Thread: SR20VE compression test numbers...

What is eveyone getting for cylinder pressures??

Just curious what everyone is getting on their stock and modified bottom ends. Also, what cams you are running. Post up what your compression test numbers are on your current build or what they were on a previous build.

I understand that 200-240 is generally the range that is seen on stock bottom-end VE's, with 215-230 being considered as "normally seen" healthy numbers.

In May of last year I had 220 PSI (+/- 4 PSI) on four cylinders. I did a new test on Friday and now I have 200 PSI (+/- 2 PSI) even across all four cylinders. Could be rings or valve seals I guess. The engine still pulls hard for what I have done to it and the numbers are even across all cylinders so I am not overly worried about it. It is possible the engine was not 100% hot.

Post up what you have for numbers plus any thoughts you have. Details of your Bottom-end/head set-up would be helpful for info. purposes as well as warm/cold or dry/wet test!

Thanks!

First stock bottom VE I had 220-220-150-220. 3rd cylinder suffered from a lean nitrous condition when I was direct port.

SR16 pistons in my 2.0. Pinned the gauge to 300psi within a few cranks.

^ Damn. That's way the heck up there! Betcha 300 PSI feels nice! What cams?

I generally get 220-230+ on a healthy VE within 5 cranks.

My buddies was right at 220 as well across the board. When we did his 2.2L 12.5:1 build it broke the 300psi gauge within a few cranks. The gauge never worked after that.

When doing these tests you want to be sure to do them under the same conditions each time.

I always use the same tester and I always drive the car around the block a few times or something. Also I keep the throttle wide open. Mine is dead on 230 on all 4 cylinders.

What cams for everybody? Stockers? It appears as though the SR16 and the N1 cams will give a slight change in the PSI reading. Not to much to speak of but still a difference. Anybody do a before and after test with a cam change?



Yep, same conditions for me as well. Warm engine, throttle full open. I'm going to do another test this weekend and hope it is higher. I'm probably just making an excuse in saying my engine might not have been fully warm, just hopeful of a better result I guess. I also verified it with a different tester. Even across the board though and the car feels good so who knows.

230 is real good!

If you were on one cam vs another that could be why its changed.

But if there are others compression testing n1 cam motors and still coming up with 220-230psi then yeah it would be low.

Unfortunately still the same cams for both tests, SR20VE stockers. If it gets lower for whatever reason, I guess I'll have an excuse to change the pistons! N1's going in this weekend.

hmm, you know i havent compression tested it on the stock cams i dont think? my last test was with n1's

maybe tomorrow if i have time i'll test both of my ve's which have stock cams right now.