Compression Test: How to Check Engine Health

Compression Test: How to Check Engine Health

Quick Answer: An engine compression test measures the pressure in each cylinder to diagnose issues like worn piston rings, leaking valves, or a blown head gasket. A healthy engine should have compression between 125-175 PSI per cylinder, with no more than 10% variation between cylinders. The Day I Diagnosed a “Dead” Engine with a $40 … Read more

Engine Overheating: Common Causes and Quick Fixes

Engine Overheating: Common Causes and Quick Fixes

Last Tuesday afternoon, a panicked customer pulled into our bay with steam billowing from under her hood. She’d been sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic on I-95 when her temperature gauge suddenly pinned itself in the red zone. “I just had the oil changed last week,” she said, as if that should’ve prevented this. I popped the … Read more