Compression Test
 

I have a 30 KVA generator I use twice a month for my business to power some equipment. I just did a tune up on the 1972 Ford 300 straight 6 that runs it. It runs great but it has a lot of hours. Would you do a compression test? I have no reason to do it and doing so might make me loose sleep at night. It has never let me down.

If it works fine just leave it alone. Why mess with it?

If it ain't broke don't fix it!

I wouldn't bother unless it smokes or burns oil.

A 300 ci. Ford was the best gasoline, CNG, or LPG fueled light truck and industrial engine ever made. When put into stationary power duty, a 300 six can work for an extremely long period of time before overhaul, and especially when fueled with clean burning compressed gas. If you don't notice any slack cylinders when it's pulling a load, or any significant smoke besides during start up, there's no reason to do any more than general seasonal maintenance.

A friend of mine has one on an old Asplundh wood chipper he bought at auction with a blown head gasket. Found out it that somebody had replaced the gasket before he got it, and that the head had been resurfaced, and radiator replaced too, but the repairs didn't last long. Evidently, enough was taken off the head to render the head bolts to be too long, so he put it back together with a new gasket, and 28 more flat washers for the head bolts. I think he still uses it occasionally, but it's a pretty big machine, and not worth firing up for picking up a pile of sticks in the yard. This thing chews up 8" logs like toothpics.

Sounds a lot stronger than the one in Fargo.

One of the best engines ever made. Period.

I've always done a compression test as part of a tune up. The plugs are out, it takes another 10 minutes. Why not do it?