Newbie Compression Question

[Ozark Lee]

Hi folks,

In a moment of insanity I bought a 1985.5 944 (2.5 NA) for my daughter on eBay. The car has not run in at least 8 years and it had about 1/3 of a tank of gas in it when I rolled up in Phoenix with my trailer to pick it up. The fuel system is another story but needless to say it was not a pleasant smell.

Having cleaned all of the black tar out of the fuel tank and the fuel level sender and replacing the fuel pump and filters the car now has fuel pressure. I next moved to spark and found that the wires turned to dust when you touch them and three of the wires were broken at the boots. The new wires and plugs arrived today.

Meanwhile I did a compression check and found that the #1 cylinder has an alarmingly high compression reading, over 200 lbs. Cylinders 2, 3, & 4 all came in even at 150. You can hear the uneven sound when you crank the car.

I'm debating on even starting the car without replacing the timing belt and balance shaft belt and the super high compression measurement on #1 is making me even more nervous.

I know the cures for low compression but I've never encountered compression that is too high before. Is this a common Porsche problem and, if so, what are the cures?

Thanks,

...Lee

[Dave L]

Originally posted by Ozark Lee
I'm debating on even starting the car without replacing the timing belt and balance shaft belt

No debate here, DO NOT start the car. The rubber in the belt is surely rotted after 8 years and if it snaps while running it will damage your valves

[JonA]

Antifreeze leaking into #1? Cylinder volume is reduced by volume of fluid leaking in and compression increases.
Lotsa oil on the cylinder walls like you might do to lay up the engine makes the rings seal extra good?
pull the plug and turn it over, anything push out?

Change the timing belt before you go too far. it's not worth the risk, if the belt goes the valves are damaged.

Good luck,
Jon

[Schumi]

Those belts are more likely to snap if you turn it over than they are to not snap. Do not turn that car over.

Compression is increased because of fluid in the cylinder. could be coolant, fuel, or oil.

[Razorback1980]

Welcome to the forum. I agree with everyone else. Do not try and start the car without changing the belts. You may try cleaning the cylinders with some marvel mystery oil and cycle the engine through a few times with the plugs out.

Check out clarks-garage.com, there will be a lot of information there that you will refer back to constantly.

Good luck with the new car and welcome to the Porsche ownership.

[Ozark Lee]

Thanks to all of you. You have confirmed my fears and prevented me from doing something stupid. The timing and balance shaft belts are on order and should arrive tomorrow.

I tried to sign up at Clarks Garage but I guess I don't know the secret handshake. The email came back and acknowledged that I tried to join but the moderator(s) have not approved me to be a real member yet - its been a month and a half.

Just for grins - here is what your fuel level sender/sediment bowl looks like after 8 years of parked in Arizona.





The fuel level sender.



The sediment bowl

Lacquer thinner is your friend in these situations.

Here is the finished product.







There was a rubber(?) boot at the top of the assembly that had turned into a gelationous goo and I can find no part number for it . In looking at the assembly it appeared to me that it simply directed the return fuel to the sediment bowl with no spill over and it wasn't a big deal. Hopefully I didn't create a bomb.

Thanks again guys, this is going to be fun - OK expensive but fun.

Here is why I'm doing it all.




My daughter's Porsche!

...Lee

[DaveBoettcher]

Just a bit of personal history on the life of cam belts. I know most people on this BBS already know this, but it might just help someone . . .

I was religious on changing belts well before the recommended 36,000 miles, but when my usage dropped I did not pay sufficient attention to the 36 month limit. I had done maybe 12k miles BUT 37 months (believe it, 37 months!) when I went to a car wash and the engine wouldn't re-start. Turned out that the crank pulley had stripped all the teeth in contact with it off the cam belt. When the belt was removed, you could just pull the remaining teeth off really easily all the way round the belt.

The good news was that no valves got damaged. How? I don't know - I was just grateful. New belts and we were up and running, and have been since. Moral of the story: Change BOTH belts at 24k miles OR 24 months. Always change both belts because the balance shaft belt CAN take out the cam belt by flailing around. Neglect this at your peril!

[toolboy62]

Love the BBSs. I guess i'm too old to be adopted? Props to you for getting her involved in working on it.

nate

[Razorback1980]

I can't tell from the picture but the paint looks dull. Mine was the same until a little polishing compound and Mothers wax and it looked almost new again. Good luck to both of you.

[Eldorado]

Tom, did you and your daughter hand polish the car? or use an orbital polisher?

[Ozark Lee]

.

Props to you for getting her involved in working on it.

Nate,

My daughter won't let me work on it without her! One of her classmates had a flat tire and had no idea how to change it. At that point she made up her mind that she was going to completely understand her car. It cracks me up when she gets home from school and asks if any parts came in today. If we have parts she suits up in her grubs and she is all over it.

Razorback,

Mine was the same until a little polishing compound and Mothers wax and it looked almost new again. Good luck to both of you.

The paint was very bad. My daughter and I took a three day road trip over spring break to Phoenix to pick the car up and I was heartbroken when I saw her expression when we picked it up. India Red had turned into some variation of orange peel oxidation. Once I got the car into the driveway I restored the nose and she lit up like a Christmas tree. Three days of 3-M rubbing compound followed by 3-M mirror glaze followed by whatever wax, Turtle wax I think, and it is India Red again! Oh, except where there is no India Red left. Since it came from Arizona at least those places are not rusted. The bummer is that it must have hit something along the line on the drivers side front fender and the paint was not matching plus they clear coated the fender and the clear coat is flaking off. Once it get running and once I recover from the price of Porsche parts I think I will get the car repainted for her. The real challenge is the spoiler. I used some black something or another detailing goop and it just left a giant white spot where I applied it. I got the white spot sanded out with 700 grit sandpaper and it actually looks much better. I think if I spend a day or two and sand the whole thing I think it will come back. The Volvo guys use bumper paint to deal with faded bumpers and plastic trim but I fear the spoiler has too much flex for that to work on the 944.

As far as the method of buffing I picked up a $39.00 orbital buffer at Harbor Freight about half way through the job. It was much faster but it did not do as good of a job as the towel and arm method.

Thanks for your support,

...Lee

[AaronM]

You mentioned Volvos... Are you the same Ozark Lee from Matthew's Volvo Site?

EDIT: Looked through the older posts and yes you are. You'll find great info here for the 944. This is exactly the site I would have recommended to you.

[Razorback1980]

Kyle, we used an orbital sander and it came out looking pretty good. Tried it by hand first just to see what it would do. Ours was just like his some sort of color between pink and white.

Lee, based on your screen name, are you from the Missouri/Arkansas area?

[Ozark Lee]

Lee, based on your screen name, are you from the Missouri/Arkansas area?

It depends on the day of the week. Kansas during the week and The Lake - there is only one - on most weekends.

...Lee