re: Got compression?

[Joe Elliott <jee@domain.elided>]

Compressions checks aren't exactly my area of expertise, but I think 
I've seen 190psi on my GTV6, presumably from carbon build-up in the 
combustion chambers.  I haven't been following your GTV saga 
though--if it hasn't been run, I don't know where additional 
combustion chamber crap could have come from.  Did you forget to open 
the throttle for your second check?  I don't know what affect that 
would have but I know you're supposed to have it open.

I suppose if you performed your first test in a pressurized chamber 
and the subsequent one in outer space, that might explain it...or 
maybe it wouldn't, since the engine is sucking in air at the same 
pressure your gauge is relative to.

At 6:07 PM +0000 11/12/02, alfa-digest wrote:

> Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2002 09:06:36 -0800
> From: "TJ" <tj@domain.elided>
> Subject: Got compression?
>
> Whew...........I'm a little stunned.  Before Chela and I brought
> "Shakespeare" home a few weeks ago we did a compression check on him.
> Three of the four cylinders were in the 140 range, and number three was
> low at 90.  I wasn't too worried as I planned on rebuilding the engine
> anyway.
>
> I haven't done a whole lot to the car, what with the holidays coming up
> and me still being buried in some other extraneous machinery I need to
> sell to finance the Alfa rebuild, but I finally wheeled the little car
> in to the garage and tinkered with it a little last night.
>
> It definitely has its share of leaks, radiator, fuel lines, etc.  No
> worries, all those can be fixed.  The knocking noise seems to have gone
> away a little, but I'm still not sure where it's coming from.  Again, it
> doesn't matter, the engine's coming out and getting a complete overhaul
> anyway.
>
> I did another compression check and couldn't believe my eyes.  Three of
> the cylinders were over 200#?!  I've never seen an engine with
> compression that high.  What gives?  Has anyone ever seen this out of a
> 1600cc Alfa engine?  The number three jug was 190 this time around,
> which is also very high.  Even with a Euro spec 10.5:1 compression ratio
> these numbers seem very high, and I'm completely flabbergasted.  I don't
> know what to think.
--
to be removed from alfa, see /bin/digest-subs.cgi
or email "unsubscribe alfa" to majordomo@domain.elided