Experiment No.
6 Engine Compression Test
Objective
To understand what is the need of running an engine compression test and how it should be done.
Introduction
The power stroke of an engine cycle is the key to how an engine turns explosive energy into
mechanical energy. If any of the parts that confine the explosion inside the cylinder becomes worn,
engine performance will be affected. The reason for this can be one of the following:
First, the engine cannot compress the fuel/air mixture enough to get the required pressure.
Second, the exploding mixture can escape past worn valves, seals, piston rings and worn
cylinder walls. Due to this, engine cannot burn the fuel efficiently and produces less power.
The engine may also began to burn oil due to leakage of oil into combustion chamber.
Leakage of fuel/air mixture into sump and mixing with engine oil thus leaving the less
amount of mixture into combustion chamber and results into production of less power.
When to run an engine compression test?
If the engine is running rough or is suffering from a lack of power and no faults can be
found in the ignition system, fuel system, exhaust system, then there is time to run a
compression test.
Compression test can confirm or eliminate the possibility of worn piston rings, worn
cylinders, worn crankshaft, worn valves or a faulty gasket.
Procedure of Testing
There are four main steps in running an engine compression test.
Preparing for the compression test
Performing engine compression test
Interpreting the results
Wet compression test
To compare the results from original cylinder pressure, we have to calculate the maximum cylinder
pressure.
Calculating the maximum pressure from compression ratio
We can find the maximum cylinder pressure from the engine manual or we can get it from the
following calculation:
𝑀𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 = 𝑟𝑐 × 1.38 (𝑏𝑎𝑟𝑠)
𝑀𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 = 𝑟𝑐 × 20 (𝑝𝑠𝑖)
Where rc is compression ratio.
Preparing for the Compression Test
One should perform this test with a fully charged battery. If battery power decreases as you
are testing the last cylinders, you will get a false compression reading on these cylinders.
Make sure to have correct compression gauge. Diesel engine need a gauge with a higher
compression tolerance.
Warm up the engine or one can have 20 minute drive and allow the engine to be at idle.
This will allow the valves to sit tight and piston to expand and seal properly.
Turn off the engine and open the head.
Disable the fuel circuit by turning the ignition off and removing the supply of the fuel
pump.
Disable the ignition system by unplugging the spark wire from the coil.
Install the compression gauge on the first cylinder in the place of spark plug by hand and
tighten the gauge connector snugly to seal the cylinder so that the compression won’t leak.
Performing Engine Compression Test
Engine compression is performed as follows:
Start the engine and allow it to idle until it runs out of fuel and stalls.
Remove the spark plug cover. Disconnect the distributor supply loads.
Fit the compression gauge in the No.1 cylinder of the engine.
Crank the engine using the starter motor for a small time. In compression gauge there
is non-returning valve. So, the gauge will show the maximum pressure during this
interval.
It can be seen that the pressure builds up on the gauge and reaches its maximum point
in 4 to 5 compression strokes. One thing should be kept in mind that whether you use
4 to 6 strokes to test the first cylinder’s compression, use the same number of
compression of strokes for the rest of the cylinders.
Note how far on the scale the needle on the gauge moves.
Record the compression reading on the last stroke (amount of compression indicated
by the needle).
Repeat the above steps for each of the remaining cylinders.
Compare your results to the maximum and minimum compression manufacturer
specifications for the particular engine.
Deducing the Results
If there is less than 66% pressure on the 2nd revolution and less than 80% pressure on the
4th or 6th revolution, this is the sign of piston ring/cylinder bore wear.
If any cylinder shows more than the maximum pressure, then there is probability of carbon
deposits in the chamber. In this case, head removal and decarburizing may be required.
If adjacent cylinders show low pressure this could be due and internally cracked cylinder
head or an internally blown head gasket between those cylinders. This can also be
confirmed by the presence of the coolant in the oil and will be recognized by a whitish
coloring to engine oil.
If not all but any one or two cylinders show less pressure readings, then the most probably
the reason is a damaged gasket and this issue can be resolved by replacing the gasket.
Common causes of low compression
Common causes of low compression are:
Cracked block or cylinder head
Valve train problems
Valve or valve seat problems
Worn out rings or cylinders
Blown head gasket
Wet Compression Test
If one or more cylinders registered a compression below the manufacturer specification, perform
a wet compression test on those cylinders to narrow down the potential cause of the problem.
The test is basically same as before, except this time, 5 to 10 ml of engine oil is poured down the
cylinder through the spark plug hole just prior to fitting the compression gauge. Give some time
to allow oil to settle around the piston rings and form a seal.
With this test one the two things will happen:
Cylinder compression won’t change at all, indicating a compression leak through a head
gasket or a valve or ---- or less common, through a cracked cylinder head or block.
Cylinder compression will rise, indicating a compression leak through a worn out cylinder
or piston rings.