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Subject:Re: compression tests-- good enough?
From:Stuart
Date:Wed, 23 Jun 1999 19:27:26 -0700

Yes, all cylinders should be within 10%, and number 1 is unlikely to
maintain its pressure for long, and number 4 is out of spec.  Do the
upper end work now before you have other problems caused by leaking head
gaskets.

"Brian W. Block" wrote:
>
> Howdy--
>
> You may (or may not) remember me as the guy that was
> experiencing the dreaded compression loss on '83 vanagon.
> Was planning to have to do a top-end rebuild.
> Well,today I went in and for the heck of it re-torqued the
> cylinder head stud bolts, to 20 N/m as specified in Haynes
> manual.  Wasn't that hard actually, just had to take off
> head covers, and remove enough stuff up top in order to get
> up under the cooling tin at the bolts.  I put on some
> loctite (the kind you apply after assembly) just for good
> measure.
> Heres the good news: I did a before and after compression
> test, results of which are:
>
> Before--            After--
> 1    10psi          1    135psi
> 2    120            2    140
> 3    115            3    130
> 4    60             4    92
>
> So, everything looks pretty good other than #4 which is a
> bit low at 92psi.  Heres the question:  Does anybody think
> the 92 warrants further top end work?  If its going to need
> it within another 15k or 20k I'd just as soon do it now.
> van now has 150k on it, previous owner says he had
> cylinders honed and rings replaced at 80k.
>
> Thanks in advance for advice.
>
> BWB
>
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