low compression at 60754 miles

[jfclancy]

Well check engine light came on late yesyerday took it to grapvine ford today , they said low compression #8 cylinder.
The service writer said he has never seen a low mileage marauder with this problem . Has any of y'all seen something or anything like this?
At this time i added a botttle of cd2 to the oil. waiting for a warm up then see it it matters .
local auto parts guy suggested getting a second opinion as service writer said it could go as high as $1500.00 to have this fixed?

Any suggestions ?

Turned 64 yesterday and my car died dayum!

still runs fine well seems to me ..:beer::beer:

[RacerX]

What are the compression numbers for all cylinders? Happy Birthday btw! :party::cake::geezer::D

[Egon Spengler]

What are the compression numbers for all cylinders?
^^^What he said. Any blue smoke out of the exhaust?

[tjl006]

Burnt valve most likley. Add oil before doing compression test if the compression remains the same you most likley have a valve issue.

[jfclancy]

Sorry to saY ALL I HAVE IS THE PRINTOUT THAT SAYS LOW COMPRESSION # 8 CYL.
nope as to the blue smoke this thing has had a steady diet of mobil one since 2003 it first oil change. Well i bought it used but it only had 56 miles on it

well thanks for the wuick reponses

joe Clancy

[RacerX]

Burnt valve most likley. Add oil before doing compression test if the compression remains the same you most likley have a valve issue.
Oh yeah, #8 is in the "hot spot". Could even be a sloppy valve seat like the one Zack just fixed. Test the compression in that cylinder as-is, then like Tom said, add a teaspoon of oil directly into the cylinder through the plug hole, do the compression test again. Must be someone here in the Dallas/Fort Worth area that can help with the right tools before you spend that kind of $$$.

[jfclancy]

wELL ONE BOTTLE OF cd2 AND ONE BOTTLE OF RXP TRIP THRU CAR WAS ? OUT ON THE HWY ck eng light went out will keep all posted

Thanks for your prompt responses I will keep you informed:beer::beer:

[MM_BKK]

I would be suspicious of that shop since they did not tell you what were all the compression #'s of all cylinders and most importantly the check engine code # or condition.

[RF Overlord]

Never heard of RXP, but CD2 is nothing more than concentrated viscosity index improver...like STP...all it does is thicken the oil a grade...IOW it makes a 5W-20 into a 10W-30. I guarantee if you have low compression this did not fix it.

Do as the auto parts guy said and get a second opinion...and if the CEL comes back, bring it to him and let us know what code(s) you're getting.

[rumble]

Joe, something you might consider (assuming the problem persists) is having a shop do a "leak down" test. This blows compressed air into the cylinder with the piston at TDC on the power stroke and where it comes out will tell you where the problem is. Tail pipe, past the exhaust valve, oil cap in the valve cover, past the piston. Air intake, past the intake valve. If you know what the problem is
then you'll be able to figure what it will cost.

Good luck and keep us in the loop.

Gary

[chapel1]

i lost a valve seat at 56,000 miles. Noticed a light ticking noise. Zack found no compression in the #8 cylinder. I got lucky and had no ring damage.

[JBeezy]

All of this is scaring me. My car has 33K miles and I saw that blue smoke come out the exaust the other night upon startup..... I wonder if this would be covered somehow since my car has low miles

Sorry, not trying to hijack the thread.

[jfclancy]

Well finally had a chance to speak with my brother a master mechanic in pa.
he said there is no way to determine a compression problem using an electrical test>period end of sentance. now he says ford protocols may involve some kind of a balance test but only way to know for sure is old fashioned pull a plug compression test.
On a brighter note went grocery shopping which always involves a stop for something to eat first , anyway several stops no reoccurance of problem.
Good plan to go to auto parts store to have code read first. SAo if it comes back I will do that. the codes have been reset somehow so do not know if it would be worthwhile to get a second check at this time.
anyhow baby is running no worries at this time.

thanks for all the inputs got to love this site:beer::beer:

[mtenderenda]

I had the same problem. The cylinder head warped when it got hot. Found out that the head was on a recall list. I had a power train warranty on the car. See if your car still falls under the warranty. I paided only $100.00 for the warranty service.

[RF Overlord]

JBeezy, chillax.

Blue smoke on startup is common with this motor. Unless it's a really significant amount of smoke or it happens on every start or you have other symptoms, you're fine.

[Marauderjack]

Would low compression even throw a CEL???:confused:

Sounds fishy to me!!:fish:

[Blackened300a]

Would low compression even throw a CEL???:confused:

Sounds fishy to me!!:fish:

Agreed. A missfire in the cylinder would set a light either injector or COP. Not bad rings or valve issues.

[tjl006]

Low compression causes a missfire throwing the cel. It happened with my car.

[Blackened300a]

Low compression causes a missfire throwing the cel. It happened with my car.

That was your burnt valve issue?

[tjl006]

That was your burnt valve issue?
Yes Paul. If you drove the car really easy it would take a while for the light to come back on.

[Chevyguy]

Low compression causes a missfire throwing the cel. It happened with my car.

Happened with my 96 too. The PCM detects misfire via the crank trigger readings. When the compression is below say 60 psi which is what my #3 cyl was it will keep setting the P0430 code.

In my case there was a small problem with the rings

http://i348.photobucket.com/albums/q329/folingo/1996%20Town%20Car%20Signature/Engine%20Swap/SL372353.jpg


The CEL code just points to a particular cylinder. Compression test helps confirm what is causing the misfire. Low compression means it's probably not a coil or injector.

I am still running the same plug wires, coils and injectors in my 96 and the new engine runs like buttah

[RacerX]

In my case there was a small problem with the rings
Well maybe if you showed a picture with the rings in it, we could tell! Sheesh! :D Hey! Are those chocolates?

[TFB]

Well maybe if you showed a picture with the rings in it, we could tell! Sheesh! :D Hey! Are those chocolates?
LOL I was thinking same...

The chocolates are for Valentines day, when you're really in love a couple oil stains won't be noticed...

[Chevyguy]

I don't think the rings work well in the oil pan, there were still SOME on the piston

http://i348.photobucket.com/albums/q329/folingo/1996%20Town%20Car%20Signature/Engine%20Swap/SL372344.jpg

http://i348.photobucket.com/albums/q329/folingo/1996%20Town%20Car%20Signature/Engine%20Swap/SL372350.jpg

Cyl was not all that bad actually

http://i348.photobucket.com/albums/q329/folingo/1996%20Town%20Car%20Signature/Engine%20Swap/SL372346.jpg

[CBT]

Dayum!! That's a lot of rings down there, I think I see the one Frodo tossed into the fires of Mt. Doom.

[jfclancy]

Well thanks for all the input esp about frodo 's ring
but my problem seems to have gone away... for now at least
any thing changes I will let y'all know

Thanks for the support
:beer::beer:

[CBT]

Well thanks for all the input esp about frodo 's ring
but my problem seems to have gone away... for now at least
any thing changes I will let y'all know

Thanks for the support
:beer::beer:
It died from low compression and fixed itself? Holy crap, how awesome is that? Hope it stays okay :banana2:

[Marauderjack]

It died from low compression and fixed itself? Holy crap, how awesome is that? Hope it stays okay :banana2:

Chuck Norris touched it!!!:eek::beer:;)

[CBT]

Chuck Norris touched it!!!:eek::beer:;)

His sweat is the secret ingredient in 5W20.

[RacerX]

Chuck can buff that out...