low compression--what is it?

[green536@hotmail.com (Chris DeLong)]

replace the auto adjust cable with a manual one.
I doubt its a headgasket. although I wouldnt rule it out. coolant/oil 
transfer does not always happen wiht a blown hg. have you comped it more 
than once? if not I would suggest you do that first. you can also use your 
compression tester lead for a leakdown tester. roll the engine to BDC and 
take the Shrader (sp?) valve out of the end. then connect it to you air line 
from your air compressor. then listen to where the air is escaping from. 
this will give you a good idea about what is wrong.



Chris DeLong
ICQ#45030867
Seattle, WA USA
'80 16V 'Rocco ragtop
'91 GLi 2.0 16V (for sale)
'77 Rabbit 16V
'61 17 Window type II
'91 Vanagon
'84 Jetta





>From: "Michael Abatzis" <abatzis2@hotmail.com>
>To: scirocco-l@scirocco.org
>Subject: Re: low compression--what is it?
>Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2003 03:14:50 +0000
>
>heh heh. yeah, i bought some valve cleaner (one for oil, one for gas), and 
>gave it a typical flogging. holding off till the weekend for a good one. 
>auto-adjust clutch cable started to go yesterday (it never ends). don't 
>want to go to far before i replace it this weekend. i'm hoping it's 
>stuck/dirty valves (this happened once on the old 1.8). but could it be the 
>head gasket? or would i definitely get oil in the coolant/coolant loss? i'm 
>going to recheck the head stud torques this weekend, just in case.
>
>
>-Michael Abatzis
>Hotlanta! GA
>1988 Scirocco 2L 16v RIP-->parting, finally taking orders: 
>www.learnlink.emory.edu/~mabatzi/mikes_page1.html
>1987 Scirocco 2L 16v...
>
>
>
>
>>From: "Chris DeLong" <green536@hotmail.com>
>>To: abatzis2@hotmail.com, scirocco-l@scirocco.org
>>Subject: Re: low compression--what is it?
>>Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2003 02:50:58 +0000
>>
>>put the plugs back in, go flog the hell out of it, bring it back in and do 
>>another comp test. it is possible for carbon deposits to get stuck between 
>>the valve and the seat. flogging it will hopefully get rid of any pesky 
>>carbon deposits and yeild a better comp test. oil on the threads usually 
>>is from undertightening the plugs.. HTH
>>
>>
>>
>>Chris DeLong
>>ICQ#45030867
>>Seattle, WA USA
>>'80 16V 'Rocco ragtop
>>'91 GLi 2.0 16V (for sale)
>>'77 Rabbit 16V
>>'61 17 Window type II
>>'91 Vanagon
>>'84 Jetta
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>From: "Michael Abatzis" <abatzis2@hotmail.com>
>>>To: scirocco-l@scirocco.org
>>>Subject: low compression--what is it?
>>>Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2003 23:02:32 +0000
>>>
>>>i've had an oil leak of unknown source for 3months, and have recently 
>>>been noticing poor power. finally cleaned the engine last week, and 
>>>despite losing 1/2 qt of oil, the outside is still clean. i did a 
>>>compression test today, with the following results:
>>>
>>>215/220/230/100
>>>
>>>yeah, the gauge has always read high (210-220 has been average across 3 
>>>engines), but obviously #4 is the concern. plug threads were oily, but 
>>>plugs themselves weren't fouled. pistons from what i saw were gunky.  wet 
>>>compression raised #4 to 170, but 1/2/3 also increased by 40-50 psi, so i 
>>>don't know what to make of that. coolant has no oil in it.
>>>
>>>so, what's up? head was replaced (with hg) maybe 6 mos ago, and had been 
>>>recently redone apparently (brett c?). i'm thinking headgasket v. 
>>>stuck/dirty valves v. leaky valve guides v. (less likely) rings/other bad 
>>>stuff. any ideas, or how to better eval? btw, my car is way worse than 
>>>yours cathy.
>>>tia,
>>>
>>>
>>>-Michael Abatzis
>>>Hotlanta! GA
>>>1988 Scirocco 2L 16v RIP-->parting, finally taking orders: 
>>>www.learnlink.emory.edu/~mabatzi/mikes_page1.html
>>>1987 Scirocco 2L 16v...
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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