Someone local is selling a runabout with low compression in a couple cylinders. 1-2 are good 3-4 are weak. I am guessing headgasket.... are the 2.0 heads aluminum? Do they have a tendacy to crack? What else could cause it besides the rings? The car is not perfect but also is not a basket case so I think it is worth saving.
How low is the compression compared to the others, did you try a wet compression test, you could have leaking, burnt or stuck valves. The 2.0 does not have an alluminun head and it has not been my experience that they crack but others may say different. at any rate if the rest of the car is in good shape and the price is right, the engine can be fixed or replaced.
Just a side note here. The 2.0 head does has a tendancy to crack but are easly fixed.
Quote from: jgpinto72 on July 05, 2004, 09:30:22 AM
How low is the compression compared to the others, did you try a wet compression test, you could have leaking, burnt or stuck valves. The 2.0 does not have an alluminun head and it has not been my experience that they crack but others may say different. at any rate if the rest of the car is in good shape and the price is right, the engine can be fixed or replaced.
They are around 40 PSI where the others are around 125 PSI. I did not do the test but the present owner did, therefore I am not sure if he did a wet test. It was running fine till a couple months ago. Now it has a hard time keeping running. I am considering buying it but I don't want it to turn into an expensive long term project.
If it went from running fine to like it is now quickly it's most likely not the rings, I would think head gasket first, you wont know for sure unless you pull the head. if you can check the compression yourself I would still do a wet test, check blowby. also pull the valve cover check the follwers and cam.
Maybe the fellow adjusted the lifters too tight and burned a valve or two?
My pinto had the same problem on the number 4 cylinder. pulled the valve cover and hoped he had them adjusted too tight (which he did) and I could set them right and be ok. Sadly, it burned the number 4 exhaust valve.
At anyrate, good luck getting her right.
-Harry