according to Bentley:
compression pressure: 145-190psi
wear limit: 116psi
max permissible difference between all four cyl: 44psi

If your numbers are right,  this motor is very tired and in need of a
rebuild. factor this into your offer.

----- Original Message -----
From: Gary Shea <shea@GTSDESIGN.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: September 1, 1999 12:13 PM
Subject: compression ratios for '87 WBX

> Hi folks, I'm looking at buying an '87 vanagon, I took it to a
> local emissions-o-matic joint and it failed with high hydrocarbons
> (337 vs max allowable of 220) at idle.  CO is fairly high too (1.00 of
> max allowable of 1.20), which means they can't easily be rebalanced
> using the idle air control on the air box (or at least that's
> my understanding).
>
> The idle is a bit rough, not too bad though.  The owner has gone
> over the plugs/wires, distributor cap/rotor, O2 sender, and compression.
> Timing has not been checked yet.  Compression was 120,120,120,110.
> Since I have more air-cooled experience than WBX experience, I
> don't know how to interpret these numbers.
>
> Anybody care to tell me what to expect with the WBX engine?  This
> one has 170k or so.  No head leaks at the moment ;)
>
>         Gary
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> Gary Shea                                       shea@xmission.com
> Salt Lake City                      http://www.xmission.com/~shea
>