Compression test

[RiverPatrol]

Actually it's not weird toget such even numbers. That just means that the engine itself is in perfect shape, and that the problem lies elsewhere.

[Coyote Patrol]

Reading this i think you are saying that the #5 spark plug is burning the gap on the electrodes? If this is correct and by the compression you have i believe you might have a bad plug wire. So try this, swap that wire out with another cylinder of the same length and see if the problem follows that wire. If the problem remains with #5 cylinder than you probably have a vacuum leak causing your problem. Can you post a pic of the bad spark plug?

[mattmctree@gmail.com]

My engine doesn't run at the moment and I'm wondering if I can still do a compression test cold to verify piston ring and valve condition

[RiverPatrol]

As long as it cranks over you can run a compression test.

[Esteban]

When was the last time the engine run? Was trying to see something in your postings but couldn't find anything.

If it's been a long time, the results from the compression test might be inconclusive. First I will make shure the the engine is moving freely, and that you don't have the piston rings stuck, etc.

[moore_rb]

Agree-

If the engine turns, then spending the effort to get spark and gas into it would be time well spent. Get it to idle and rev smoothly, and then you can break out the compression and vacuum gauges and do a full validation of the engine's internal condition.

Never assume that you have to rebuild an engine, just because it looks dirty on the outside...