet so i'm off to test the seven and see what comes up.

 

[camposr]

Or he can use a syringe with a long piece of vac hose attached to make sure it all goes in