Stovebolt.com Forums The Shop Area The Engine Shop compresion questions

I have a question about the compresion in my 1953 216 what should it be ? the compresion in it is 1)100 psi 2)115 psi 3)110 psi 4)100 psi wont hold 5)100 psi wont hold 6)120 psi wont hold . if you could help me out I would hightly appreicate it thanks

sounds like trouble IMO - should be very close to same on all 6 for starters, in which case even 100 would be workable, 110 or 115 prolly better, 120 might be like new - 'not holding' means fail leakdown? sounds like time for the tear down

Bill

I dunno why, sounds to me like it could be a pretty good running old engine. It depends on whether it is using any oil and where. Everything over 100 sounds good. It depends on what you are going to do with it I guess.

Doesn't sound wonderful but not really bad
Did you do this warm?
Did you open the carb fully?
Did you run the same number of strokes?
Did you adjust the valves first?
If the answer to any of the above is no Please start over....and then report the results

i didnt think about that i just ran it up till it stoped.

OK ,, so why did it stop ?

Run out of fuel ... run out of spark ... broke something ... ??

Or are you still looking .

Hi Dusty

I think he means til the gauge stopped

Boatright What about the rest of the questions?

Jeremiah, Are you giving it a compression check or a leakdown check? These two are done differently. Do as Profit says and check compression- with a compression guage. Then you can do a leakdown test. If you need help with the proper procedures for either one just ask and these guys will walk you thru both checks.

Welcome to The Stovebolt Page (and make sure you stop by the ever so active Lounge and say hello)

If the pressure will not hold on the tester guage, I think you may have something wrong with your tester. Sometimes things can make the needle-valve in the guage or fitting to the guage to stick a little in the open position.
Do the checks and adjustments as needed like Jim Proffit mentioned.