Here is the deal. I have a B16 with JE 12.5:1 pistons,crower valvetrain,and other nick nacks. I did a compression test last night for the first time and it went like this:
#1: 190
#2: 175
#3: 170
#4: 150

I spotted oil building up around my head gasket. I have been felling a lag lately but I get no excessive smoke. Does it seem it is time for a head gasket to you guys? Like I say the only smoke I see is when I first crank it up it dumps a **** load of gas.

 

The funny thing with a headgasket is some people only get one or two of the tell tell signs...some people get them all and some peopel get none. I dont know how to judge those compression numbers because I dont much about higher compression ratios, etc. Check your oil...how does it look? Are you overheating.? When my headgasket went, it wasnt a major blowout where my car wouldnt run. I knew because I was overeheating after a little spirited driving and I had coolant leaking from where the head meets the block at cylinder 4. Also my coolant overflow was leaking because it was so full.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 97itr86 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Here is the deal. I have a B16 with JE 12.5:1 pistons,crower valvetrain,and other nick nacks. I did a compression test last night for the first time and it went like this:
#1: 190
#2: 175
#3: 170
#4: 150

I spotted oil building up around my head gasket. I have been felling a lag lately but I get no excessive smoke. Does it seem it is time for a head gasket to you guys? Like I say the only smoke I see is when I first crank it up it dumps a **** load of gas. </TD></TR></TABLE>

in my opinion numbers like that warrant a leakdown test to be performed.

leakdown&gt;compression. it will tell you for sure where the problem is.

 

I haven't had any cooling problems. I do have small oil leaks from the vc gasket,o ring on distributor, and cam seal. I don't know it that is a possible source. How is a leakdown test performed again?

 

you turn the cylinder to TDC on compression stroke, connect the leakdown gauge to a compressed air source, then into the cylinder. it will tell you the % of air (out of 100) that is leaking out of the cylinder. for most engines, 90+ is acceptable (meaning less than a 10% loss). you record the results then move the next cylinder to TDC compression.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Kamin &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you turn the cylinder to TDC on compression stroke, connect the leakdown gauge to a compressed air source, then into the cylinder. it will tell you the % of air (out of 100) that is leaking out of the cylinder. for most engines, 90+ is acceptable (meaning less than a 10% loss). you record the results then move the next cylinder to TDC compression. </TD></TR></TABLE>
Ok so it is like a more in depth compression test.