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Post subject: Low engine compression.
 Posted: Aug 23, 2011 - 08:55 PM
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Member
Joined: Aug 03, 2009
Posts: 39
Status: Offline
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I have an 1986 Ford Tempo GL 2.3l TBI 5 Speed. It has 108,000 miles.
While trying to finds out why she doesn't have as much power as she used to i ran a compression check on all my cylinders.
They are all low like 90 - 100. So i put a tablespoon or oil in the spark plug hole and tried again and its still low.
My book says it might need a valve job or head gasket might be blown. Theirs no coolant in my oil and no white smoke from exhaust, so i don't think its the head gasket. Could it be a head gasket that's not completely blown ?
Could it be something else? What would a valve job entail and is it something i can do my self?
Thanks |
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skenneyjr
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Post subject: RE: Low engine compression.
Posted: Aug 24, 2011 - 03:20 PM
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Posting Freak
Joined: Jun 05, 2010
Posts: 663
Status: Offline
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| The heads on these cars are painfully easy to remove, and since it's such a low-stress engine design a head job shouldn't be too expensive. |
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trunk
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Post subject: RE: Low engine compression.
Posted: Aug 24, 2011 - 03:36 PM
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Member
Joined: Aug 03, 2009
Posts: 39
Status: Offline
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| So you think that could be the problem? I was surprised how cheap the head's for these cars were on eBay about $200 shipped. |
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wvginseng
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Post subject: RE: Low engine compression.
Posted: Aug 24, 2011 - 11:17 PM
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Active Member
Joined: Jul 24, 2007
Posts: 309
Location: New Martinsville WV
Status: Offline
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| not to insult but are you sure you did the compression test right? tempo with that low of miles should not have every cylinder low on compression. did you crank engine till the compression gauge quit increasing. the only thing I could think of is the valve seals are bad but I think it is unlikely that all of them are bad. sure your compression gauge is in good shape? hope I did not offend |
_________________
1985 Red Tempo ATX 84,000
1985 Brown Tempo ATX 297,000
1985 Brown Tempo MTX 261,000
1985 Black Tempo MTX 79,000
1984 Grey Tempo ATX 165,000
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Post subject: RE: Low engine compression.
Posted: Aug 24, 2011 - 11:42 PM
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Joined: Aug 03, 2009
Posts: 39
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This being the only time i have ever done a compression test i followed the directions in the Chilton manual.
I did crank the engine still it stopped increasing. I just bought the compression tester / gauge so its not old . I hope its good. No offense taken, its a valid question. |
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wvginseng
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Post subject: RE: Low engine compression.
Posted: Aug 25, 2011 - 05:15 PM
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Active Member
Joined: Jul 24, 2007
Posts: 309
Location: New Martinsville WV
Status: Offline
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| gauge should be good then, and test should be good. not blowing white smoke leads me to believe the valve seals are bad. since you did the oil compression test. |
_________________
1985 Red Tempo ATX 84,000
1985 Brown Tempo ATX 297,000
1985 Brown Tempo MTX 261,000
1985 Black Tempo MTX 79,000
1984 Grey Tempo ATX 165,000
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trunk
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Post subject: RE: Low engine compression.
Posted: Aug 25, 2011 - 11:51 PM
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Member
Joined: Aug 03, 2009
Posts: 39
Status: Offline
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So replacing the head with a refurbished one would be the easiest way to replace the valves?
Thanks. |
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amc49
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 26, 2011 - 05:47 AM
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Blabbermouth
Joined: Aug 07, 2009
Posts: 1057
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Status: Offline
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No. You have no way to guarantee the quality of work and they will assure you it is the greatest. The valves are easily grindable and you can get someone local to do the work, thus at least insuring you have some sort of control over the project.
I hope you held the throttle wide open at all times while compression testing, it's required. Not doing so will make low numbers like you say, also pull ALL plugs out while doing it. |
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amc49
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 26, 2011 - 05:50 AM
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Blabbermouth
Joined: Aug 07, 2009
Posts: 1057
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Status: Offline
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| If all numbers low but close to each other suspect the gauge quality. Some really suck. Pretty impossible to blow all 4 out at once unless you really knew you were intentionally damaging the car. |
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trunk
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 26, 2011 - 02:53 PM
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Member
Joined: Aug 03, 2009
Posts: 39
Status: Offline
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Yeah throttle was held open and all the spark plugs were out.
So would you suggest getting another gauge and trying again before i replace the valves? What brand would you recommend?
Thanks |
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amc49
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 27, 2011 - 08:20 AM
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Blabbermouth
Joined: Aug 07, 2009
Posts: 1057
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Status: Offline
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No brand, no one controls the market on that tool. Just get what looks like a quality one, metal. I've seen cheapie plastic ones that were absolutely worthless first time used, but better ones can give trouble too. Much is in technique, you must carefully seal the o-ring, overtightening can easily flaw the readings by warping o-ring out of shape to not seal. Many times I will go back and do all a second time just to be sure, meaning more than one set up to guarantee more reliable result. Shorter hose is better especially on extremely small displacement engines like motorcycle.
Threaded screw in only, handheld units with just a stopper on end are the pits.
The valvestem used is extremely low spring tensioned, normal one like tire will severely tilt the readings low since too much compression lost trying to overcome it. Meaning only replace stem with one specifically for compression guage. |
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 27, 2011 - 02:59 PM
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Posts: 39
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sperold
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 27, 2011 - 04:05 PM
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Member
Joined: Jun 28, 2006
Posts: 84
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
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Look for another reason why it doesn't have as much power as it used to.
Since it has a timing chain instead of a belt, it is unlikely it jumped a tooth or two (which would really bring down your power).
Don't do any valve or head replacements until you have looked at everything else.
Try getting a Ford OBD1 scanner and look for stored codes, that is your best bet at this point. |
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 27, 2011 - 10:26 PM
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Member
Joined: Aug 03, 2009
Posts: 39
Status: Offline
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I have ran the scanner in both KOEO and KOER and get a system pass every time and no other codes. Has new plugs and wires , new cap and rotor , new 02 sensor ,new idle speed sensor , new egr valve , new coil, new air filter new fuel filter, new fuel injector, new fuel pressure regulator. The muffler and tail pipe was replaced about 2 years ago and the timing chain also.
Can you think of something i might have missed ?
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89TempoGLS
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Post subject:
Posted: Aug 28, 2011 - 06:57 AM
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Veteran
Joined: Jul 26, 2005
Posts: 2066
Location: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Status: Offline
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| try running a can of sea foam through the intake. Could be carbon build up on the valves. A can of sea foam through the intake and a can through the gas tank should help clean it out a little bit. |
_________________
2000 Ford Contour SVT 3L. former owner of Temper, 89 GLS 417 pkg
Buy my 88 GLS project car!
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