Compression test
					Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules
	If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules
- 
				
john in kzoo
 Topic author
- Posts: 90
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 7:57 am
- First Name: John
- Last Name: Seelman
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 15 touring
- Location: Kalamazoo
Compression test
Guys,
Interested in doing a simple compression test. A couple of questions 1. Warm or cold engine? and 2. All plugs out as each cylinder is being tested?
Thanks
			
			
									
									
						Interested in doing a simple compression test. A couple of questions 1. Warm or cold engine? and 2. All plugs out as each cylinder is being tested?
Thanks
- 
				
Mark Nunn
 
- Posts: 1268
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 8:01 am
- First Name: Mark
- Last Name: Nunn
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Runabout
- Location: Bennington, NE
- Board Member Since: 2017
Re: Compression test
Don't forget to fully open the throttle during the tests.  You can't compress air that can't get in.
			
			
									
									
						- 
				
RajoRacer
 
- Posts: 5347
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:18 pm
- First Name: Steve
- Last Name: Tomaso
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1914 Touring, 1919 Centerdoor, 1924 TT C-Cab Express, 1925 Racer
- Location: Longbranch, WA
- Board Member Since: 2001
Re: Compression test
1: I prefer warm - 2: yes & 3: what Mark said !
			
			
									
									
						- 
				
Mark Gregush
 
- Posts: 5438
- Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2019 1:57 pm
- First Name: Mark
- Last Name: Gregush
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 cutdown PU, 1948 F2 Ford flat head 6 pickup 3 speed
- Location: Portland Or
- Board Member Since: 1999
Re: Compression test
It is ok to have the throttle closed or open, I really have never seen a difference between the two. I do my test cold, I am more interested in starting compression then running. Again, you can do them both to see how much difference between the two readings.
			
			
									
									I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas!    
  
1925 Cut down pickup
1948 Ford F2 pickup
						 
  1925 Cut down pickup
1948 Ford F2 pickup
- 
				
john in kzoo
 Topic author
- Posts: 90
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 7:57 am
- First Name: John
- Last Name: Seelman
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 15 touring
- Location: Kalamazoo
Re: Compression test
Compression test completed Saturday on a very cold engine (30 degrees) got 45#, 40#, 40#, and 40#.  Plugs looked good #1 was sooty though
Thoughts??
			
			
									
									
						Thoughts??
- 
				
Tim Rogers
 
- Posts: 387
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:04 am
- First Name: Tim
- Last Name: Rogers
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 Coupe & 1923 Runabout
- Location: South of the Adirondacks
- Board Member Since: 2013
Re: Compression test
Run the wheels off of it or do a complete rebuild.
			
			
									
									<o><o><o><o> Tim Rogers - South of the Adirondacks - Forum member since 2013 <o><o><o><o>
						- 
				
Quickm007
 
- Posts: 1202
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 10:58 am
- First Name: Mario
- Last Name: Brossard
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1911 Touring and 1914 speedster
- Location: Quebec City Canada
- Board Member Since: 1999
Re: Compression test
How to do a compression test on engine without starter ?
			
			
									
									Super Mario Bross   
 
1911 Touring
1914 Speedster
						 
 1911 Touring
1914 Speedster
- 
				
john in kzoo
 Topic author
- Posts: 90
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 7:57 am
- First Name: John
- Last Name: Seelman
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 15 touring
- Location: Kalamazoo
Re: Compression test
I opt for running the wheels off........
Quickm007 - Crank and crank and crank
			
			
									
									
						Quickm007 - Crank and crank and crank
- 
				Fire_chief
 
- Posts: 243
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:09 am
- First Name: Charlie
- Last Name: Gagel
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 12 Tourings(2),14 Tourings(2),22Touring,22 TT,21 Fire Truck,14 Chief Car
- Location: Orange, CT
- MTFCA Life Member: YES
Re: Compression test
Mario, it is still the same process.
The only thing different is that you get to turn the engine over with the crank
			
			
									
									
						The only thing different is that you get to turn the engine over with the crank
- 
				kmatt2
 
