how can i perform one of these w/out taking it too a shop??

 

first off you need a compression tester.

1 - remove wires.
2 - remove plugs
3 - disable fuel pump or ecu
4 - install tester into plug hole
5 - floorboard the gas pedal
6 - crank the engine till the needle moves about 5 times
7 - record the number
8 - repeat 3 more times for the other holes

look for no more than a 10% difference in the pressures. 15% at max.
and if the numbers are low, you need to do a leak down test, and if you are shady on a compression test, a leakdown may be better left up to a pro.

 

cool thanks

 

compression testers are only about 10-20 bucks right? i see some on ebay.. do they sell them elsewhere too? i.e. autozone, pepboys, kragen...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by johnny_dc2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">compression testers are only about 10-20 bucks right? i see some on ebay.. do they sell them elsewhere too? i.e. autozone, pepboys, kragen...</TD></TR></TABLE>

any decent parts store should have one.

 

I bought one at Super Wal-Mart one night (got back from the track at Savannah at midnight and forgot to take a compression tester with me). It cost $20.