Topic: 22re compression

[lvhunting]

The compression on my 87 4runner is #1 114, #2 120, #3 132 and #4 92.  Is the engine done or should I keep driving it?  Thanks

[superyota]

92's getting really low.  i think you need at least 80 to to fire a cylinder.  i'de keep driving it till it doesn't run or starts missing, unless it's your daily driver.  then i would start looking now.

[crazykooter]

Did you do the compression test after running the engine for a bit ?  Did you do a wet test to see if its the rings ?  Toyota spec is 114 on the low side but normal should be 171.  If you plan to rebuild that engine then continuing to drive it could be a risk.  Pretty much gonna have to bore out .20 over.  With that low of compression it should have major blow-by with poss metal in it. Do the plugs look tan in color like its running well ?

[Sparkplug]

U gotta have at least 100 psi to combust i thought. So u may have a dead cyl, ive seen my buds get by with just pullin head and oil pan, throwin in some rings and rod bearings, maybe freshening up head, and running em for couple years now with no smoke.

[kneedownnate]

Koot says 114, I always thought toyota called for a rebuild at 120, but you're fawked either way.  Don't know yet if you'll need to bore it, may be able to get away with a quality hone job and new rings, but be prepared for the worst and hope for the best.

[kneedownnate]

Oh yea, and when I checked my 91 22re at around 190,000 miles it had something like 183-186 psi.

[GNasty 82]

One thing to note.  Every engine that I have ever checked compression for says all the cylinders must be within 10% of each other and the fact that you have the #3 @ 132 and #4 @ 92 would worry me.  Is it running poorly? I wouldn't be surprised if the engine is getting a shake to it.  With that kind of compression difference, a head gasket replacement might be in your future.  Fortunately, you can change a head gasket on these 22R/E motors in an afternoon.

[lvhunting [OP]]

I do have a shake in it.  I forgot to tell you guys that I have water in my oil.  I am not driving it.  What are the chances that I just have a blown Head gasket or a problem with the head.  Thanks for all the Replies

[crazykooter]

With water in the oil on a 22R/E its one of 2 things. Drivers side timing chain guide is broke and the timing chain has worn thru the cover exposing the water port.  Very common. Or its a blown head gasket which is most likely to occur in Cly # 3 or 4. 
By the looks of the compression test u did only verified its a blown head gasket on #4
IF you did the compression test with a bunch of water mixed into the oil it WILL lower your compression reading to where yours are.  1st thing to do to comfirm that it is a HG is to pull the plugs starting with #4.  The color and whats on the tip and threads of the plugs will tell you everything.  More then likely it will be wet and very black.  If  your not sure by looking at the plug then put the hose end without gauge into 4 (and as with compression test make sure coil is disconnected) Also make sure you have a good charge on the battery.  Then what I do is stick the hose end into a bottle and crank the engine over for 10 or so seconds. Check the contents of the bottle.  It does help if you make sure the raddy is full of water.  This trick I guess it is works best when the engine is cold.  You may have to crank it more then once but I dont recommend cranking the start for more then 15 secs at a time. 
 Hope this helps you figure out for sure what is. Oh and if 4 doesnt put show signs of water try 3 and so on.
And again almost forgot another way to encourage the cylinder to deliver its water thru the compression testers hose is to poor a small amout of oil into it. This will create great compression which will cause it to puke. 

[lvhunting [OP]]

Hey, thanks kooter, that was a lot of good info.  Ill try everything you said.

[79coyotefrg]

also,  if/when you pull the head see if theres lots of space between the piston and cylinder wall.
my first engine had 290,000 on it if i remember right and the piston had about .120 between the piston and cyl wall  it had 75psi in almost all cylinders and had to spin pretty fast to get it started and then smoked like hell

anything over .020 inch should be bored