Last night, I finally get my lazy ass out from in front of the computer and into the garage for a compression test. The first test showed 170-160-160-135. I was like - NOOOOOOO!!!!!!! So then I did a leakdown on cyl 4, and the compression tester wouldn't hold any pressure. So I tried another dry run on cyl 3 and the same thing happened - it wouldn't hold pressure. Damn Sunpro POS!...at least thats what I was hoping. The numbers just plain sucked. So I picked up a new tester today.

Dry run : 170-170-180-170
Leakdown : 190-185-205-200

The little story:
I'm glad it was just the tester. After 15 years of being carefully taken care of in it's original semi-hard plastic packaging, my 2-and-a-half year old son got a hold of it the other week while I was installing the UDP. I guess he must have dropped it hard or something. The moral of the story - Don't let little kids play with precision instruments.

The saga continues:
The dry numbers look borderline to me and the leakdown is showing ring wear - which has me concerned. I'm thinking about putting something like 'Engine Restorer & Lubricant' in to get the numbers back up. Does anyone have good/bad comments about these kind of products? Which is the best kind to use? Is it a temporary solution - how long do they work? Do these type of products hamper a rebuild down the road in any way? Is a canned solution just a pipe dream(in other words - is it time for a rebuild)?


95 Eclipse RS : 5 speed
Gude cams : test pipe : AFX UDP : ram air : Thrush glasspack : Dual air horns : Kenwood KDC 5000 : AutoCommand remote start
incomming - lower strut bars

Personally I think they are just gimics... I don't see how they could possibly give you any long term results.

i say try a can of restore (they are cheap for a one time use) and then do another comp test a month later and see how they go.

first change your oil and try some of the stuff at wal mart that comes in the little tin can just put in in with the new oil it claims that in 500 miles you should FEEL and notice a difference in your motor also it says it cuts down on oil being used just try it for 500 miles and tell us what happens my dad put some in his car like a week ago i'll ask him if it has used any less oil(uses about a pint or two ever 3k) just check it out its worth a try

Also consider that if the test was done cold, your numbers will be lower. Metals expand when heated, and engines are designed to take advantage of that fact.

I put a can in. Yup, it says to check again after 500 miles so we'll see. The can also says to put a can in at every oil change....so it appears to be a temporary solution in that respect.

The car was definately warm when I tested it. I took it for a 5 mile spin before the test.

It would usually take a long time for me to put that many miles on it(I work in my basement). I've put 40K on the car in the 6 years that I've owned it. This week I'll try to run up to N Philly and tune up my friend's basher, then run down to Baltimore and get the race pipe on my brother's RX7. That should give me 500 miles, as well as some personal satisfaction. I've got a 2 month(at least) contract starting in a week that'll keep me in NYC during the week and I'll only be home on the weekends. I'll have no chance to drive it then.

My plan is to stroke it. I'd love to have a 2.2 - partly because there is "no replacement" and partly because I want to build up before the turbo, not after. My schedule is a bit wierd and I wasn't planning on rebuilding it until fall/winter. I just hope this stuff keeps the numbers up for the interim.

Thanks for all of the suggestions.


95 Eclipse RS : 5 speed
Gude cams : test pipe : AFX UDP : ram air : Thrush glasspack : Dual air horns : Kenwood KDC 5000 : AutoCommand remote start
incomming - lower strut bars

Here's some bad news. It doesn't seem to be working all that great so far. I've been able to put 100 miles on it to date.

175-170-180-165

Looks like one cylander is getting better, and one is getting worse. So far, no good.



95 Eclipse RS : 5 speed
Gude cams : test pipe : AFX UDP : ram air : Thrush glasspack : Dual air horns : Kenwood KDC 5000 : AutoCommand remote start
incomming - lower strut bars