3rd Gen / L98 Engine Tech 1982 - 1992 Engine Related

Compression Test Q & A...

Old 06-28-2004, 01:05 PM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Trans AM 22502's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Vicenza, Italy
Posts: 279
Compression Test Q & A...

As you all know, I'm taking a friend of mine to go look at a Camaro (85') and I need to know what psi is acceptable (at the minimum) in order for the test results to be definitive. This is kinda urgent if anyone's on right now. Also, he wants to check out an 86' Trans AM, I'm assuming the numbers should be the same correct?

As far as the test itself is concerned, I'm pretty sure how to do it but not positive. Its been a while since my auto tech days. Basically, I need to have the battery close to fully charged.

Next, I need to disable the fuel system. If its 85' I'm assuming its carbeurated, so how do I keep the carb from spewing fuel?

Unscrew one spark plug at a time, screw in the vacuum gauge, and crank the engine repeatedly for around 10-15 seconds.

Last edited by Trans AM 22502; 06-28-2004 at 01:14 PM.
Trans AM 22502 is offline  
Old 06-28-2004, 03:48 PM
  #2  
Registered User
 
CamaroZ28Coupe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 252
are you doing a compressiojn test or a vacuume test

"Compression Test Q & A..."

"screw in the vacuum gauge"
CamaroZ28Coupe is offline  
Old 06-28-2004, 03:58 PM
  #3  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Trans AM 22502's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Vicenza, Italy
Posts: 279
error in wording. I'm doing a compression test. I'm going to take the compresion tool, remove a spark plug, install the compression tool and proceed from there. Is my method correct?
Trans AM 22502 is offline  
Old 06-28-2004, 06:47 PM
  #4  
Registered User
 
Rice Killer87's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Virginia
Posts: 1,602
10-15 seconds is too long and the battery will go dead b4 u get half done.

when i do it,i spin it over untill the needle on the guage moves 4 times and then stop.
Rice Killer87 is offline  
Old 06-28-2004, 07:32 PM
  #5  
Registered User
 
CamaroZ28Coupe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 252
yes, 4 or 5 rev's for each
the correct way would be to take all the plugs out and block the throttle wide open but you can do it with the other plugs in if you need to (thats how running compression test is done)
write them down
should be within 20% of each other

if some are low you can do a wet test to see if its the rings or valves by squirting some oil into the cylindar (if you plan to do that then post and we can elaborate)

type in compression test on google and im sure you can get a whole step by step procedure ive seen tons of them on thoise do-it-yourselfer type sites

oh and disconect the primary wires from the distributor so that the engine does not start (colors? hopefully someone else can chime in)
CamaroZ28Coupe is offline  
Old 06-29-2004, 01:23 PM
  #6  
Banned
 
aklim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,249
I take all plugs out and keep it at WOT. I would crank it till the gauge needle stops moving up. If the cylinders are not within 10% of each other, I run like hell. If they are, I squirt oil in all the cylinders and rerun the test. If they cylinders show a marked increase from the first run, I also run. That means that the rings are not sealing like they should.
aklim is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
KYWes
LT1 Based Engine Tech
8
06-14-2022 06:52 AM
Quickss96
Cars For Sale
6
01-29-2016 05:56 PM
cmsmith
2016+ Camaro News, Sightings, Pictures, and General Discussion
7
09-14-2015 09:25 PM
karpetcm
Parts For Sale
5
08-14-2015 03:02 PM
13qtr
LT1 Based Engine Tech
23
07-19-2015 05:30 PM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: Compression Test Q & A...



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:15 PM.