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90 Civic/more than compression ?
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skolbro
New User
Feb 17, 2006, 4:00 PM
Post #1 of 8
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90 Civic/more than compression ?
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Our 90 Civic (210k mi) started/ran fine on Saturday; Sunday no start, doesn't sound even close to catching. fuel getting to the cylinders, spark at the plugs...compression not good - #1psi 90, #2 153, #3 132, #4 70; oil added to #1 bumps it up to 115, added to #4 no change - my question is,
is this compression likely the reason for no start ? I would think it was bad the previous week, too. gas in the tank seems clean, no water. if I understood the starting issue, I could proceed to the rebuild-or-scrap decision. would appreciate any suggestions
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djrea
Novice
Mar 22, 2006, 5:40 PM
Post #2 of 8
(1958 views)
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Re: 90 Civic/more than compression ?
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there is not enough information to tell. An engine will run on 2 dead cylinders if they are opposing, not very well but can run. You say there is spark, ok. have you done a timing check. If your engine has a timing belt, it needs to be inspected. do a dark test, try turning the engine over in the dark to see if there is visable arching.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 24, 2006, 10:03 AM
Post #3 of 8
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Re: 90 Civic/more than compression ?
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How old is the timing belt? The compression #s are aweful but it could still run. If it was running ok recently it should again unless some horror happened!! As the other poster said look for electical arching. If you give up on this engine I suggest good used from a reputable junk yard. Or maybe cut your losses and move on to another car. I drive an 89 Lincoln with 208K and will NOT do a major repair on it as the body is also rusting and I'm in love with the car but face it - it's only a car! T
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skolbro
New User
Mar 24, 2006, 1:50 PM
Post #4 of 8
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Re: 90 Civic/more than compression ?
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Thanks, Tom and djrea -
Starting, at least, no longer a problem. One thing I suspected early on was flooding, and tried giving the fuel in the cylinders time to evaporate when I pulled the plugs to dry them off; put them back after adding a little starting fluid to each cylinder...still wouldn't catch. Hit on the solution after cranking with the injectors disconnected from electrical - it turned over a few times, belched a puff of blue smoke and ran a couple seconds; hooked the injectors up again and we're back on the road. When the days are longer and dryer maybe I'll try to pull the head and see what can be done about the compression
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 24, 2006, 5:11 PM
Post #5 of 8
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Re: 90 Civic/more than compression ?
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Glad you are back in biz. The cylinder that did not respond to oil is probably a valve or head gasket problem. If it were mine I'd just put new plugs in, change the oil with heavier weight than the usual 5-30 and it it's running ok cut your losses. You can spend a fortune getting the head redone and this is a 200K plus car that is 16 years old! Watch you wallet and my advise is don't overspend unless this is a love affair with this car. T
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Note on flooded engines: Spark plugs get soaked and some will NOT air dry. The secondary current is high and alway will pick the path of least resistance. Sometimes a spark plug that has been soaked will (even when air dry) will not spark but instead send the spark thru the porcelan and NOT make a spark! Best solution is new plugs.
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DanD
Veteran
/ Moderator
Mar 25, 2006, 3:17 AM
Post #6 of 8
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Re: 90 Civic/more than compression ?
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I agree with Tom that unless this car is exceptional condition; you maybe spending good money for bad. Here’s one scenario that will likely happen if you only rebuild the cylinder head on an engine with 200K showing on the clock. The lower end will not be able to handle the higher compression and good vacuum the head will produce. The engine may blow out a rod and start knocking or it’ll burn oil at such a high rate that the forestry and park services would be interested in buying it from you as a fogging machine.LOL Maybe that’s not such a bad thing; West Nile Virus and mosquitoes are becoming an issue. LOL
Dan
Canadian "EH"
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skolbro
New User
Mar 26, 2006, 1:58 PM
Post #7 of 8
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Re: 90 Civic/more than compression ?
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DanD,
Thanks for that advice. I drove my V-8 400 250k without ever taking the heads off, I should know to leave well enough alone even though I'm itching to learn a new procedure. Guess I've got it bad. I was overlooking the effect it could have on the lower end, as you said. I got my Pontiac through those last miles on 20-50; is that too heavy for a 1.5L ? It's running on 10-40 now.
skolbro
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 26, 2006, 5:20 PM
Post #8 of 8
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Re: 90 Civic/more than compression ?
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20-50 will burn slower but if it's real cold where you are they don't like that! T
____________________________________________________--
I know you were asking for Dan but I had a 1977 LTD with 400M engine you couldn't kill with a grenade! Road salt and rust took that car out even while it was running strong.
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