Toms compression test

[John Hofstetter <hofs@domain.elided>]

>So... *finally* get all that done, and here's the figures...
>
>1	141
>2	152
>3	140
>4	160
>5	150
>6	152
>7	155
>8	165
>
>Or, Left bank, from front:
>141
>140
>150
>155
>
>Passenger bank, from front:
>
>152
>160
>152
>165
>
>So... what's that all supposed to mean then?
>
>------------------------------
I think it probably means that the engine isn't leaking much if any. You 
need to do one more test. You need to squirt some oil down into that 
number 1 cylinder. Try to squirt it toward the top of the piston, if 
possible. Let it run a few seconds without the tester to let the oil get 
distributed and then check the compression again. If the pressure is up 8 
or 10 lbs. we will know that it has rings that are worn more than in the 
other cylinders. If the pressure stays the same with the oil, then the 
problem is a valve. Whichever happens, you basically should have a pretty 
sound motor. The rule of thumb is that the cylinders shouldn't vary by 
more than about 10 %. 

Whew, glad you didn't pull the heads.