Compression check when cold

[gottadiesel]

Can anyone tell me what I should expect to get when trying to read compression with the engine cold, as compared to operation temp.

So you ask why? Well I already have numerous items removed, including turbo and ex manifold. Yeah I know I should have checked plugs 1st, but anyway so I pull the plugs there were two issues, one is a certainly have an issue with both valve cover gaskets, but also the No3 Cyl head cover issue, which I know what I want to do to solve that issue, so there was oil on the top of the plugs and on the threads from that issue, but I the plugs are also wet in the chamber, not all but 2 or 3 of them had a film on them, so now I want to know why... so now I need to check compression to see if I am getting some blow by or what...

Unless I am perhaps missing something and the oil over time could actually make it through the plugs threads...but I assume not or another way that oil could make it on the plugs...

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[sneakypete]

you wont get a good reading unless the engine is at operating temp... thats that

 

[IJ.]

Mine is all over the shop on a cold test with 1 valve that doesn't seat showing huge leakdown in that cylinder, run it for 40 seconds and it seals up nicely and evens out across the board.

cliffs: Cold Comp test 99% useless

 

[gottadiesel]

Yeah, what I was afraid of... I might just have to replace other items first and put all back together then see what happens. Even if I have an issue, probably will not be yanking motor at this time anyway, so I might as well just run it till something major happens....

I have only put 100 miles on the car to get it home, but before I started pulling anything apart, the engine ran smooth, no mis-fires, pre-ignition, no smoke blow by etc... although it felt weak, but I also found more than one vacuum line disconnected, boost lines kinked and cracks in the boost intake line along with cracks at the connection at throttle body, on top of FOD to the turbo.... so if it ran that good with all of that, it should run much better once I get those issues resolved...

Eitherway I appreciate the thoughts, many heads are always better than one...

Thanks