So I found a 2002 silverstone with 52k on it for $12999 at a dealership near by. They said they would do $11,990 on it so I told them if they could get me a compression test done by Honda and an inspection the diff, clutch and trans i'd put a deposit on it...

I get an email today, it just came back from Honda and the compression was

150/145/149/148 !!!!

Holy smokes batman that is terrible!

It was done by a Honda dealership and the numbers were printed on the work order. Yikes!

 

i would say they did a type-o and should be 2 instead of 1 since its across the board. because for it to be down 100 across the board, that is a NOTICEABLE difference and any half decent mechanic would know that.

my guess....loss of translation from mechanic to service writer/sales dude.

call and talk to the mechanic!

 

Don't let the seller do diagnostics.

 

Have them do the test on 1 piston in front of you, while it's warm too

 

Well in the manual it says the least is 135 psi so they probably took the typical misconception of it only needing to be close to each other and said it was good. I figured it very well was a tired engine with problems in each cylinder...

 

Did they do it cold?

 

I dunno, absolute numbers from compression test results are variable, and depend on a number of factors. If the engine was cold, the starter or battery were weak, or if the throttle was closed, numbers could be lower than "normal."

I wouldn't necessarily run away from numbers in the 150 range, but you might try to get leakdown measured as well.

Think of it this way, if 215 is "healthy", and 150 represents 70% health, what is the likelihood that *all four cylinders* would be that far gone but still within +/- 2% of each other?

I think the real story for the lowish numbers is the method and/or gauge used.

And anyway, if 135 is good enough for Honda, that's probably good enough.

I absolutely *would* use the "low" numbers to bargain the price down some more, though!

 

I would agree with this, the numbers are very consistent and I suspect the absolute numbers are a variable of the way the test was performed. I'm thinking the test was done cold, the technician likely didn't want to drive the car to get it fully warmed up as they don't make money warming cars up.

This car could either be in great shape, or it would be in very poor condition, I think it is likely the former but unless you see the test being done it would be hard for us to say for sure. The numbers are very consistent across the board which is a good indicator, the absolute numbers can be affected by many things.

 

Come on, I really dont see how an 02 with that amount of miles would be tired. Im sure it could happen, but what are the odds. If its a clean car, just go for it. Thats about the same price I paid for my 02 with about the same miles.

 

I've seen an 03 with the same miles blow less than 100. Don't think that just because of age the engine should be OK.

Chances are the dealer really did the test that way and really did get bad numbers. There's a chance it was "lost in communication" I'm guessing not. it would be worth asking if you could talk to the tech and ask him if he remembered the car.... and what he thought about those results.

I've said it before and I'll say it again- Honda's 135 psi spec is pure shit, and any F20C that blows those numbers can't be making more than 150HP at the wheels. If that. and 215psi is not healthy. Unless you're at 5,000ft elevation, at least. If you don't get 235 psi from a properly done test, you should find another candidate.