- Posts: 665
- Joined: Wed Jun 17, 2020 1:41 pm
- First Name: Kevin
- Last Name: Matthiesen
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 26 T Coupe, 16 T Open Express, 21 TT Flatbed, ,13 T Speedster, 63 VW Bettle,51 Mercury 4 door sport sedan, 67 Mercury Cougar
- Location: Madera CA 93636
Re: Compression test
Your cold compression test numbers, 45,40,40,40, would sujest why #1 plug was sooty. You are getting a little oil past the rings in #1 and #1 plug has a intermitid misfire. Try doing a wet compression. test with a little oil in the cylendars and all numbers will come up, with #1 coming up the least. Your cold dry numbers of 40 lbs are not that bad. I would keep driving the car, keep up with your maintenance and check the #1 coil & timer connections, replace #1 plug if needed.
			
			
									
									
						- 
				
john in kzoo
 Topic author
- Posts: 90
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 7:57 am
- First Name: John
- Last Name: Seelman
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 15 touring
- Location: Kalamazoo
Re: Compression test
Thanks Guys.....
			
			
									
									
						- 
				
Charlie B in N.J.
 
- Posts: 771
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 7:40 am
- First Name: CHARLIE
- Last Name: BRANCA
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: "27 Tudor / "23 Touring
- Location: Brick N.J.
- Board Member Since: 2010
Re: Compression test
I much prefer comp testing a low comp engine like the T when it’s cold. It gives a truer situation concerning starting the T when cold. Testing hot will give a false reading regarding cold starting. A modern with a comp of say 150 lbs. or better is relatively in affected by a 5 or 10 lb. drop. On a T that could be the difference between easy starting or not on a cold day. Do a dry then a wet test with the choke & throttle wide open. Write the results down. Don’t trust to memory. A VERY informative test concerning your engines condition. Especially if you’re pulling the head for no reason.
			
			
									
									Forget everything you thought you knew.
						- 
				
Oldav8tor
 
- Posts: 2294
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:39 am
- First Name: Tim
- Last Name: Juhl
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1917 Touring
- Location: Thumb of Michigan
- Board Member Since: 2018
Re: Compression test
Sooo.... what is the "good" compression range?
			
			
									
									1917 Touring
1946 Aeronca Champ
1952 Willys M38a1 Jeep (sold 2023)
1953 Ford Jubilee Tractor
						1946 Aeronca Champ
1952 Willys M38a1 Jeep (sold 2023)
1953 Ford Jubilee Tractor
- 
				
Tim Rogers
 
- Posts: 387
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:04 am
- First Name: Tim
- Last Name: Rogers
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 Coupe & 1923 Runabout
- Location: South of the Adirondacks
- Board Member Since: 2013
Re: Compression test
55 PSI would be nice...
			
			
									
									<o><o><o><o> Tim Rogers - South of the Adirondacks - Forum member since 2013 <o><o><o><o>
						- 
				
Quickm007
 
- Posts: 1202
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 10:58 am
- First Name: Mario
- Last Name: Brossard
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1911 Touring and 1914 speedster
- Location: Quebec City Canada
- Board Member Since: 1999
Re: Compression test
Thank you guys, I will crank, crank and crank but my shoulder is painfull right now.  Hope I will recover soon... 
			
			
									
									
Super Mario Bross   
 
1911 Touring
1914 Speedster
						 
 1911 Touring
1914 Speedster
- 
				
john in kzoo
 Topic author
- Posts: 90
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 7:57 am
- First Name: John
- Last Name: Seelman
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 15 touring
- Location: Kalamazoo
Re: Compression test
It's really easy with all but one plug out and the throttle positioned all the way open as well
			
			
									
									
						- 
				KeithG
 
- Posts: 737
- Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2019 3:00 pm
- First Name: Keith
- Last Name: Gumbinger
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '14 Touring, '26 RPU, '27 Fordor, '27 Touring
- Location: Kenosha, WI
- MTFCA Life Member: YES
- Board Member Since: 1999
Re: Compression test
Super Mario, Befriend a football player with wide shoulders and strong arms....    
Keith
			
			
									
									
Keith
'14 Touring, '26 Roadster Pickup, '27 Fordor, '27 Touring
Motto: It's hard to build a garage that's tooooo big!
						Motto: It's hard to build a garage that's tooooo big!








