Dodgy mechanic?

[Matt2039]

Hi all.

I suspect I may have been shafted by a garage whom I paid to do a Compression test on a 96 Hilux Surf with a 1KZ-TE (3 litre intercooled turbo diesel) which has done 213kms. I say suspect because, to be honest, I know nothing about engines hence why I am here looking for some advice. The results they came back with were all cylinders between 185 - 200psi. My understanding is it should be closer to 500? If they were this far out what symptoms would the truck show? It drives great and seems great to me. Should I expect it to fall apart on me or are they taking the piss like i suspect???

Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers

Matt

[u13turbo]

Should definitly be 400~, I would think it it wat down to 180 it'd be running like a bag of shit.. I had a terrano that had good comp on all but one cylinder, which had 300psi, and on cold start up it missed and blew blue smoke..

[mud_slinger]

try somewhere else and see what the result is.
wer you located?

[Matt2039]

Im in chch but the test was done in queenstown. I purchased this truck subject to it having the compression test done but when the results came back they were that low i didnt believe it. My understanding is also that if the engine had an issue then it would be unlikely all cylinders would be worn the same? The mechanic said in his report "all cylinders 185-200psi & engine appears in good condition". The old owners wife took it in and i suspect the guy just looked at it and though bugger it i'll just put down a good compression figure and not even bother testing it. Easy money. It looks to me as though these would be good figures if it was a petrol engine. I ended up flying down and test driving myself and it seemed good so i bought it and drove it back to chch. Never missed a beat. Anyhow I'm pissed if this guy is the kind of tosser that would just bluff work done and shouldnt be able to mislead people like this. I have queried the workshop on the results saying i found them odd and wanted each cylinders result. They have now sent that through but again i think they have just plucked figures from thin ear. I will take it further but want to get my ducks in a row first.

[pruggerdore]

couple of things jumping out at me about this. If the garage is capable of doing a compression test they would have a very good idea of what the no's should be and if they were picked out of the air figures they would be a bit closer to the mark. Are you sure the figures given are in psi??? there at least 3 ratings of air pressure I believe. Im not up with the no's and how they co relate to each other but I think that would quite possibly explain it. obviously the motor isnt sad enough for the no's as you have interpreted them or it would barely be running if at all. I think perhaps you just need to talk to the workshop and get them to explain it to you. maybe they did pull the no's out off the air and wrote down no's for a petrol with out thinking about it. either way talk to them rather than spend money on a second test somewhere else.

[Matt2039]

I have checked and double checked and they have quoted psi. I have converted the figures to all imaginable other pressure measurements (like bar, Kilopascals etc) and nothing corresponds. I told them via email that I questioned the accuracy and wanted each cylinders reading and they replied with this ...

"Compressions--No-1---187psi
No-2---185psi
No-3---195psi
no-4---198psi"

Having spoken to several people in Chch they have told me whenever you do a compression test it is normal practise to provide results for each cylinder not the original "all cylinders have 185-200psi" which i got from these guys. Again this leads me to question whether or not they actually did the test. I will be ringing them to talk it over but again want to get my ducks in a row first. My big question being would the engine even run at such low compressions. If they stick to their quoted figures i will be wanting my coin back. I will probably try for my coin back anyway as it seems that what i have paid for they have not done to an acceptable standard at the least.

[jagni401]

If a diesel engine was to have all 4 cylinders with compressions that low, you would certainly know about it. Probably wouldn't even be able to start properly.
I had compressions done on my old surf which had a 3L 2.8 in it. One was 360 and other 3 were ~400. The one bad (ish) cylinder, I was told, was on the ok end of the scale, but it was getting a bit low. The truck ran fine too.

[ClassicCruiserSpares]

The truck wouldnt start with having all four cylinders that low, Its over 800+ psi down in compression over all the cylinders. Those figures are what you would get from a good petrol engine not deisel the mechanic is taking you for a ride. He probably didnt have a diesel compression tester so made up the numbers thinking the chick who took it in wont know any different.
If you want to make sure before you have a go at the guy get Checking to do the compression and leak down test hes mobil and it doesnt cost more than $100 and he gives you the sheet with results so you have proof.

[wopass]

turbo diesel here folks not NA so compression will be lower than a normal diesel, if they were that high on a petrol you would have to run race fuel.

but yea its too low, they prob got the hundys muddled up and its spose to be 285-300 or 385-400psi

[tweake]

turbo diesels are not much lower than non-turbo.
i think 1kz are still 20:1 compression.
its only some of the common rail motors that run low compression, i know some nissans are 15:1.

[cbfb]

I have checked and double checked and they have quoted psi. I have converted the figures to all imaginable other pressure measurements (like bar, Kilopascals etc) and nothing corresponds. I told them via email that I questioned the accuracy and wanted each cylinders reading and they replied with this ...

"Compressions--No-1---187psi
No-2---185psi
No-3---195psi
no-4---198psi"

Having spoken to several people in Chch they have told me whenever you do a compression test it is normal practise to provide results for each cylinder not the original "all cylinders have 185-200psi" which i got from these guys. Again this leads me to question whether or not they actually did the test. I will be ringing them to talk it over but again want to get my ducks in a row first. My big question being would the engine even run at such low compressions. If they stick to their quoted figures i will be wanting my coin back. I will probably try for my coin back anyway as it seems that what i have paid for they have not done to an acceptable standard at the least.

Get an independent test done (probably find someone on here who can help) before you ring them, sounds like bullshit to me but at least you'll have proof.

In the past I dealt with a mechanic who failed me on a warrant for soemthing he had passed several times before and other bullshit charges - I mentioned the words MTA and complaint and he refunded me half the invoice.

[MK1TNA]

Just sifted through all my crap and found the results i had from when i got my kzn130 surf with 130,000ks on the clock a couple of years ago

Compression:
1: 490
2: 495
3: 490
4: 490

Should give you something to base it on

I got my test done at Canterbury Car Inspections and they test EVERYTHING was well worth the $155

[Matt2039]

Im also starting to wonder a bit more now as he only charged $70. Sounds like it should have been a bit more....?

[u13turbo]

Im also starting to wonder a bit more now as he only charged $70. Sounds like it should have been a bit more....?

Na, Compression test should only take about half an hour, depending on vehicle. But yeah $70 is a fair price.

[wjw]

Those figures are way too low for a 1KZ. From the factory manual: