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What Does A Porsche Compression Test Mean?

If you drive a Porsche, then you know for sure what it means to drive a car with an engine you can always count on. You also know that it does not matter how strong an engine is. With time, some of its components wear out and become weak. Consider scheduled maintenance to make sure such engine challenges do not affect the overall performance of your car. That is exactly where compression tests come in. What does it mean in the first place? What kind of perks come along with it? Read on to learn more.

The Science Behind Compression

Modern Porsche engines make power by simply compressing vaporized gasoline. This whole process takes place inside the combustion chamber. The cycle creates some amount of compression measured in pounds per cubic inch. It so happens though that vital parts like cylinder head components and piston rings wear out over time, as already mentioned. This always reduced the compression required to burn fuel and air. The only remedy you have at this point is to perform a compression test. The test is the first step towards accurately diagnosing and fixing the engine.

The Test

Compression test serves one main purpose - to reveal the actual condition of the engine valve train as well as piston rings.    Remember not all Porsche models are the same. Each model is actually unique as far as factors like engine design and even performance are concerned. This means there are different psi levels recommended for different engines. Generally speaking though 100-psi is considered standard as it comes along with a less than 10 % variation between the highest and lowest reading.  

How It Is Done

The test involves use of a special compression gauge. The gauge is inserted inside the spark plug hole of each cylinder. Once this is done, the engine must be cranked over. The gauge will then display the exact amount of compression generated inside each cylinder. 

When To Test The Engine

There are common signs and symptoms that can easily prompt you to consider a compression test for your engine. Too much smoke blowing from the exhaust system each time you decelerate or accelerate is one of the most common signs that your engine needs a compression test. You may also notice that the car takes time to accelerate. This happens because poor compression will without a doubt affect the overall engine performance. Other symptoms include poor fuel economy that suddenly crops up and the engine running hot and vibrating as you drive.

Accuracy

Accuracy plays a key role when taking the compression test. That is in fact why you must have a Porsche expert with you to ensure the process is done well.  Refer to your car manual as well as the compression tester manual anytime you’re not sure about a compression test procedure. Keep in mind that the whole task is not just about engine status inspection. It is also about interpreting and decoding what you see on the gauge. Only a Porsche expert can help you with that.