compression stock engine 5.0L

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Only use a compression tester with a screw in adapter for the spark plug hole. The other type leaks too much to get an accurate reading. Your local auto parts store may have a compression tester to rent. If you do mechanic work on your own car on a regular basis, it would be a good tool to add to your collection.

With the engine warmed up, remove all spark plugs and prop the throttle wide open, crank the engine until it the gage reading stops increasing. On a cold engine, it will be hard to tell what's good & what's not. Some of the recent posts have numbers ranging from 140-170 PSI. If the compression is low, squirt some oil in the cylinder and do it again – if it comes up, the rings are worn. There should be no more than 10% difference between cylinders. Use a blow down leak test (puts compressed air inside cylinders) on cylinders that have more than 10% difference.

I generally use a big screwdriver handle stuck in the TB between the butterfly and the TB to prop the throttle open. The plastic is soft enough that it won't damage anything and won't get sucked down the intake either.

A battery charger (not the trickle type) is a good thing to have if you haven't driven the car lately or if you have any doubts about the battery's health. Connect it up while you are cranking the engine and it will help keep the starter cranking at a consistent speed from the first cylinder tested to the last cylinder.
 
on my 90 LX stock 150,000 mile engine, the compression was between 145psi and 155 psi, I believe. I believe the engine was cold (or I would have burnt the hell out of my hands) and I did not prop the throttle body open.

As for compression ratio, I believe it was 9.0:1, 91lxttrim.
 
hello,

This is my compression
1= 9.5
2= 9
3= 9.5
4= 9.5
5= 9
6= 9
7=9.5
8=8.5

with half warm engine (drove only to the garage at my house)

is this a good compression!!!

greets from holland