95_5speed

I finally got an accurate compression gauge, my old one broke.

When I bought this car, it had:

#1.) 167
#2.) 35
#3.) 98
#4.) 125

After much time and money, I have the engine back together right now, and I did a compression test today, heres the results:

#1.) 182
#2.) 182
#3.) 182
#4.) 182

thats right, they are all dead on 182 psi, I'm so happy. What more could you want to see when just putting your engine back together. Just thought I'd share, if anybody wants to go do a compression test on their Stock H23 I'd like to see the results? I'm tired, time to wash up after a long day.

cliffburton

How much does it cost for a decent gauge? And how hard is it to use it?

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TruNinja619

a few years ago.. I snapped my timing belt... and after the rebuild on my H23:

1) 192 psi
2) 210 psi
3) 210 psi
4) 210 psi

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95greenlude

as far as i remember mine were

1.182
2.187
3.183
4.185

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 Jared 
93 Jeep Cherokee 4x4

95_5speed

Alright, I figured it would have been higher, and aparently it probably should have been. I'm glad they were steady at least, the new piston rings will go in as soon as the new crankshaft arrives and I'll probably have new numbers then, higher I'm guessing based on what you guys have posted?

Compression gauge kits usually cost around $25.00 give or take a bit, for a simple gauge. If you get crazy and go digital, I do not know the prices of those.

As far as ease of use, remove plug wires, and spark plugs, then 1 cylinder at a time hook the gauge up, (screws into the plug hole) and go crank the car over by turning the key. Let it pass through the strokes a couple of times, and the gauge will stay at the correct figure. Once you got your reading, hit the pressure relief valve on the side of the unit and unscrew. (repeat for the other cylinders)

I am envious of the guy who hit 210 in the cylinders Thats a really good healthy number!

KB798

Nice

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Brian

TruNinja619

heheh... I was surprised I hit 210 psi on almost all my cylinders... the motor had 115k miles before the timing belt snapped..... my friend and I did the test a couple times to see if they were consistent... and they were...

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95_5speed

I guess I have a new goal to set when I get the new rings in there, lol 210 per cylinder or bust! J/k haha.. I'll settle for any figure as long as it's steady again I wonder what the engine was supposed to be at in stock form off the show room floor?

preludestud11

at 165,000 miles after i put a new timing belt and changed the front seals in mine I was about

218
212
210
218

Now i am turbocharging the motor hoping to put 350 to the wheels and hoping it will last a couple months.

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95_5speed

What do you mean front seals?

Lucke

when i bought my jdm h22, it read:

225
226
226
225

preludestud11

cam seals, balancershaft seal, and crank seal.

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95_5speed

I got my cam seals done, i dont think i touched the others .. could have but dont recall. I ordered a new clutch / flywheel and the shop told me to order a rear main seal? I guess it was.. as preventative maintenance or something. I'll have to ask about the other seals you speak of, as i want my engine to do its best for a long long time.

93BoostedH22A

when i did my compression test on my jdm h22 i made 260 260 260 260 yall guys think that was kinda high???

GaRn

My H23 at 110k miles and being boosted for a year checked out at 185/190/185/190

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FOR SALE!: '95 Honda Prelude Si

PRelude787

did mine before the camshaft install....got 230 all across...i was happy! on a h23 btw

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96 Prelude Si

95_5speed

I had my engine apart, and cleaned the pistons back to 100% clean... to the guys who are getting 220-230 psi on an H23.. have you ever used carbon cleaner, top engine cleaner, or had your engine apart and cleaned the pistons off? I just wonder.. because my rings are either that bad, or you guys have a lot of build up on the pistons.. or a little bit of both.

I wish I could find out what it's supposed to be from the factory when the car was brand new.

GaRn

Yea you definitely have some carbon build up there, thats way over factory spec..

As a matter of fact, the first time I read mine, one cylinder had a compression reading of 230+, after I installed my water injection kit, about a couple months later, the same cylinder read 185 like, more in line with my other cylinders..

water injection works

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FOR SALE!: '95 Honda Prelude Si

MidNiteMysT

well i cant tell you what the compression is off the show room, but i got the next best thing. helms. this is for h23a1. only diff between these compression numbers and the h22a1 is for nominal, its 185 psi. the rest of the numbers are the same.

this is how it shows it exactly. no mistakes.

________MEASUREMENT____________________________|__ __STANDARD (NEW)
250 rpm and______________________Nominal______________1250 (12.5, 178)
wide open throttle_________________Minimum______________950 (9.5, 135)
kPa(kg/cm2, psi)___________________Maximum variation______200 (2.0, 28)

looks like new, it should be 178 and the minimum is 135 and it should only stray from these readings by 28 psi


btw, what gauges did you use? im really curious as to how much compression i got on mine. and do you torque youre spark plugs when you put them back? im so worried about stripping them cause thats a huge problem.

95_5speed

I used a gauge I bought in the automotive section at walmart, for $25.00 it came with the gauge, and about 1.5 feet of pressure hose, 3 fittings for diff spark plug hole sizes. I dont torque my spark plugs into place, I bring them with one hand, gently till the wratchet doesnt turn, then I bring them snug, not forcing them.. they arent gonna go anywhere if they are snug, so I leave it at that. Snug = about 1/8 turn past when the wratchet wants to stop moving.