low compression #1

[weston_masive]

hi all
after finishing off my new camper conversion interior i took the bus out for a drive it seemed to run ok for what i know a vw runs like. i got home stopped turned it off came out in the cold icey morning to take it to work it started up and ran lumpy as hell i checked dissy cap (cracked leads not brill either) so replaced all and plugs and rotor while i was there.
fired it up and not a blind bit of difference so i did a compression test and i got
#1: 4.5 bar
#2: just under 8 bar
#3: just over 8 bar
#4: 9 bar
any ideas or suggestions would help also its a 1981 2.0l air cooled on lpg
also would it be better to dump the engine for another or a bigger better one ?
or rebuild?
thanks

[HarryMann]

Now need to find out if its valves or rings.. 'cos valves worth doing, bore/rings a different proposition all together.

So checkout the oil doon the plughole method and retest with comp tester

[Aidan]

wbx
add oil test doesn't work as boxer
try adjusting the valves to spec and retest

[..lee..]

you can use a tool to pressurise the cylinder via the plug hole air pissing in to the crankcase probbally rings. more likely air pissing out of exhaust pipe indicating tight or burns exh valve.

[HarryMann]

Yes lee, that'll work

add oil test doesn't work as boxer

worked for me on a subaru I knew
soon proved the rings were the problem on front left cylinder (typical I was told, very sensitive to overeating )