Club 80-90 Forums

Hi all,

Our first campervan, a 1983 1.9 WBX just went to the local garage for a service (before a trip to Wales over Easter). I asked for a compression check which they did first and unfortunately the no. 1 cylinder was way down on the other 3 (5 bar vs 11ish for the others). They recommended a new re-con engine before going much further.

The engine runs OK, pulls well, doesn't smoke in the exhaust, so I got the van back and did a compression test myself. I just did the test from cold only pulling one plug at a time ('cause I'm not a great mechanic and worried about the ally head threads).

The readings I got were 9bar in all four cylinders (reassuring!).

I'm pretty tempted to just use it until something happens. Is it likely that a valve or gasket problem would only manifest itself when hot and take 4bar off the cold reading?

Thanks for any thoughts..
Duncan

Do a compression check when hot and see what results you get if the compression is lower one one cylinder only when hot the first thing that springs to mind is over adjusted lifters so that when everything expands with the heat the valves aren't closing properly.

You say the engine runs smoothly and pulls well so i suspect the garage may be mistaken as if you did have one cylinder that much lower than the others i would expect a misfire to some degree.

They did mention the preload and backed it off to repeat the test and then restored to one and a half (still low). They also said a misfire would be likely if it deterioates any more).

I guess I'll carry on using it until a misfire occurs.

Thanks.

Yeh agree with that do another test hot and see what happens
Give it a good run and repeat hot and cold.

I'm confused as to why and for what reason they were carrying out a compression test?
Setting the pre-load of the hydraulic lifters can often lead to 'initial' low compression as the lifters drain back. One or two valves effectively being propt open and not fully closing. It can take a drive (on a sick running engine) before all four cylinders come back on song.

I would certainly be checking the copression after a good run (if pre-load has been touched).

Martin

I'll be interested to see the outcome of this thread.
I have just had a similar experience.
I usually check the compression every couple of years as part of my routine service. I get typically between 12 and 13 bar.
However, I did a test a couple of weeks ago, on a cold engine that had not run for a week - three cylinders measured 13 bar, but number one only made 6 bar.
I did the usual piston ring test by dropping some oil into the plughole and got maybe 1/2 bar improvement - inconclusive. (Actually I'm not sure this test works properly for a horizontal cylinder)

The van runs fine, no oil consumption between annual changes (~5000miles), the lifters have never been touched, so I've been worrying, until I read this post.
Today I warmed the engine up and repeated the test. Now I get around 11 bar on cylinder one and 13 bar on the rest.
I am happy with this.

BUT I really am not sure I understand what is happenning. If the inlet lifter had completely drained down, but not the exhaust one, I guess there might be some loss of compression, but I would expect to hear a very distinct and loud tapping noise.

jp

Oh dear. I hope you get a happy outcome. That's interesting, you have the exact opposite of my scenario (low compression while cold (yours) vs low compression while hot (mine).

I did a test while cold and got 9-9-9-9 bar. The garage says 5-~11-~11-~11-~11 when hot.

To be honest I'm not sure if I want to repeat the hot test for myself. I just replaced the plugs after the cold test (no.1 took a bit of fiddling and a little WD penetrating oil to get the thread back in) and the van runs fine (drove for the best part of two hours with no warning lights or overheating (guage stayed on a 1/4) with the heater controls up to the Max.

I heard it was easy to strip the plug threads on a hot engine, and since we've just got the van, I'm hoping to coax a years worth of fun out of it. Last thing I want is a self induced immobile Brick.

If I verify the low compression there's not much that can realistically be done anyway, besides fitting a new engine, so I figure I may as well just drive this one while its working.

More worryingly, the garage didn't hold out much hope a getting a half decent recon either. They said the Dutch firm (vaguay?) Wasn't what it used to be and didn't rate T.E.S. either. They reckon out of six recon engines only two would be any good, so it's pot luck with the odds stacked against you. Alarming news when you consider the cost of an engine plus fitting!

I think my current plan would be to have Elite tow it back to Sussex and let them fit an engine. Might cost a bit more, but at least it would be guaranteed for a year.

If its running ok personally I'd leave it alone & enjoy what may be many more years of life left in the old girl, although as the garage messed with the valve lifter preload I'd double check it was set correctly first.

Elite? Warranty? How many times are you happy/prepared to take your van back to them at your own cost? Haven't had any need for a recon engine but after the scare stories, they would not be top of my list. You're lucky enough to have confidence in your engine for the immediate future, thus, in a good position to start searching on here, BW, eBay for a replacement that can be heard running. Just a thought, dismiss it if you will. Mitch.

If the plug threads on no 1 aren't too clever then it may well be a case of the compression tester not sealing up properly giving a false reading.

Hi Mitch,

Do you mean that people sell engines privately in the forums from time to timr? That might be a better option.

Duncan

9-9-9-9 sounds good to me for a DG. I recommend you forget about compression and enjoy your van. It'll probably give you something else to worry about in a couple of months
I certainly would not be thinking of an engine change.

MGP You may be onto something there. I fitted new plugs between my first test and the second; also noticed some crud around the top of the no. 1 plug hole so cleaned it up before test 2.

I shall conclude that a poor seal was the problem and continue planning my trip to Portugal.

jp

dsmith1974 wrote:no warning lights or overheating (guage stayed on a 1/4) with the heater controls up to the Max.

erm I would be investigating that.
The gauge usually sits at 1/2 way.
Maybe your thermostat has stuck open.
Remember to test the new one before fitting

jpennington wrote: Today I warmed the engine up and repeated the test. Now I get around 11 bar on cylinder one and 13 bar on the rest.
I am happy with this.

which cylinder?

dsmith1974 wrote:Hi Mitch,

Do you mean that people sell engines privately in the forums from time to timr? That might be a better option.

On the forums or even off eBay if it's not too far too travel. Might be lucky and find one still in the van so you can hear it running, I'd ask if it was ok to do a compression test, no harm in asking. Time is in your favour at the moment, let the search begin!