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Compression check results

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Old 04-09-2007, 07:10 PM
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Originally Posted by r0tor
The line ends at 9.7 kgf/sq cm and 300 rpm. The line with the above slope would hit 10.0 kgf/sq cm at 315 rpm. It could never reach more then 10.0 beacause the engines compression ratio is 10:1. Atmospheric pressure is 1 kgf/sq cm and working with the ideal gas law you have P2 = (v1/v2)*P1 or the compression ratio*P1 or 10.
Actually you can measure pressure higher than 10 even if compression is only 10:1. In the ideal engine you will have P*V/T=const. Where P is air pressure, V - volume and T - temperature. But when you compress air it's temperature increases and thus pressure increases more than if you consider volume only. So measured pressure can be more than 10 and increases with the increase of RPM (speed of compression).
Old 04-09-2007, 07:18 PM
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r0tor: I'm pretty certain that the 10:1 compression is purely based on changes of the geometry of the volume and has nothing to do with all the other factors that you mentioned. Its not reported as 10:1 because that's what they measured with all the sealing, thermal expansion, other effects etc. Its reported as 10:1 because volume at TDC is 1/10th the volume at BTC.
Old 04-09-2007, 07:48 PM
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I don't know which Service Manual you guys are looking at,but mine has 2 lines on the pressure v engine speed graph----line A is standard pressure and line B is minimum pressure.At 300rpm the minimum compression pressure is about 7.8 kgf/cm2.(See section 01-10-7).
In any event the procedure for doing the compression test requires you to get the engine upto normal operating temperature and then WAIT 10 mins to allow the exhaust ports to cool off.The techs I have seen do not always do this and if they don't you get a lower pressure reading.

Last point is if you run with 5W30 --10W40 you will have sufficient compression in this engine.
Old 04-09-2007, 08:12 PM
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Originally Posted by two rotors
I don't know which Service Manual you guys are looking at,but mine has 2 lines on the pressure v engine speed graph----line A is standard pressure and line B is minimum pressure.At 300rpm the minimum compression pressure is about 7.8 kgf/cm2.(See section 01-10-7).
I refer to the copy on CD: CD05-XX-03LE, page BHE011002000W03
Old 04-09-2007, 08:30 PM
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Originally Posted by rx8-rus
I refer to the copy on CD: CD05-XX-03LE, page BHE011002000W03
I did not get a CD with my purchase, where did you get yours?

Old 04-09-2007, 08:34 PM
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I think me and Charles got the same version of the manual.
Old 04-09-2007, 08:36 PM
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Originally Posted by Nemesis8
I did not get a CD with my purchase, where did you get yours?

Welcome to the Internet :P
Old 04-09-2007, 09:11 PM
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Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill
Two, if you look at my initial response I first asked if there was any proof that the engine was warmed up. I had similar issues with the tech at my dealer's service department having, most likely, not warmed up the engine nor used the WDS to also measure engine cranking speed. As a result I got numbers in the range of 6.2-6.5 or so without benefit of the rpm values. The service manual I have is the c.d. manual, version 2.0 from 9/2003. What I find so compelling during these conversations is that when our focus turns a bit so as to also include the Mazda tech's methodology, there is ALWAYS a serious doubt as to their having followed proper procedures. I strongly believe that this forum provides more accurate information via discussions such as these than do the dealerships/techs or Mazda, themselves.

What is your opinon regarding the use of 5W20 as specified by Mazda with regard to crankng compression. Plus, has it been mentioned yet that dirty oil can cause low readings and poor engine performance?
I think you would get a truer representation of engine condition with a clean oil fill.You do not have to run your motor very long to have the oil contaminated with fuel.Seal lubrication is important,no start due to flooding is the result of fuel washing oil off the seals.With my own car I have never used 5W20 (after the original fill).I have used 5w30,10W30 or 10W40 depending on temperature etc.I have never had flooding,even when I have stopped and started my car cold to induce it.

I presume Mazda(Japan) tested the engine with 5W30 oil because that is specified in all markets except North America---but I have really no way of knowing for sure.

It is not absolutely necessary to use the WDS,the earlier electronic tool does the job as well,but you can't make a nice print out of the results.(In fact they use the same pressure transducer.)Any tool which gives the compression pressure without simultaneous rpm measurement is not really good enough especially at the limit.
Old 04-09-2007, 10:26 PM
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Originally Posted by rx8-rus
Talking about compression specs we always refer to the original 2004 service manual. Have somebody seen updated manual for 2007 model? They come with the new starter from factory, and thus all have higher cranking speed. Manual is probably updated with the new data to reflect this.
Good idea. Anybody?

As for the method of testing affecting the results, the dealership I used to go to ran my first compression test while my engine was cold. Here are those results - https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...9&postcount=23.. I don't know if letting the exhaust ports cool off for 10 minutes, as two rotors mentioned, would affect the results similarly.
Old 04-10-2007, 07:56 AM
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why is it everyone is worried about the engine compression test results and not the engine vacuum test results?

