Compression. WTF
 

Bought car with 0 compression in any cylinder.

Opened up, timing belt on cams was dead on, crank sprocket was off by about 30 degrees.

Replaced timing belt. Did compression test with cheap harbor freight tester and weak battery (hooked up to charger on 10 amp setting):
Cyl - PSI
1 - 150
2 - 120
3 - 120
4 - 120

Compression! I've got it! But, why so uneven? Check Cyl 1 again... 150, wasn't a mistake.

Hmm... Two tablespoons of oil down Syl 1, check again. Holds 0 psi! Wtf? Test other cyls... 0 psi all down the line.

Timing belt is still set correctly.

Ideas?

http://www.drinkplanner.com/wp-conte...g-it-wrong.jpg


No seriously, I'm not sure exactly what could be going on, but compression shouldn't go from decent values(despite being uneven) to non existent.

The only thing I can think is that valves are somehow staying open. That is the only variable that could change between runs since even bad rings wouldn't change like that.


EDIT: Sorry I'm not more helpful.

I totally agree- makes no sense.

So I said "fuck it", threw new plugs in, the coil pack, plug wires, and the airbox. Popped the fuel relay back in.

Fucking car started right up the first time I twisted the key.

Didn't stay running long, but then again I didn't want it to.

Good enough for me. Going to pull the engine and do the manual tranny swap.

lol, good luck

You've had nothing but strange issues with this thing.

Those numbers don't look too uneven for a cold engine. Let it run till its warmed up to operating temperatures and test the compression again with the throttle wide open.

YOU COULD HAVE DONE IT WRONG.

No, seriously.

If you put oil into the cylinder and then cranked it w/ your tester in the cylinder you could've gotten oil up into your gauge/hose assembly on your tool and it could now be FUBAR. But, it's Harbor Freight, and that happens... good thing they're only $6.

I did that when checking my Saturn anyway.

What I was advised to do was:

check compression on warm engine the regular way WITH A NEW GAUGE.

If doing a wet test, add oil the cylinder, put a rag over the valve cover and crank the engine 3 seconds. NOW do your wet test on that cylinder. Repeat for other cylinders.


Now... if you did your test like that, I've just wasted my time and when you pull your engine you should stuff your penis in a freeze plug to show it YOUR THE BOSS.