Why are compression test numbers so high?
03-22-2003, 07:12 PM
#1
Re: Why are compression test numbers so high?
Originally posted by slammed95
I had a compression check on my engine today and the readings seem pretty high. 4 cylinders were at 210psi and the other 2 at 215psi.
I know low compression is bad, but are these high numbers bad also?
My engine has 138k on it and I drive fairly hard sometimes. Oil changes done every 3k and I'm meticulous about maintenance.
Is my engine healthy and are these numbers ok?
I had a compression check on my engine today and the readings seem pretty high. 4 cylinders were at 210psi and the other 2 at 215psi.
I know low compression is bad, but are these high numbers bad also?
My engine has 138k on it and I drive fairly hard sometimes. Oil changes done every 3k and I'm meticulous about maintenance.
Is my engine healthy and are these numbers ok?
I have had a couple at 200 but that is an engine with 30k on it. Try the tester on a couple of others to compare.
03-22-2003, 07:21 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,046
You could have some carbon build up causing some high readings. Maybe do an engine flush and run some expensive fuel system cleaner to get rid of the carbon build up on the piston heads. Maybe I'm talking out of my ****, but I think that sorta makes sense.
03-22-2003, 07:22 PM
#3
Re: Re: Re: Why are compression test numbers so high?
Originally posted by slammed95
The gauge was used on another maxima and showed readings in the 180 range.
What could cause readings this high?
The gauge was used on another maxima and showed readings in the 180 range.
What could cause readings this high?
Well I did my new 95 today and it recorded 150-160 for 5 and 175 for 1 using the same gauge I recorded 200 on my 97SE.
There is nothing I know of that would cause unusually high readings and the higher the better indication of a good engine as long as they ALL are high. ie with 10-15 psi of each other.
03-22-2003, 07:47 PM
#4
Member who somehow became The President of The SE-L Club
iTrader: (19)
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 16,033
If there was that much carbon build up to increase the compression that much, you'd be having some drivability issues by now.
You'd think the car would be pinging and knocking with that much carbon build up.
Another thing that may cause higher then normal readings would be oil in the cylinders caused by leaking valve stem seals. Does your car throw out a puff of smoke when it's started up? Thats a sure sign of valve stem seals and guides wearing out.
You'd think the car would be pinging and knocking with that much carbon build up.
Another thing that may cause higher then normal readings would be oil in the cylinders caused by leaking valve stem seals. Does your car throw out a puff of smoke when it's started up? Thats a sure sign of valve stem seals and guides wearing out.
03-22-2003, 07:50 PM
#5
Not DAVEB the parts guy
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,555
It's always been my understanding that you really aren't suppose to pay attention to the actual numbers on a typical compression gauge, but rather pay attention to the consistency of the compression across all cylinders. If your compression is similiar in all cylinders, then I wouldn't worry about it, but if one or two cylinders was 15+% lower than the others, then I'd suspect there might be a problem.
Dave
Dave
03-23-2003, 03:32 AM
#7
Originally posted by Dave B It's always been my understanding that you really aren't suppose to pay attention to the actual numbers on a typical compression gauge, but rather pay attention to the consistency of the compression across all cylinders. If your compression is similiar in all cylinders, then I wouldn't worry about it, but if one or two cylinders was 15+% lower than the others, then I'd suspect there might be a problem. Dave
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