Could my cam timing still be off?

[jason@scirocco.org (Jason)]

At 01:56 PM 9/21/2002, Ryan H wrote:
>I just checked compression today (16v) - about 160 psi across all 4 which 
>seems pretty good to me.  Is it still possible that my intercam timing may 
>be off?  Reason I ask is because I thought that if the cam timing is off, 
>the compression would be down from valves being a tiny bit open on the 
>compression stroke.

Yes, that can definitely be the case.
My compression dropped from 205 to 160 with the cams 9' advanced.


>Other symptoms include low power, although it doesn't seem lumpy at idle 
>like everyone says it is when there inter-cam timing is off.

My motor is a 2.0 9A with a 1.8 16V head and a Schrick 260 intake cam.  I 
drove the car with the intake cam advanced one chain tooth for about 3,000 
miles.  It ran perfectly -- from idle to 7200rpm... it just wasn't 
fast.  It was still faster than a 1.8 16V, as I was about the same speed as 
Ben Harder's slightly modded 1.8 16V.    But it ran strong from idle to 
redline.  If it didn't, I surely would have noticed the problem long before 
that! :)


>Also, compression would keep building when I cranked the motor - I stopped 
>when it got to 210 psi (got scared), but 160 was what I recorded with the 
>recommended 4-5 turn-overs as per Bentley.  Is this normal?

It will keep climbing, that's normal... but not necessary to test.  Just 
crank it 4-5 times like the Bentley says.  I do mine always with all 4 
plugs removed and at full throttle.  Tested properly, you should be seeing 
closer to 200psi -- I think something's up as 160 seems a little too 
low.  Take a look at that timing, I bet you're off some.

HTH
Jason





>----------------------
>I'll fix my car, even if I have to replace every part in it... and since 
>the problem will be the last part I replace, I'll have a brand new car 
>when I'm done!
>
>
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