ok so my car wont start, i checked everything (spark, fuel, timing, etc) and i just did a compression test now and heres the results. i did it three times each cylinder and the numbers kept changing so ill post each try.

1 2 3 4
50 50 55 85
30 70 65 85
80 90 60 100

i cranked the engine each time until the guage stopped moving, usually around 5 seconds. i have an 88 crx hf with a d16a6 in it. i need some help on what to do or how to fix it. i know its probably something pretty big. oh and the after the 1st tries, i put a little oil into the cylinder which made the numbers increase as you can see, for the most part. ECU throws no codes. oh and i did the test while COLD, becuase it WONT START! i dont understand why the numbers are soo random. ANY HELP would be greatly appreciated! thanks.

 

the numbers are a lil random bc the oil creates a better seal on the cyl walls.....
if the A6 has a lot of miles my guess is that ur rings are shot

 

thats pretty low, looks like rings are bad

 

There not that random. All your averages are not far from each cylider test. How does each function work on your car: Spark/Air/Fuel. (aaaaScientifically Speaking)

It sounds like your cylinders are not sealing up. When was the last time you "Seafoamed" your engine? Had this problem, no compression(worse than you), crappy runnings. I compulsivley pulled the head. WOW! two valves were stuck open with carbon looking dungheap. all 16 passages failed leakdown! Black as all hell all over da' place. Could have runned seafoam through there and solved the problem without machinist's help. Three angle valve job later the hatchie smokes tires like it was tobbacco. The headwork was definately worth it, imagine someone who knows what there doing working on your head! Muy bueno


Modified by mntuner2 at 2:18 AM 9/23/2003

 

how is that seafoam thecnique???
first time i hear bout it....
i am interested on it....

 

hrm...im dont know much about cars, so bare wit me. i have spark, idunno how to check fuel. my fuel pump turns on, i smell gas when i try to start. changed my fuel filter maybe 1000 miles ago. but my car runs REALLY rich i know. i changed the timing, and i thought the camgear was on wrong so i put a stick into the number 1 cylinder to see TDC and i pulled it out and there was black **** all over the stick....carbon? i heard of seafoam but my car needs to be running to use it i believe. anyways....u had the same problem? did your car start though? my car wont even get going, it just turns over sorta slowly. thanks for the fast replies. any more help would be appreciated! =D

oh how do i perform a leakdown test? what do u think about teh rings being bad..the engine as 90k miles =\

 

Those numbers are a bit odd, though with the overall increase in compression not being too high with the added oil I'd look into your drivetrain. Obviously the rings arent 100% but I think your larger problem is somewhere else.

 

Only 2 things cause that kind of compression failure. Valves or rings. Those are you only two options. You'd hear a broke rod. If he's got a bent valve rebuild head time. Rings are not hard to do but with how pickey the honda motors are if he cracks it open he'll loose his motor in about a month or two. I know I lost my D16z6 that way. Replacing rings. Learning the hard way Honda blue prints all their motors. If you crack into plz get a shop manual and take really good notes.

 

if it was his valves, he would get alot of blowby, do you have alot of blowby or whatever its called. or was it the pistons, i forget

 

ok whats blowby? alrite so its gotta be my rings or valves...what do u think about teh guy above who posted how there was hella carbon in his cylinders which messed things up? im wondernig if messed up rings or whatever could be wrong with the valves would not let my car start, because my car wont start at all. it turns but thats it. hrm any help is appreciated. i need ot get my car running, and im not sure about taking the pistons out because i have never done nething like that...

 

First of all, have you charged your battery?? (Slow cranking usually = bad battery) Second, With the stick thing, was it oil or gas?? (clear->dark= fuel , oil usually dark black when found in cylinders.) Probably oil though since they/you allready put oil in cylinders for the wet compression test. Once you get the starting system cranking regularly post back. (When cranking, floor it[throttle plate open=more air], it may be flooded)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by solman74 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Only 2 things cause that kind of compression failure. Valves or rings. Those are you only two options. You'd hear a broke rod. If he's got a bent valve rebuild head time. Rings are not hard to do but with how pickey the honda motors are if he cracks it open he'll loose his motor in about a month or two. I know I lost my D16z6 that way. Replacing rings. Learning the hard way Honda blue prints all their motors. If you crack into plz get a shop manual and take really good notes.</TD></TR></TABLE>wait, are you saying if you replace piston rings, you'll blow your motor?

 

What is this SEA FOAM? I have never heard of it. What else could work to burn off carbon build-up

 

seafoam is in a can. You run your engine until the cooling fans come on or till the thermostat has opened up for a couple minutes. The you take the vacuum line off going th brake booster. You then rig up a hose and funnel deal to hook up to manifold vacuum. Then just poor the seafoam into the funnel VERY SLOWLY, until the engine dies. Then start it up again and rev it up a little. Then pour again, kill it. Then let engine sit for lilke 20 minutes. Then start it up again, pour, kill it. Start it, pour it kill it. Let sit for 20. Again and again and again until the bottle is empty. Then drive around so you don't kill you nextdoor neighbors dog. (You will think it is funny how much your car will smoke after this!!)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Hybrid Invasion &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">wait, are you saying if you replace piston rings, you'll blow your motor?</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

ok so i got the head off, and im not really sure what to do next. i took some pictures so you guys can look and maybe you could tell me a little more. on one of the pics, im not sure what its supposed to actually look like but it looks sorta like two valves are stuck open..? any input it appreciated. thanks

http://www.angelfire.com/blog/..._.jpg

http://www.angelfire.com/blog/..._.jpg

http://www.angelfire.com/blog/..._.jpg

 

If you still have the cam in the head, then that would explain why the two valves are open. I'd say that's to be expected. If you remove the cam and the valves are still open, then you do indeed have valves that are sticking open.
Now that you opened the engine, hone the cylinders, and put new rings and bearings. have the head resurfaced, do a leak test on the valves.
New head gasket. intake manifold gasket and any other gasket you can reach.