1988 302 compression problem
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Narragansett, RI
1988 302 compression problem
Hello,
I'm new here and am hopeing that you all can help me. I just picked a 1988 F-150 4x4 with a 302cid for $500.00
The guy said that his son-in-law blew the head gasket and had to drive on it at highway speed for a little while because people would not let him pull over. He sent it out to be fixed and now the truck has low or no compression in the #1 cylinder only.
My question is; would a blown head gasket cause this OR is there something else I should be looking for?(ie valve, warped head, etc., etc.)
Any help is greatly appreciated.
I'm new here and am hopeing that you all can help me. I just picked a 1988 F-150 4x4 with a 302cid for $500.00
The guy said that his son-in-law blew the head gasket and had to drive on it at highway speed for a little while because people would not let him pull over. He sent it out to be fixed and now the truck has low or no compression in the #1 cylinder only.
My question is; would a blown head gasket cause this OR is there something else I should be looking for?(ie valve, warped head, etc., etc.)
Any help is greatly appreciated.
New User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
1988 302 compression problem
Wow nice find!
If he sent it out to be fixed and it is has low compression still, sounds like he paid for and got the fast way out. If it has low compression it could be rings, hole in piston (very noticeable), valves, or head gasket. Spark plug not an issue if you are testing and you get a good seal. It is very possible that the heads are warped but if he took it to a shop and they replaced head gaskets I am sure they would check for warpage with a feeler gage, but that’s my guess. If it is warpage then head gasket might be blown out again (90 day warranty for work cross fingers), or consult list above.
Good luck I am in the same boat with my number 4 cylinder. I am sure mine is rings because it gets a lot of oil in the cylinder (shown on plug after you drive it for a while) and valves usually show more smoke when you start the engine and then go away. DO not drive it or run the engine if you have a blown head gasket that will warp the heads if it gets hot, and check for water in oil pan (tell tell sign).
If he sent it out to be fixed and it is has low compression still, sounds like he paid for and got the fast way out. If it has low compression it could be rings, hole in piston (very noticeable), valves, or head gasket. Spark plug not an issue if you are testing and you get a good seal. It is very possible that the heads are warped but if he took it to a shop and they replaced head gaskets I am sure they would check for warpage with a feeler gage, but that’s my guess. If it is warpage then head gasket might be blown out again (90 day warranty for work cross fingers), or consult list above.
Good luck I am in the same boat with my number 4 cylinder. I am sure mine is rings because it gets a lot of oil in the cylinder (shown on plug after you drive it for a while) and valves usually show more smoke when you start the engine and then go away. DO not drive it or run the engine if you have a blown head gasket that will warp the heads if it gets hot, and check for water in oil pan (tell tell sign).
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Narragansett, RI
1988 302 compression problem
Those are what I was thinking. Hopefully it is nothing too too bad. I'm taking it to school this week to find out the real problem. I will definately keep you posted.
Thanks again
Thanks again
