skeeter Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 I just did a compression check on my 94 Legacy to find clues as to where the oil was disappearing to. I loose about 1 quart per 500 miles. Engine runs fine, doesn't drip oil and doesn't appear to be burning oil but it is going somewhere. Compression check revealed 205 psi on cylinders 1 and 3 and 165/170 psi on cylinders 2 and 4 (drivers side) respectively. I added a teaspoon of oil to cylinder 2 and 4 and the pressure jumped up to where it should be whcih tells me that it is not in the head but rather the bore or rings. Anyone have any other thoughts before I pull the engine and swap it out. Engine only has 127k on it but I have only owned it since 100k and it was loosing oil when I got it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 205! seems like you'd need a compression ratio of 14:1 to read that. Maybe that side is carboned up? Also, I've always wondered how a wet compression test would work in a horizontal cyl. I gues it wicks up the control ring or something? Carl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerFahrer Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 I think you're jumping to conclusions a bit here. I do it too, so don't feel bad. 165 and 170 are excellent readings. They're right where they should be. 205 however, is honestly too high. It honestly sounds to me like the passenger side head has been pulled for some reason and rebuilt or at least cleaned up, whereas the driver's side head has never been off the engine and has too much carbon buildup on it. But that's a very rough theory, someone else should chime in and give a better diagnosis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legacy777 Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 As I've found out with my recent compression test on my n/a ej22. The actual final values may be off from what they're supposed to be due to gauge inaccuracy. However cylinder pressure variance is important. When you did the compression test, was the engine warmed up all the way, injector connectors pulled off, and throttle plate open all the way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skeeter Posted September 13, 2005 Author Share Posted September 13, 2005 yes engine was warm, all injectors disconnected including cold start valve, all plugs removed, and throttle wide open when cranking engine. I borrowed the compression guage and it did seem suspect in terms of actual readings but it was the variance that concerned me. Why would one bank be so different - I could understand one cylinder being bad but both on the same side seems suspect to a head gasket. Thoughts?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 How old is the timing belt? maybe one cam slipped a tooth or 2 ? I forgot, does it idle? Try holding a slip of paper at the tailpipe, if it sucks back inside the exhaust during any part of the revolution, maybe slipped timing or leaking/broken valve. I got nothing. Carl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skeeter Posted September 13, 2005 Author Share Posted September 13, 2005 Timing belt is reletively new, about 9K old at this point. Idles perfectly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.