The vacuum test (which is what Mazda did for the recall) is performed at idle and also tests the seals of the engine but while the engine is actually at operating temp/ up to speed / and with the MOP in service?
Old 04-12-2007, 10:39 AM
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I talked with service manager, and he called Mazda with my measurements. Mazda agreed to replace my engine...

Last edited by rx8-rus; 04-12-2007 at 04:28 PM.
Old 05-17-2007, 02:02 PM
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I got a new engine recently. So far it runs well. Dealer replaced one of the ignition coils also. So far (500 miles on the new engine) car runs well. I didn't notice any change in MPG. Car feels a little stronger in low RPM range and has more linear acceleration over 6000 RPM. But it is just feeling, I didn't do any instrumentation measurements yet.

On the other forum I found a post from mechanic who said that if compression exceeds 7 you won't have problems with hard start or dying on idle. But overall power output will be reduced. So if you have a car made in 2003-2005 and it is still under warranty, I recommend to check compression even if you did not notice problems yet.

Last edited by rx8-rus; 05-17-2007 at 02:12 PM.
Old 06-22-2007, 05:38 PM
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After the first oil change in a new engine I decided to do a compression check. Results are 8.4-8.5 in all chambers at 270 RPM. I also decided to use only synthetic 5w30 oil in it (Valvoline). Hopefully this engine will last until the end of life for the rest of a car.
Old 06-22-2007, 06:45 PM
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glad to hear the new engine is doing much better.


nycgps: any chance of getting a copy of that service manual?
Old 06-22-2007, 07:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Charles R. Hill
ny, I cannot remember who it was that suggested the idea of routing hoses from a jug of water into the vacuum ports on the lower intake manifold, but it was a decent idea.
That was me.

The other thing to do is to pour a couple of oz of auto tranny fluid into the LIM and crank the motor with the plugs out and the ESS unpluged.
Keep adding fluid until it starts to spray out of the plug holes and then put the plugs back in and let it sit over night.
Plug the ESS back in and start it in the morning.
The resultant white cloud is quite impressive, but it will release almost all of the carbon from the seal grooves and LIM.

My motor turned 10.1 at 230 RPM after doing that. It settled down to a more reasonable 9.1 after a few hours of normal operation.
Old 06-23-2007, 05:19 PM
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Originally Posted by kennyfrc1

So after running this thru my 8 the oil test began. I am in GA and temp were above 85F everyday. First 5w-20 which gave me ok engine performance, fairly smooth idle, and about 190-200 miles per tank. I changed to 5w-30 and re-fueled using the same fuel. The engine performance increased slightly, idle was smoother and got 215-230 miles per tank. Finally I tried 10w-30 with BG MOA in the oil. Upon startup my car was so quiet and smooth I could not tell it was runnning. On the test drive it seemed to have much more power and it was 93F out that day. I drove the car all last night and it still just screams and seems to have more torque. I am on track to get 280 miles out of this tankful as well.
Interesting . Do you have anything more than your butt dyno to go on ?
Old 06-26-2007, 08:51 AM
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Originally Posted by kennyfrc1
I decided to test all oil grades in my car 5w-20, 5w-30, 10w-30. All oils were dino valvoline. First I ran BG44k thru the car upon bringing it home with 8600miles on the clock.
Where can i purchase bg44k and how do i use it?
Old 06-26-2007, 09:05 AM
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There is a search button.

Or even better, use Google god damn it.
Old 07-12-2007, 10:29 AM
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How much should someone expect to pay for a compression test at a dealer? Mine just quoted me $180 (2 hrs. of work)
Old 07-12-2007, 10:41 AM
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Originally Posted by nycgps
Welcome to the Internet :P
While we are on the shop manual subject. Where is a good place to online to purchase a shop manual for the 8?
Old 07-12-2007, 03:38 PM
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bg44k is the best, for what it does.
if you do the atf trick be sure your cat is not attached? Will not ATF hurt the cat?
It is a good old time treatment.
Kennyfc--pleasure speaking with you last w/e at the meet. I too tried 10W30 some time back and it did smooth things out but i also noticed a little power lost--but that was butt dino and we know how accuate that is.
OD
Old 07-12-2007, 06:07 PM
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I did it twice. Both times I was charged for one hour of labor and about $10 in parts.


Originally Posted by Rhythmic
How much should someone expect to pay for a compression test at a dealer? Mine just quoted me $180 (2 hrs. of work)
Old 07-12-2007, 06:15 PM
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$10 in parts? For what?
Old 07-13-2007, 07:45 AM
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Originally Posted by rx8-rus
I did it twice. Both times I was charged for one hour of labor and about $10 in parts.

So, it should only take about 1 hr? I guess I should call around and get quotes from other dealers to present to them. What was the $10 in parts for?
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