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| Need help analyzing compression test results please; have comp. results.....now what? thanks.... | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jul 4 2012, 05:23 PM (2,510 Views) | |
| bgrieves1 | Jul 4 2012, 05:23 PM Post #1 |
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Hi...Beth the novice here....just bought 91 geo metro...188k on engine. Here are compression test results: Dry: 1--165 2--65 3--148 Wet: 1--140 2--82 3--160 Like a lot of folks, not much cash laying around. What should I do if I have about $300 or so? Engines looks fairly well cared for....got a new battery, put in new spark plugs, added some oil...starter looks new; with a quick look hoses and wires look Ok. Just wondering...if I just have $300 or so....where should I put it? Engine obviously needs attention. Thanks and I do apologize...me and my husband are rank beginners...but we have a service manual on order and we have a little time right now. Hubby goes back to work July 31 with a 130 mile per day commute, 5 days a week. Have a 97 Nissan Altima for back up......Geo just gets 21 mpg now with automatic trans and Ac. Nissan probably is the better commuter car right now I'm thinkin....but maybe not too much better.....2.4L....that car is "new" to us as well so don't know the gas mileage on her yet but she seems fairly well cared for with about 160k on her engine. Just looking for advice on best way to spend this $300....or if we should just wait and use Nissan as primary commuter till we get more money? Thanks for any advice and God Bless..... Beth the beginner..... |
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| Coche Blanco | Jul 4 2012, 05:30 PM Post #2 |
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Troll Certified
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I would wait. |
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| bgrieves1 | Jul 4 2012, 05:34 PM Post #3 |
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Ok, thank you for that opinion. |
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| z34-5speed | Jul 4 2012, 05:35 PM Post #4 |
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Formerly "Tech Certified"
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As the wise Coche said. "I'd wait" as well. Save up a few hundred more and get that engine rebuilt/replaced by a member on this forum. Kyle |
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| Memphis metro | Jul 4 2012, 06:02 PM Post #5 |
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Less than 300 will buy you a headgasket set with valve seals, a set of head bolts and a set of intake valves. These rings hold up well so in this case I would not worry with reringing the pistons. Those numbers you have there indicate a valve issue. I would snatch the head off and do a valve job on the head and put it back together and drive it and use it a few more years while saving up enough for a complete tear down overhaul somewhere in the future. Naturally a complete engine rebuild is best but like you, we do not always have the money. A valve refresh should get you many miles for the cheap. Welcome to the forum Beth. |
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| Murf 59 | Jul 4 2012, 06:18 PM Post #6 |
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Welcome to the forum. Our little engines are known for having problems with the exhaust valves. |
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| bgrieves1 | Jul 4 2012, 07:01 PM Post #7 |
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Well I might be able to choke up some more Benjamins with peanut butter and rice and beans on the grocery list :). I wrote some on my other thread about this...did this price breakdown: Ok...looking at parts dinosaur I see the following prices: Head gasket (only head gasket) $14 Head bolts set $24 Intake valve $7 ea (I have a 3 cyl., 6 valve engine,so I am guessing I need six of these = $42 total Exhaust valves $9ea...need 6? = $54 Timing belt $14 1985 - 1998 GEO 1.0 L Engine set of piston rings from Enginetech. [steel top rings] This set has two compression rings plus the oil rails and expander for each of the 3 pistons. Made in Japan! ON SALE for $35 or 1985 - 1998 GEO 1.0 L Engine set of piston rings, made in USA, by Hastings Manufacturing. Set has two compression rings plus the oil rails and expander for each of the 3 pistons. Top ring is chrome-faced steel. For $40 Which one do you like better? Enginetech or Hastings? Water pump $25 (if we take the engine out, someone said to do this) And I don't know what all I need for the 3 cylinders, so I will assume the $161 that Bad Bent quoted above will cover the parts for these.... The grand total of the above (not counting tools...I know I can rent the torque wrench, don't know about the ball hone and ring compressor). I'm sure there is something I left out....like PB spray for hard bolts, etc.: Grand Total: $344 Well, we might be able to choke this up. Have to check on those tools now. I guess we would probably see the return soon in gas mpg hopefully, if we can pull this off. Add in ball hone and other tools...probably looking at $500. Now to rethink this think and look at replacing valves and rings only. Thanks again ..... Beth the beginner |
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| bgrieves1 | Jul 4 2012, 07:04 PM Post #8 |
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Hi...thank you....just learning from scratch.....been reading about the engines and they do have a weak spot or too.....read something about EGR valve or something like that..... to take care of EGR and that will help this problem..... apparently there are two or three things you can do to help prevent this problem..... so if I just do valves and rings.....I get about 21mpg now.....you think I'd be closer to 30 or 35 mpg? Thanks again and Happy 4th... Beth the beginner |
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| Good bye | Jul 4 2012, 08:24 PM Post #9 |
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First, you will only need three exhaust valves. I would buy the gasket and the head bolts fromm Geo Glenn. I would also replace the cam and crank seals, the waterpump and the timing belt. This should be well within your budget.
