140 on a 1.9?   That is really good.

190 ?
No way in hell. I've never seen a stock waterboxer that high...

I bet if you do a test you'll see 115-130....that is typical for 1.9's these days...

Check coolant tank (with blue cap) before you start the cold engine.  Should be completely full up to the top.  If it is not full of coolant you may have a head gasket time bomb on your hands.

Drive the van, see how it performs...coolant temperature should be "in the middle" after 10-15 minutes of driving.

Look under the engine, many oil leaks?  any coolant leaks?

-paul

---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From:         Kenneth Lewis <kdlewis@NORTHSTATE.NET>
Reply-To:     Kenneth Lewis <kdlewis@NORTHSTATE.NET>
Date:          Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:13:07 -0500

>I Googled the matter to pass along a good procedure since I have heard so
>many different methods. Some say use a warm engine others say cold. I
>prefer cold. Some  squirt a little oil in each spark plug hole. I do not.
>I have always removed all the spark plugs first. These guys don't:
>http://www.2carpros.com/dia/how_to_check_compression.htm
>I also hold open the throttle while the engine cranks. A couple of times I
>attached a battery charger to try and keep the voltage even.
>Good Luck,
>Ken Lewis
>
>
>
>On Thu, December 31, 2009 1:06 pm, Stephen Cebula wrote:
>> I'm looking at an 84 Westy on Saturday.  The guy want $6500 for it.  It
>> looks really clean but has 170K on the original motor.  He sent me a copy
>> of the compression test he had done in 2007 when he bought it.  It shows
>> 140psi on all 4 cylinders.  I'm planning on having another one done when I
>> go look at it.  What would be an acceptable number?  I've heard 145-190.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Steve
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>