Compression test interpretation?

[squidmaster]

Seafoam will breakdown build up within your engine. Which, hey, sounds like a great idea, and while it may be a great idea for a car with hearty, fresh gaskets...... On cars our age.... It's a little risky. You may end up burning more oil, or even worse issues, as the built-up gunk that has crept its way into every nook and cranny of those worn gaskets is now gone, and those cracks are exposed.

A leaky VC gasket is unlikely to pool oil in the spark plug sockets, unless the oil leaks down the side of the head and into them, which would be a pretty bad leak.

In all honesty, you have a 26+ year old car, it has worn engine components and gaskets. HG, main seals, ringlands, cylinder walls, etc etc etc. Going with a weightier oil may not help you in cold climates with startup and mpg, but it may save your plugs and engine for a bit longer if it helps prevent oil in the combustion cycle.

[Brezzi]

Seafoam will breakdown build up within your engine. Which, hey, sounds like a great idea, and while it may be a great idea for a car with hearty, fresh gaskets...... On cars our age.... It's a little risky. You may end up burning more oil, or even worse issues, as the built-up gunk that has crept its way into every nook and cranny of those worn gaskets is now gone, and those cracks are exposed.

A leaky VC gasket is unlikely to pool oil in the spark plug sockets, unless the oil leaks down the side of the head and into them, which would be a pretty bad leak.

In all honesty, you have a 26+ year old car, it has worn engine components and gaskets. HG, main seals, ringlands, cylinder walls, etc etc etc. Going with a weightier oil may not help you in cold climates with startup and mpg, but it may save your plugs and engine for a bit longer if it helps prevent oil in the combustion cycle.

yeah read that about sea foam after posting. I'll steer clear for now. The car is litterally a toy to me that gets me to my parents* house and back everyone once in awhile. So I'll go with the heavier oil next time, mpg and cold starts aren't a big concern.

[digger]

xxW-50 oil plus ZGR5A plugs see what happens with oil consumption and fouling

[ak-]

With those great compression numbers you can have a 50% leak on multiple cylinder and the car still won't run like crap/turn off.

I've experienced worse compression and leak down #'s and the car still ran "good", just burned a lot of oil.

[Brezzi]

xxW-50 oil plus ZGR5A plugs see what happens with oil consumption and fouling

I assume you think I should stick to running 10w-40? Do you have another option that you'd suggest? I went with the Bosch plugs.

With those great compression numbers you can have a 50% leak on multiple cylinder and the car still won't run like crap/turn off.

I've experienced worse compression and leak down #'s and the car still ran "good", just burned a lot of oil.

Yeah I've pretty much given up on my dreams of boosting this block after this experience. (Didn't want to do a bottom end rebuild) Looks like I'll be throwing another motor in there or building an m20 for boost outside of the car when it does become time for more power.

[packratbimmer]

Run 15W-40 Valvoline diesel oil from Tractor Supply. Thickish, but has plenty of ZDDP in it. A good compromise and only $15 a jug - a gallon. The diesel detergents will gradually clean up the engine, not abruptly. Those compression numbers lead me to believe there is a lot to work with there.

[Brezzi]

Run 15W-40 Valvoline diesel oil from Tractor Supply. Thickish, but has plenty of ZDDP in it. A good compromise and only $15 a jug - a gallon. The diesel detergents will gradually clean up the engine, not abruptly. Those compression numbers lead me to believe there is a lot to work with there.

I heard of guys running diesel oil in these engines before, I'll def consider it.

[dnguyen1963]

I heard of guys running diesel oil in these engines before, I'll def consider it.

I have been using diesel oil in mine forever.

[Brezzi]

Hey guys I got all the new parts on tonight. New Bosch plugs, victor VC gasket, half moon plugs, and VC vent hose. She turned over immediately! A bit of white smoke coming out of the tail pipe for the first 5 mins of it running though. I took it out for a quick jaunt and did some pulls through 1 and 2 up to redline. Felt noticeably better. Also I'm happy b/c it looks like my head is pretty clean:




Thanks again for all the help and advice. I'm planning on another compression test in a month or so. I'll prob do an oil change by that time too and go with the diesel oil.

[squidmaster]

Glad it's working a lot better!

[e30onBBSs]

half a quart/hr????