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| Johnny Mullet | Jul 4 2012, 08:51 PM Post #10 |
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Fear the Mullet
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For $300 and you doing all the work, you should be able to do the whole engine as in a valve and ring job. Head gasket set with valve seals. 3 Exhaust valves. Standard bore piston ring set. Timing belt. PCV Valve Plugs, wires, cap, rotor. Oil, filters, coolant, etc |
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| Deleted User | Jul 4 2012, 09:14 PM Post #11 |
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Welcome, Beth. Johnny Mullet is correct. It's not hard to do it yourself. You have come to the right place. Click on the link below, "Geo Glenn's Favorite Engine Parts - Click Here" for all of my favorite engine parts. Glenn |
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| idmetro | Jul 4 2012, 09:40 PM Post #12 |
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I prefer the Hastings rings and second the opinion of getting the valves, reusable head bolts and head gasket from Geo Glen, using a cheaper headgasket will come back to haunt you, don't use the Apex or DNJ ones, I would at least get a felpro gasket as many members have had good success with those. This is a job you can do! Take your time, label the various connections, take digital pictures before you tear it apart so you can see how it should go back together and ask questions here should you get stuck. Good Luck! |
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| bgrieves1 | Jul 4 2012, 10:41 PM Post #13 |
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Ok great....as Johnny Mullet stated below: For $300 and you doing all the work, you should be able to do the whole engine as in a valve and ring job. Head gasket set with valve seals. 3 Exhaust valves. Standard bore piston ring set. Timing belt. PCV Valve Plugs, wires, cap, rotor. Oil, filters, coolant, etc I'm going to go with this list and buy the gasket and the head bolts fromm Geo Glenn as suggested. After that, I guess the other parts can be bought at Geo Glenn as well or www.partsdinosaur.com. Great I'm excited and appreciate you helping me target what should be done for around $300. My service manual should be here in a week or so and this will help me a lot for sure. The Haynes manual tells you about several engines all at once...very confusing...makes me want to just rewrite the thing with just the stuff for my 1991 geo. I'm sure the service manual will help me a lot as right now I do not understand the basic workings of the engine. Thanks so much for your help. I have been a nurse, so I am used to diagnosing and assessing and trying to fix people....this is just a car...with gasoline instead of blood. Nice thing...cars don't talk back and you don't have to worry about putting them in pain :). Thanks again.....you are such a big help. God bless Beth the beginner (and my hubby is here to help and learn, too!) |
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| bgrieves1 | Jul 4 2012, 11:25 PM Post #14 |
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Ok idmetro...Thank you. I plan to go with your suggestions. Happy 4th! Beth |
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| Woodie | Jul 5 2012, 05:38 AM Post #15 |
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You don't have to work on your car while it's running, that helps a bit. |
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